[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