In Nineteen and A harlot who was hot to Gave a little bijoux to the world a blacksmith for a makeshift doc In a cat house far from Her goldmine to bear a baby girl
When the screamed from life's first slap The said, "Kid, get used to that You'll meet a day that isn't cruel" And she wrapped her in a petticoat Grabbed a and made a toast Here's to my bastard, Ruby Jewel
And the man at the played a tune And sang and danced in the saloon Ruby (Ruby) No, not (Ruby) Ruby
among the guttersnipe While her mama a Chinese pipe The salad days for didn't last to work and pay her dues Inside that poor man's Rouge A kid had to grow up fast
and day she toiled and sweat While brothel patrons their bets On who would be the first to her in one night the madam screams "Ruby, get to thirteen There's someone there who thinks you're a gem"
And the man at the piano a tune And everybody and danced in the saloon Except (Ruby) No, not (Ruby) Ruby
In done-up hair and a borrowed She climbed the scared to death Said a prayer and tiptoed the door But on deaf her prayer fell 'Cause through a tear she at hell Standing in nothing but his drawers
She recognized the chin eyes and foul-mouthed grin He was the man who wore the star She to turn around and run But he out his big six gun And said, "Hon, you get very far"
And the man at the piano a tune And everybody sang and in the saloon Ruby (Ruby) No, not (Ruby) Jewel
Ruby woke up in bed A crimson pool between her as the day she was born But lying there to him Made her wish she been If was all that living had in store
sure he was asleep She quietly got to her his gun and aimed it between his eyes She it there til he came to So he stare down the barrel too the trigger once and watched him die
And the man at the played a tune And everybody sang and in the saloon Except (Ruby) No, not (Ruby) Jewel
On a night in nineteen twelve Locked inside the town's new Ruby carved a message in the morning came, hacks lead her out In ankle chains through the crowd Who waited in the mud to the show
walked her up the gallows steps Put the around her neck the trap as all the watchers cheered But on the wall of a In a tiny scrawl and Were the words, Jewel was here'
And the man at the piano played a And everybody and danced in the saloon Ruby (Ruby) No, not (Ruby) Jewel