Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town

Flatt And Scruggs · Other Songs - Flatt And Scruggs

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

Ruby don't take your love to town

It wasn't me who started that old crazy Asian war

But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chores

Yes it's true I'm not the man I used to be but Ruby

I still need your company

[ banjo - dobro ]It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralized

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

Ruby don't take your love to town

She's leaving now cause I've just heard the slamming of the door

The way I know I've heard it slam one hundred times before

And if I could move I get my gun and put her in the ground

Ruby don't take your love to town

Oh Ruby don't take your love to town for God sakes turn around

Ruby Don't Take Your Love To Town

Flatt and Scruggs delivered a definitive bluegrass interpretation of this classic heartbreak narrative, showcasing the duo's signature instrumental prowess and vocal harmony. The recording captures the raw emotional intensity characteristic of their work during the genre's golden era, blending Lester Flatt's smooth lead vocals with Earl Scruggs' revolutionary three-finger banjo style. While the song has been covered by numerous artists across various styles, this version remains a staple of the bluegrass canon, emphasizing the instrumental interplay that defined the group's sound. The track stands as a testament to their ability to elevate traditional songwriting through dynamic arrangement and precise execution, securing its place within their extensive discography of influential recordings.