[Verse 1]

Mother (Mother), ooh

Mother, mother, mo-mo-mo-mo-mo-mother

You underestimated your child

Because I was only three

I still had had eyes, and, oh, how I could see

I couldn't respect you, mama

That's why I called you, I called you by your first name

I said Ruby

Ruby Dean

Don't take your love to town

[Verse 2]

Woah-oh, Ruby Dean

No, no, a-don't take your love to town, don't do it now

'Cause I can't stand to hear the screen door slam

I know you're leaving me, why can't you let it be?

Ruby Dean, he was everything to me, he's just too blind too see

Through you, Ruby Dean, please stop doing my dad this way

Yeah

Don't take your love to town

[Refrain]

Ruby

Don't take your love to town, yeah

[Verse 3]

He breeds you and me far as the eye can see

Let my dad go free, I don't mind you doin' it to me, Ruby Dean

Been good to me, why don't you let him be?

Please, Ruby Dean, woah, Ruby Dean, oh-oh-oh

Ruby, Ruby, Ruby, Ruby Dean

You can't take your love to town

Ruby Dean

A-don't take your love to town

[Refrain]

Woah-oh, woah, yeah

Don't take your love to town

[Outro]

Why don't you spend a little more time around your home?

I can look in my dad's eyes

I can see that he's tired of being alone

Ruby, Ruby Dean

Ruby Dean, Ruby Dean

Ooh, Ruby Dean