Back when Kenny Rodgers was with the First Edition their follow up to their big hit “Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)” was “Ruby Don’t Take Your Love to Town.”
Come to find out, the song (Ruby) was written (and performed) by Mel Tillis. There were a lot of country acts that took a stab (figuratively) at it, including the Statler Brothers and Waylon Jennings.
But the version most of us remember was Kenny Rodgers and the First Editions more main- stream take on the sad lament of the wounded veteran and his dissolving bond with his woman (wife? it’s unclear in the song). Watch
Turns out, Ruby was beyond reproach with a response song to her man’s pleading, recorded by Geraldine Stevens. Here
I’ve heard that it was the Wrecking Crew that played the backing instruments on the studio version of Just Dropped In.
Awesome post. Really awesome post. I always thought Ruby was one of the most depressing songs I ever heard. This adds a whole new dynamic. Gotta scratch that itch. Until your 28.
Really miss the days way back when we had decent music…
Now whenever I hear “Just Dropped In”, I immediately visualize The Dude in the dream sequence from The Big Lebowski.
Brad, actually the song And When I Die by Blood, Sweat and Tears is worse along with Ode To Billie Jo and Harper Valley PTA. They all suck.
Loved the songs/tunes back when they weren’t written to glorify satanic themes and actually told stories common to the culture and daily struggle.
My sad Sony is Harry Chapin and “Bummer” because I knew so many friends (black ones – Hey Jesse!) who lived it.
Hm. Kinda vague. Sounds like she is implying her fidelity without actually promising it. I could be wrong. Maybe one of you ladies can “womansplain” it to me.
Hasn’t “Ruby” been around long enough now to be considered part of the American Song Book? And then there’s “Long Black Veil” and “Paradise” which stand tall on their own as well. We’ve had some good ones, but I’m not hearing much that’s memorable lately. Remember “Old Town Road” with Lil Nash X? It blew up because of TikTok but just sort of disappeared all of a sudden? I couldn’t sing a line of that song to you now, but I could probably make my way through “Ruby,” and that makes it a standard.
Maybe Billy should meet Lucille.