Ruby's Lounge

(album: L.A. Sessions - 1976)

Ruby's lounge was none too clean
The lights never worked on the pinball machine
The sawdust floor hadn't been swept in years
Brass spittoons and padded stools
The same collection of half drunk fools
Joking with Ruby or crying in their beers

Ruby's Lounge had a neon sign
The big old ugly blinking kind
It said "Ruby's Lounge... Your Husband's Not Here"
And ten cents played a jukebox tune
Old songs like "Shine On Harvest Moon"
And six bits bought a pitcher of cold draft beer

Oh Ruby, Ruby, time has flown
And (look) how your little girl has grown
Ruby's Lounge seems oh so far away
But Ruby, you never stopped to rest
So your little girl could have the best
And I'll love you, mama, and Ruby's Lounge
Until my dying day

Now Ruby's Lounge had a clientele
They didn't dress, they didn't pay too well
But ev'ry night you could count on 'em
Dropping in
An occasional fight or a dirty word
Wasn't nothing that I hadn't heard
And I've never left safer anywhere I've been

When a man was down without a friend
Ruby always had a buck to lend
And she'd set him up
She'd say "Go on and drink one free"
While I washed mugs and I cleaned the bar
Oh I dreamed someday I'd be a big star
But Ruby's Lounge was home sweet home to me

Oh Ruby, Ruby, time has flown
And (look) how your little girl has grown
Ruby's Lounge seems oh so far away
But Ruby, you never stopped to rest
So your little girl could have the best
And I'll love you, mama, and Ruby's Lounge
Until my dying day

Oh Ruby, Ruby, how time has flown
Oh look how your little girl has grown
Ruby's Lounge seems oh so far away
Bur Ruby you never stopped to rest
And you sure gave your little girl the best
And I'll love you, mama, and Ruby's Lounge
Until my dying day...