She danced in the dirty streets, satin shoes tied to her feet
People 'round here said she was a sight
Every night when the sun went down, she'd curtsy and take a bow
To the man in the moon and the dim street lights
We held in high regard, the rose in the mission yard
Singin', "Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight"
And her name was Ru- by Brown
And she came through shan- ty-town
Like a queen with- out a crown
And her name was Ruby Brown, oh yeah
Long about ten years ago, she disappeared, why no one knows
But some say she was runnin' for her life
'Cause a mean lookin' man in a limousine came down from New Orleans
He said he came here lookin' for his wife
And her name was Ruby Brown
And she came through shanty town
Like a queen with- out a crown
And her name was Ruby Brown, oh yeah
Some say he beat her bad 'til she just went plain mad
But I say she went where he could never go
And her name was Ruby Brown
And she came through shanty town
Like a queen with- out a crown
And her name was Ruby Brown, oh yeah