mel tillis
Written by Mel Tills, it was originally recorded in 1967 by Johnny Darrell, but later same year made more famous by Kenny Rodgers and The First Edition. The song is a commercial protest song (!) about a soldier crippled in the Vietnam War; struggling to keep his wife.
Mel is one of these singer/songwriters who has written successful songs for several artists, but never had a really big hit himself. Besides this, he is probably most known as the man behind "Detroit City", co-written with Danny Dill.
you've painted up your lips an rolled and curled your tinted hair
Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere?
the shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down
oh Ruby ...
don't take your love to town
it's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralysed
and the wants and the needs of a woman your age : Ruby I realize
but it won't be long I've heard them say until I not around
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 ...
oh Ruby ...
I still need some company
she's leavin' now 'cause I heard the slammin' of the door
the way I know I've heard it slam one hundred times before
and if I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground
oh Ruby ...
for God's sake turn around
For the following CHORD section, fullscreen/horizontal mobile is recommended.
Chords in brackets may be omitted.
E A B7 you've painted up your lips an rolled and curled your tinted hair E C#m A B7 Ruby are you contemplating going out somewhere? A F#m G#m B7 the shadow on the wall tells me the sun is going down E A ... [F#m - B7] oh Ruby B7 E don't take your love to town
