Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town
Ofln - The Killers Lyrics
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Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere?
The shadows on the wall tell me the sun is going down
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
It wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore
And yes, it's true that I'm not the man I used to be
It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed
And the wants and needs of a woman your age really I realize
But it won't be long, I've heard them say, until I'm not around
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
She's leaving now cause I just heard the slamming of the door
The way I know I heard its slams one hundred times before
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
Oh Ruby, for God's sake, turn around
The song "Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town" by The Killers tells the story of a disabled veteran pleading with his lover, Ruby, not to leave him. The opening lines describe Ruby preparing to go out, questioning whether she is contemplating leaving him. As the song progresses, the narrative voice explains that he is a veteran of the Asian war, but is now confined to a wheelchair. Despite this, he still has a need for companionship and pleads with Ruby not to take her love elsewhere.
The chorus, "Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town," expresses the veteran's fear of being abandoned, and the final verse reveals that Ruby has indeed left him. The final lines of the song, "Oh Ruby, for God's sake, turn around," reflect the veteran's desperation and despair.
The song addresses themes of love, abandonment, and disability, and provides a poignant commentary on the effects of war on those who have served. It is a powerful representation of the struggle that some veterans face in adjusting to civilian life, as well as the emotional toll that war takes on soldiers and their loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby, are you getting ready to go out?
The shadows on the wall tell me the sun is going down
It's getting late
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
Please don't leave me and go out
It wasn't me that started that old crazy Asian war
I didn't start the war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore
But I did my duty as a soldier
And yes, it's true that I'm not the man I used to be
But now, I'm just not as strong as I used to be
Oh Ruby, I still need some company
But I still need you by my side
It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed
It's difficult for you to love me, now that I'm paralyzed
And the wants and needs of a woman your age really I realize
I understand that you have your own desires as a woman
But it won't be long, I've heard them say, until I'm not around
But I won't be alive much longer, according to what I've heard
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
So please don't leave me and go out
She's leaving now cause I just heard the slamming of the door
You're leaving now, I can hear the door slamming
The way I know I heard its slams one hundred times before
It's happened many times before
And if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
If I could move, I'd do something drastic
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town
But please don't leave me and go out
Oh Ruby, for God's sake, turn around and come back home
Please come back home
Don't leave me here all alone
I'll be so lonely without you
I understand that you want to have fun
I know you want to have a good time
But please don't forget about what we've begun
But please don't forget about our love
I fought in the war, I did my part
I fought for my country in the war
But now I'm broken and it hurts my heart
But now I'm paralyzed and it's painful for me
I'm not as strong as I used to be
I'm not as strong as I once was
But I still need you here next to me
But I still need you here with me
I know it's tough to be with a man like me
I know it's not easy to be with someone like me
I'm paralyzed and it's hard to see
I'm paralyzed and it's difficult for you to watch
That you could still love someone who's bound
That you could still love me despite my disability
Oh Ruby, please don't leave town
So please don't leave me and go out
I hear the door slam and I feel so alone
I hear the door slam and it makes me feel incredibly lonely
I've heard it before, but it cuts to the bone
It's happened many times before, but it still hurts me deeply
If I could move, I'd do something drastic
If I could move, I'd do something extreme
But I can't do anything, I'm just too elastic
But I can't do anything because of my paralysis
So please, Ruby, don't leave me like this
So please, don't leave me
I need you by my side, don't dismiss
I need you with me, don't abandon me
My love for you is still strong and true
My love for you is still unwavering
Oh Ruby, please, please don't leave, I beg of you.
Please don't leave me, I'm begging you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: MEL TILLIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Laci Duckett
Crying, because as a teen listening to this album, I used to skip this song because it sounded so country, and was bout cheating, but last year I found out I was pregnant with a little girl, and Ruby is the ONLY name I FELT for her, and when I made my mind up and started calling her Ruby, this song played on a loop in my head, and I sang it to her at night. She's 5 months old now, and I couldn't feel more blessed.
Jamie O'barr
Laci Lott oh my god I was the same way!! I just had my daughter, Ruby, yesterday and Iâve sang this to her my entire pregnancy. â€ïžâ€ïžâ€ïž
mandyk
Beautiful story
Balharher
There is also this song called Ruby Dean that's pretty good (related to this one)
Specialist K
Thanks for the story
Laci Duckett
Just got a new comment on this after actually almost 5 years, and wanted to pop on and say baby Ruby is now 5 years old!
Toni-Anita Edwards
I love the Killers version, the Cake one is pretty good, but Kenny's one sends shivers down my spine...đđ
Jacques Quinet
You are 100% right.
Kenny Rogers' voice, in this song, gets into your soul.
Stoyan Vatsev
This is such a fantastic song going back to the overall struggles of a man!!! The Killers are so awesome, I hope I'll be able to see them live some day!
mandyk
I love this song and this version, I had my 17 year old listen to it and because The Killers and Cake have covered it he wants his high school band to learn it, he now has it on his Spotify list đ