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Ruby's Arms Lyrics
I will leave behind all of my clothes, I wore when I was with you, all I
need's my railroad boots, and my leather jacket, as i say goodbye to Ruby's
arms, although my heart is breaking, i will steal away out through your
blinds, for soon you will be waking.
The morning light has washed your face, and everything is turning blue now,
hold on to your pillow case there's nothing i can do now, as I say goodbye to
Ruby's arms, you'll find another soldier, and I swear to god by Christmas time,
there'll be someone else to hold you.
The only thing I'm taking is the scarf off of your clothesline, I'll hurry
past your chest of drawers, and your broken window chimes, as I say goodbye
I'll say goodbye, say goodbye to Ruby's arms.
I'll feel my way down the darken hall, and out into the morning, the hobos
at the freight yards, have kept their fires burning, so Jesus Christ this
goddamn rain, will someone put me on a train, I'll never kiss your lips again,
or break your heart, as I say goodbye I'll say goodbye, say goodbye to Ruby's
arms.
need's my railroad boots, and my leather jacket, as i say goodbye to Ruby's
arms, although my heart is breaking, i will steal away out through your
blinds, for soon you will be waking.
hold on to your pillow case there's nothing i can do now, as I say goodbye to
Ruby's arms, you'll find another soldier, and I swear to god by Christmas time,
there'll be someone else to hold you.
past your chest of drawers, and your broken window chimes, as I say goodbye
I'll say goodbye, say goodbye to Ruby's arms.
at the freight yards, have kept their fires burning, so Jesus Christ this
goddamn rain, will someone put me on a train, I'll never kiss your lips again,
or break your heart, as I say goodbye I'll say goodbye, say goodbye to Ruby's
arms.
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i agree that this is what the song is actually about, but don't you think it could equally be used, not as a breaking up song but kind of from the perspecitve of a soldier who's died and is saying goodbye before he leaves kind of the world, if that makes sense?
kinda similar to what you said; because this song comes right after mr siegal (on heartattack and vine), i always imagined it as him lying, dying after being shot and he finally begins to regret his actions. or maybe one of siegal's victims as a flipside of the previous song
kinda similar to what you said; because this song comes right after mr siegal (on heartattack and vine), i always imagined it as him lying, dying after being shot and he finally begins to regret his actions. or maybe one of siegal's victims as a flipside of the previous song
He's stealing away through her window blinds. A person couldn't do that. She's holding her pillow, indicating that he hadn't spent the night with her. Darkened hall, hobos keeping fires burning is the light at the end of the tunnel. The wind took her scarf off the clothesline, disturbed the wind chimes as his spirit passed. I never put it all together until I read your comment. You're right, he's a Soldier who has died in war, come to say his last goodbye to his love.
He's stealing away through her window blinds. A person couldn't do that. She's holding her pillow, indicating that he hadn't spent the night with her. Darkened hall, hobos keeping fires burning is the light at the end of the tunnel. The wind took her scarf off the clothesline, disturbed the wind chimes as his spirit passed. I never put it all together until I read your comment. You're right, he's a Soldier who has died in war, come to say his last goodbye to his love.
Dammit, man...I'd never thought to look at it that way, but now I'm crying my eyes out.
Dammit, man...I'd never thought to look at it that way, but now I'm crying my eyes out.
@aSaltyDog
@aSaltyDog
“He's stealing away through her window blinds. A person couldn't do that. “
“He's stealing away through her window blinds. A person couldn't do that. “
Of course a person can pass through “blinds” (he doesn’t specify “window blinds”, he just says ‘I’ll steal away out through your blinds’), especially vertical blinds on a glass/screen door
Of course a person can pass through “blinds” (he doesn’t specify “window blinds”, he just says ‘I’ll steal away out through your blinds’), especially vertical blinds on a glass/screen door
Speechless... Such a wonderful song, and somehow Christmas time makes this song so much more powerful.
Is it sad that I discovered this song from Robert Pattinson itunes playlist? ALl the same, I love this song. I think it is very interesting that the things he does take are almost as a defense, to layer and protect him, "railroad boots, and my leather jacket...the scarf off of your clothesline." Notice her name is Ruby which reflects love, strong emotions, a fire which is put out by "everything's turning blue now," the rain. He notes the "broken window chimes," which could reflect the song of their love, it will never play again. The Christmas reference could almost be interpreted as his leaving--"i'll never kiss your lips again,or break your heart, as i say goodbye--"is the gift he is giving her, saying that "there'll be someone else to hold you."
ahhh, the work of a true lyrical genius.
The lyrics above are incorrect, the lyrics are "by christmas TIME" not "by christmas". So your point about by Christmas is a big stretch.
The lyrics above are incorrect, the lyrics are "by christmas TIME" not "by christmas". So your point about by Christmas is a big stretch.
I agree the song is about leaving someone because you love them too much to have them stay with someone that is no good for them (the singer).
I agree the song is about leaving someone because you love them too much to have them stay with someone that is no good for them (the singer).
Tom's goodbye to Rickie Lee Jones, makes me cry like a bitch, wish he would have stayed with her she is real and not phoney.
One of the most beautiful break up songs ever written. The soldier leaving his "war lover" behind. Waits manages to repress his emotions until he hits "So Jesus Christ". Goosebumps everytime !!!
@Carlos deJackal “ Jesus Christ, this goddamn rain”, I believe, is actually his tears, since he mentions “morning light” earlier in the song, that it’s turning everth8ng “blue”, seems unlikely if it was raining/cloudy.
@Carlos deJackal “ Jesus Christ, this goddamn rain”, I believe, is actually his tears, since he mentions “morning light” earlier in the song, that it’s turning everth8ng “blue”, seems unlikely if it was raining/cloudy.
beautiful..................................................
Great song, I love Nanci Griffiths version too.
Is it just me, or does he know that she's pregnant? He knows for sure by Christmas she'll have someone else to hold, not that he's going to be replaced. What a beautiful, ethereal visit of a spirit before his body is loaded on a train and shipped home. I get goose bumps every time I hear this song.
What a beautiful song, from the Salvation Army style brass band at the intro to the lush strings off the main song, it has a sense of sadness and finality to it. The perfect song to illustrate a relationship break up that I have ever heard.