Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town - wikipedia Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' Single by Johnny Darrell from the album Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town B - side `` The Little Things I Love '' Released 1967 Format 7 '' single Genre Country Length 2 : 16 Label United Artists Songwriter ( s ) Mel Tillis Producer ( s ) Bob Montgomery Johnny Darrell singles chronology `` She 's Mighty Gone '' ( 1966 ) `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' ( 1967 ) `` My Elusive Dreams '' ( 1967 ) `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' is a song written by Mel Tillis about a paralyzed veteran of a `` crazy Asian war '' ( given the time of its release, widely assumed -- but never explicitly stated -- to be the Vietnam War ) who either lies helplessly in bed or sits helplessly in his wheelchair as his wife `` paints ( herself ) up '' to go out for the evening without him ; he believes she is going in search of a lover, and as he hears the door slam behind her, he pleads for her to reconsider. The song was made famous by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition in 1969. `` Ruby '' was originally recorded by Waylon Jennings in 1966. Johnny Darrell scored a number nine country hit with it in 1967. Contents 1 Chart performance 2 The First Edition version 2.1 Chart performance 2.2 Weekly charts 2.3 Year - end charts 3 Other versions 4 Answer songs 5 Music video 6 Further reading 7 References Chart performance Chart ( 1967 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 9 The First Edition version `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' Cover of the 1969 single Single by Kenny Rogers and The First Edition from the album Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town B - side `` Girl Get Ahold Of Yourself '' Released 1969 Genre Country, pop Length 2 : 53 Label Reprise Songwriter ( s ) Mel Tillis Producer ( s ) Jimmy Bowen Kenny Rogers and The First Edition singles chronology `` Once Again, She 's All Alone '' ( 1969 ) `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' ( 1969 ) `` Reuben James '' ( 1969 ) In 1969, after the success Kenny Rogers and The First Edition had enjoyed with the hits `` Just Dropped In ( To See What Condition My Condition Was In ) '' and `` But You Know I Love You, '' Rogers wanted to take his group more into a country music direction. They recorded their version of the song, with Rogers singing the lead, in a single take. The record was a major hit for them. It made number 1 in the UK on the New Musical Express ( number 2 on the BBC chart ) staying in the top 20 for 15 weeks and selling over a million copies by the end of 1970. In the United States it reached number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 39 on the country chart. In 1977, now performing solo after the First Edition disbanded in early 1976, Rogers made re-recordings of this, and a number of other First Edition hits, for his 1977 greatest hits package Ten Years of Gold. ( It was later issued in the UK as The Kenny Rogers Singles Album. ) Ten Years of Gold topped the US country charts under that title, and as The Kenny Rogers Singles Album, it was just as successful in the United Kingdom. Chart performance Weekly charts Chart ( 1969 ) Peak position U.S. Billboard Hot 100 6 U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks 6 U.S. Billboard Hot Country Singles 39 U.S. Cash Box Top 100 7 Canadian RPM Top Singles Canadian RPM Adult Contemporary Tracks Canadian RPM Country Tracks New Zealand ( Listener ) 6 UK Singles Chart Dutch Top 40 Norway Singles Chart 9 Austrian Top 40 26 Year - end charts Chart ( 1969 ) Rank Canada RPM Top Singles 71 UK 22 U.S. Billboard Hot 100 78 U.S. Cash Box 71 Other versions The song has been recorded many times by various artists. The Statler Brothers covered it on their 1967 album, Big Country Hits. Other artists who have recorded versions include Bobby Bare, Dale Hawkins, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Jerry Reed, Roger Miller, Cake, The Killers and Leonard Nimoy. 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 ; Gerhard Wendland recorded a German version `` Ruby, schau einmal über'n Zaun '' in 1970 ; Pavel Bobek, Czech country singer, recorded `` Oh Ruby, nechtěj mi lásku brát '' in 1981 ; Gary Holton and Casino Steel 's English - language version was a number one hit in Norway at the beginning of 1982. French singer Eddy Mitchell recorded a French version entitled `` Ruby tu reviens au pays '' for his 1974 album Rocking in Nashville. Answer songs An answer song to `` Ruby, '' entitled `` 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 number 117 pop, number 57 country. In Stevens 's song, Ruby affirms her love for her disabled husband, who is named `` Billy '' in her song whereas in `` Ruby, '' he is not named. She pleads in turn for her man to have faith in her fidelity and her commitment to him even in his paralyzed condition. In 1972, Bobby Womack released the album Understanding, which included the song `` Ruby Dean. '' The lyrics and melody are similar to `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' but the story is told from the perspective of Ruby 's son. The son urges his mother to respect his father and to stop seeing other men. In the original song, no children between the couple are ever mentioned. Music video A music video consisting solely of a camera panning back and forth in a bedroom was shown at the end of a Huntley - Brinkley Report during 1969. Chet Huntley set up the video by linking it to the controversial Vietnam War and the sacrifices by U.S. servicemen and their families. Chet Huntley and David Brinkley paused after the video and then signed off in their usual fashion. Further reading Rule, Ann ( 1999 ), `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town ''. A Rage to Kill and Other True Cases. Simon and Schuster p. 291. ISBN 0 - 7434 - 2404 - 2 References ^ Jump up to : Whitburn, Joel ( 2008 ). Hot Country Songs 1944 to 2008. Record Research, Inc. p. 115. ISBN 0 - 89820 - 177 - 2. Jump up ^ `` Johnny Darrell - Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love To Town / The Little Things I Love - United Artists - USA - UA 50126 ''. 45cat. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ `` Kenny Rogers And The First Edition * - Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love To Town ( Vinyl ) ''. Discogs.com. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ Whitburn, p. 360 Jump up ^ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, August 30, 1969 Jump up ^ http://www.collectionscanada.gc.ca/rpm/028020-119.01-e.php?brws_s=1&file_num=nlc008388.6104&type=1&interval=24&PHPSESSID=mhe12pta2k83e08udtq66ot062 Jump up ^ http://www.uk-charts.top-source.info/top-100-1969.shtml Jump up ^ `` Top 100 Hits of 1969 / Top 100 Songs of 1969 ''. Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 2017 - 07 - 21. Jump up ^ Cash Box Year - End Charts : Top 100 Pop Singles, December 27, 1969 Jump up ^ Lieutenant Colonel Marc D. Felman. `` School of Advanced Airpower Studies : The Military / Media Clash and the New Principle of War : Media Spin '' ( PDF ). Au.af.mil. Retrieved 2015 - 11 - 23. Jump up ^ ( 1 ) Archived July 25, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. Bobby Bare Studio albums The Game of Triangles Notable singles `` 500 Miles '' `` The Ballad of Lucy Jordan '' `` A Dear John Letter '' `` Detroit City '' `` Four Strong Winds '' `` God Bless America Again '' `` Green, Green Grass of Home '' `` How I Got to Memphis '' `` Just to Satisfy You '' `` ( Margie 's At ) The Lincoln Park Inn '' `` Marie Laveau '' `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' `` Song of the South '' `` Streets of Baltimore '' Guest singles `` No Memories Hangin ' Round '' ( with Rosanne Cash ) Related articles Bobby Bare, Jr. Kenny Rogers Studio albums Love Lifted Me Kenny Rogers Daytime Friends Love or Something Like It The Gambler Kenny Gideon Share Your Love Love Will Turn You Around We 've Got Tonight Eyes That See in the Dark What About Me ? The Heart of the Matter They Do n't Make Them Like They Used To I Prefer the Moonlight Something Inside So Strong Love Is Strange Back Home Again If Only My Heart Had a Voice Vote for Love Across My Heart She Rides Wild Horses There You Go Again Back to the Well Water & Bridges The Love of God Amazing Grace You Ca n't Make Old Friends Collaboration albums Every Time Two Fools Collide ( with Dottie West ) Classics ( with Dottie West ) Timepiece ( with David Foster ) Christmas albums Christmas Once Upon a Christmas ( with Dolly Parton ) Christmas in America The Gift Christmas from the Heart Christmas with Kenny Christmas Collection Once Again It 's Christmas Compilations Ten Years of Gold The Kenny Rogers Singles Album Greatest Hits ( 1980 ) 20 Greatest Hits Duets The Kenny Rogers Story Love Is What We Make It Short Stories Greatest Hits ( 1988 ) Daytime Friends -- The Very Best of Kenny Rogers Live by Request 42 Ultimate Hits 21 Number Ones Notable singles `` That Crazy Feeling '' `` Just Dropped In ( To See What Condition My Condition Was In ) '' `` But You Know I Love You '' `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' `` Laura ( What 's He Got That I Ai n't Got ) '' `` Lucille '' `` Daytime Friends '' `` Sweet Music Man '' `` Every Time Two Fools Collide '' ( with Dottie West ) `` Love or Something Like It '' `` Anyone Who Is n't Me Tonight '' ( with Dottie West ) `` The Gambler '' `` All I Ever Need Is You '' ( with Dottie West ) `` She Believes in Me '' `` ' Til I Can Make It on My Own '' ( with Dottie West ) `` You Decorated My Life '' `` Coward of the County '' `` Do n't Fall in Love with a Dreamer '' ( with Kim Carnes ) `` Love the World Away '' `` Lady '' `` I Do n't Need You '' `` Share Your Love with Me '' `` Blaze of Glory '' `` Through the Years '' `` Love Will Turn You Around '' `` A Love Song '' `` We 've Got Tonight '' ( with Sheena Easton ) `` All My Life '' `` Scarlet Fever '' `` Islands in the Stream '' ( with Dolly Parton ) `` Eyes That See in the Dark '' `` This Woman '' `` Buried Treasure '' `` Together Again '' ( with Dottie West ) `` What About Me ? '' ( with Kim Carnes and James Ingram ) `` Evening Star '' `` Crazy '' `` Morning Desire '' `` Goodbye Marie '' `` Tomb of the Unknown Love '' `` Twenty Years Ago '' `` Make No Mistake, She 's Mine '' ( with Ronnie Milsap ) `` I Prefer the Moonlight '' `` The Factory '' `` I Do n't Call Him Daddy '' `` When You Put Your Heart in It '' `` Planet Texas '' `` The Vows Go Unbroken ( Always True to You ) '' `` Maybe '' ( with Holly Dunn ) `` Love Is Strange '' ( with Dolly Parton ) `` Crazy in Love '' `` If You Want to Find Love '' `` Ol ' Red '' `` Mary, Did You Know ? '' ( with Wynonna Judd ) `` The Greatest '' `` Buy Me a Rose '' ( with Alison Krauss and Billy Dean ) `` He Will, She Knows '' `` There You Go Again '' `` Homeland '' `` I Ca n't Unlove You '' Guest singles `` What Are We Doin ' in Love '' ( with Dottie West ) `` Real Love '' ( with Dolly Parton ) `` If I Ever Fall in Love Again '' ( with Anne Murray ) Related articles Discography The First Edition Kenny Rogers Roasters Book : Kenny Rogers Kenny Rogers and The First Edition Kenny Rogers Mary Arnold Thelma Camacho Jimmy Hassell John Hobbs Mickey Jones Gene Lorenzo Mike Settle Kin Vassy Terry Williams Studio albums The First Edition ( 1967 ) Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love To Town ( 1969 ) Something 's Burning ( 1970 ) Tell It All Brother ( 1970 ) Transition ( 1971 ) The Ballad of Calico ( 1972 ) I 'm Not Making Music for Money ( 1974 ) Singles `` Just Dropped In ( To See What Condition My Condition Was In ) '' `` But You Know I Love You '' `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' `` Today I Started Loving You Again '' Mel Tillis Collaboration albums Old Dogs Notable singles `` Life Turned Her That Way '' `` I Ai n't Never '' `` Good Woman Blues '' `` Heart Healer '' `` I Got the Hoss '' `` What Did I Promise Her Last Night '' `` I Believe in You '' `` Ai n't No California '' `` Send Me Down to Tucson '' `` Coca - Cola Cowboy '' `` Blind in Love '' `` Lying Time Again '' `` Southern Rains '' `` Stay a Little Longer '' `` City Lights '' Related articles Discography Pam Tillis `` Detroit City '' `` Ruby, Do n't Take Your Love to Town '' `` Honey ( Open That Door ) '' Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ruby,_Don%27t_Take_Your_Love_to_Town&oldid=853215486 '' Categories : 1969 singles Kenny Rogers songs Kenny Rogers and The First Edition songs Number - one singles in Norway Songs written by Mel Tillis Johnny Darrell songs The Killers songs RPM Adult Contemporary number - one singles Song recordings produced by Bob Montgomery ( songwriter ) Song recordings produced by Jimmy Bowen 1967 songs Hidden categories : Webarchive template wayback links Articles with hAudio microformats Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 3 August 2018, at 05 : 44 ( UTC ). 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Question: who wrote ruby dont take your love to town
Answer: Mel Tillis