Kenny Rogers & The First Edition: "Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town" (Live - 1972)

"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" is a song written by Mel Tillis which was made famous by Kenny Rogers and the First Edition in 1969. "Ruby" was originally recorded in 1967 by Johnny Darrell, who scored a number nine country hit with it that year.

According to wikipedia, the song has been recorded many times by various artists. The The Statler Brothers had perhaps the first cover in 1967 on their album, Big Country Hits. Other artists who have recorded versions cover the modern pop-music gamut, including Bobby Bare, Dale Hawkins, Carl Perkins, Cake, Leonard Nimoy, and The Killers.

Several foreign-language versions have been recorded: Greek singer Nana Mouskouri recorded a French version entitled "Ruby, garde ton cœur ici" for her 1970 album Dans le soleil et dans le vent; Pavel Bobek, Czech country singer, recorded "Oh Ruby, nechtěj mi lásku brát" in 1981; Gary Holton and Casino Steel's version was a number one hit in Norway at the beginning of 1982.

An answer song, "Billy, I've Got To Go To Town," was released in 1969 by Geraldine Stevens who had previously recorded successfully under the name Dodie Stevens. Sung to the same melody with an arrangement quite similar to the First Edition version, "Billy" peaked at #117 pop, #57 country.


- Lyrics:

You've painted up your lips and 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 wasn't me that started this whole crazy Asian war
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore
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 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'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've heard it slam 100 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 sakes turn around