Kenny Rogers & The First Edition: Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town (Stereo Studio Sound Re-Edit)

Kenny Rogers & The First Edition: Ruby, Don't Take Your Love To Town - March 2, 1972 (My "Stereo Studio Sound" Re-Edit)

"Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town" is a song written by Mel Tillis about a paralyzed veteran who lies helplessly as his wife "paints [herself] up" to go out for the evening without him; he believes she is going in search of a lover. As he hears the door slam behind her, he claims that he would murder her if he could move to get his gun, and pleads for her to reconsider. A line in the song about a "crazy Asian war" and the time of the song's release led to the assumption the song was about a veteran of the Vietnam War, though this was never stated in the lyrics. However, Tillis stated that the song was about a veteran of World War II.

"Ruby" was first recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1966. Johnny Darrell reached number nine on the country charts with the song in 1967, and Kenny Rogers and The First Edition released it in 1969. They recorded their version of the song, with Rogers singing the lead, in a single take. The record became an international hit for them, reaching number two in the UK Singles Chart and staying in the top-ten for 12 weeks. In the United States it reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the country chart.