Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town (Mel Tillis cover)

The Killers

You've painted up your lips and rolled and curled your tinted hair
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
Oh Ruby, I still need some company

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


Lyrics submitted by foreverago, edited by Mellow_Harsher

Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town Lyrics as written by Mel Tillis

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town (Mel Tillis cover) song meanings
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21 Comments

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  • +3
    General CommentThe song is about a disabled, dying veteran of "that old crazy Asian war" (the Korean War), who begs his lover not to cheat on him. Tillis based the song on a couple who lived near his family in Florida. In real life, the man was wounded in Germany in World War II and sent to recuperate in England. There he married a nurse who took care of him at the hospital. The two of them moved to Florida shortly afterward, but he had periodic return trips to the hospital as problems with his wounds kept flaring up. His wife saw another man as the veteran lay in the hospital. Tillis changed the war to the more recent Korean War in the song, and departed from the ending that happened in real life: the man killed his wife in a murder-suicide. This is however alluded to in the song, with the singer avowing, "If I could move I'd get my gun and put her in the ground.this info was provided by wiki
    rickygon December 09, 2007   Link
  • +1
    General CommentThis song is definately about a war vet, i know that much. But i dont think it's about a prostitute, i'ts probably about his girlfriend who was lonely during the 'crazy asian war' but she waited for him anyway. And when he returned home, he wasn't the man he was when he left and she has 'needs' that he can't fulfill.
    rebeldiamondson May 17, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentk well ive never heard this song before and no one else has commented on this song but yeah ermmm me story for this song is: there's a dude and a chica(ruby) and they have some sort of couple relationship going on and i guess he came back from a war and she doesnt like the way he looks now i guess so she gets ready and leaves him and he's all "oh ruby dont take your luv to town, oh ruby i still need your company, oh ruby for god's sake turn around!!!" but she just left yeah shallow bastard she is i guess cause he was all. " It's hard to luv a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed" and she was just "pft whatever your legs arent great and have no purpose so im leaving you!!!" i dont liek her!!! but yeah tahts my story i guess so yeah...i need to find this song!!!
    .::.tralalalala.::.on August 09, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentIf you didn't know, this is song is a cover originally from Kenny Rogers.
    killing_spreeon August 24, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentwow, this isn't like anything I've ever heard by the killers- You can listen to this song @ hype.non-standard.com

    I like it, but it has a very country twang to it. the intro is adorable, you gotta
    rayne_bhowon October 25, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI completely agree with rayne bhow. I had to listen really close because I couldn't believe that Brandon would do a cover of a country song. Although I was skeptical, it actually is him and the intro is super adorable!
    Pink Angel Cakeon November 19, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General CommentI've loved the Killers for so long. I've loved Kenny
    Rogers for so long. Holy shit! I'm gunna cry...
    Mr.Phoenixon December 05, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Commentfor god's sake turn around

    quite sexy damn im not ruby but if someone sang that to me id turn around!
    maddilneon April 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentabout the song, takes a sinsiter turn towards the end, with the murderous thoughts...which all of us have though of at least about someone who they hate so much . he hates her so much because he still loves her and he doesnt want her to be wiht anyone...
    brandon loves twists in tales etc
    maddilneon April 29, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Commentso this Ruby chick...

    does 'don't take your love to town' mean don't go in to town with him, her 'love[r]', or don't leave me [speaker] and go live in the city?

    and i'm gonna agree that this is about a war vet.
    the 'patriotic chore', the paralyzed legs, it all adds up.

    the part where he says, 'if i could move/ i'd get my gun/ and put her in the ground' after she leaves, it seems like if he wasn't paralyzed and stuck where he was he'd shoot and kill her...

    anyone got ideas why?
    Zaraiyaon November 26, 2007   Link

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