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Cake — Ruby, Don't Take Your Love to Town
Album: Wheels - EP
Avg rating:
6.2

Your rating:
Total ratings: 205









Released: 2005
Length: 2:48
Plays (last 30 days): 0
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.
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

It wasn't me that started that ol' crazy Asian war.
But I was proud to go and do my patriotic chore.

And yes, it's true that I'm not the man I used to be.
Oh Ruby, I still need some company.

It's hard to love a man whose legs are bent and paralyzed
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
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

She's leaving now, 'cause I 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'd get my gun and put her in the ground.
Oh Ruby, don't take your love to town.

Oh Ruby, God sakes turn around....
Comments (58)add comment
 grahamdillabough wrote:
Hmmm.... I much prefer the original.

I won't hit PSD though.  I'll tough it out to the end. 

 
Same here.  Very much like the original.  This version leaves much to be desired.  
way way better than Kenny Rogers...
The gambler album was on big rotation for dinner when I was a kid.

Cake does a nice job.

 
Been Listening to RP for a number of years now and have yet to encounter a tune I thought had no redeeming qualities, until now. This blows goats.
Hmmm.... I much prefer the original.

I won't hit PSD though.  I'll tough it out to the end. 
Well, I would prefer the ORIGINAL version, but I do like me some Cake too.
 Baby_M wrote:
This is wrong. Just...wrong.
 
Nah. This is SO wrong it's right. 
Not something I would except to be covered but good non the less.
love Cake but this one is too sincere, too sad and poignant. it doesn't deserve the ironic hipster treatment.
Not sure what to think...not used to Cake singing an old ballad. Interesting and different that they did this, so will give them credit for that!
 
I love Cake - but this is kinda "meh..."
Now this is the sort of 'country' (and/or western) which I really, really loathe. Lacrimose, melodramatic cobblers. At least Cake are taking the piss out of the original, which makes it bearable.

I thank RP for introducing me to real 'country' (no western).
first time I heard this song.  As I listened to the lyrics, what age is Ruby?
Awesome, my parents had the original playing on the jukebox in our bar back in the early 80s. Great flashback. 
Hey! That was .... weird, but kinda fun, too. LOL at the end with the ad lib.
This is wrong. Just...wrong.
This is cult!
Cool dry sound on the vocals.
I still love the original. I love me some Cake, too : ) Great to hear this!
Probably the best song Mel Tillis ever wrote, which is saying a Hell of a lot. Even Kenny Rogers couldn't completely f__ it up.

This a really good version, too. {#Cowboy}

What, Kenny Rogers on RP? Ohhh, it's Cake! Gotcha ....  then the real thing. Double gotcha. Bill, you are such a scamp. {#Whistle}


flyboy wrote:
This is my favorite Kenny Rogers song. Cake doesn't do too bad a job. They didn't do much to change it.

WOW!
You took words from my mouth.
Same here {#Hug}
Both are really good versions.
 Art_Carnage wrote:
Is this supposed be ironic? Or did they intend to perform it with 0.00% conviction?
 
I find this version more affecting than the original. 
Oh my god, Cake covering Ruby Don't Take Your Love to Town! Brilliant!!!
valerama wrote:
Cool, now follow this with The Gambler or Coward of the County!
Or better yet... "Just Dropped In... To See What Condition My Condition Was In".
Geecheeboy wrote:
What new did they add? Sounds awfully close to the original.
I think they added the "Get back in here!" (shouted, in background) at the end. It made the song for me.
Digging this even more. Agent orange, 40 years later: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080712.COVER12/TPStory/?query=agent+orange
This is my favorite Kenny Rogers song. Cake doesn't do too bad a job. They didn't do much to change it.
Monster wrote:
I sure do love my Cake.... wonderful musicians
...and eat it to!
Mmmm... Cake...
Cool, now follow this with The Gambler or Coward of the County!
Tounge in cheek, romantic, stupid, fantastic, familiar, awesome, campy. I love it!
Sort of Wilco or Ryan Adams, this way. Very nice.
RadioDoc wrote:
Well that was stupid. Didn't think the Kenny Rogers version could be made worse. Cake did it. Well done.
Actually I think Cake's ironic renditions make country music almost palatable for me. They made me like "I Will Survive" too, and disco was never exactly a big fav.
Alright! Kenny Rodgers and the First Edition. I didn't think I'd ever hear them on RP. Ooops, I guess it was Cake....should have known.
Well that was stupid. Didn't think the Kenny Rogers version could be made worse. Cake did it. Well done.
Cake doing Kenny Rogers...who woulda thunk it?
Cake must say to themselves....hum, what off the wall cover can we do next?
a second helping of Cake today - thank you!
What new did they add? Sounds awfully close to the original.
Love Cake, just not this particular flavor.
awesome!
Is this supposed be ironic? Or did they intend to perform it with 0.00% conviction?
Digging it.
I sure do love my Cake.... wonderful musicians
Nice take Cake.
mamerjamer wrote:
I'm not typically a fan of covers, but this one is very well done.
The "War Pigs" cover off the B-Sides and Rarities album (this one is also available on that album)is also very well done. If anyone is a fan of CAKE, you must pick up B-Sides and Rarities :)!
I'm not typically a fan of covers, but this one is very well done.
Fun :P)
After Morphine? ... Hep me unnerstand!
BluEyes wrote:
Wasn't this a Kenny Rogers song? Should I be ashamed that I know that? Bill just confirmed it so I'm in good company!
No prob with oldfashioned country clowns if the music is good enough to be covered by Cake.
I was just thinking, from the other room, "This had better be Cake."
This wasn't pleasant originally and this version plays it as a jaunty country/western song.
BluEyes wrote:
Wasn't this a Kenny Rogers song? Should I be ashamed that I know that?
No. Should I be ashamed that I actually enjoyed the tune?
Wasn't this a Kenny Rogers song? Should I be ashamed that I know that? Bill just confirmed it so I'm in good company!
I like this version. Makes for a great mix.
reminds me a little of both johnny cash (title) and bob dylan (rhythm of words/tune)...