Now playing

Ruby And Carlos

Chords

4.713 votes

Listen

YouTubeYouTube SpotifySpotify AppleApple Music

Gmajor

90BPM

Lyrics & ChordsClick chords to see diagrams

                           G              Cadd9        F#x2
GRuby said "Cadd9You're gettin' us F#in a world of hurt,  GDown below the Cadd9Mason-Dumbass linF#e the food gets worse.
Cadd9I can't go back to F#Tennessee that GNASCAR country's nCadd9ot for me, GEmo on...if you think F#you must."
                G              Cadd9          F#x2
Carlos packed his drums up in the dark of night, Ruby's standing just outside the front porch light
Cadd9Chain-smoking F#Camel straights tGhe sky off to the east gCadd9ot gray, EmAnd he rolled off in a F#cloud of dust.
                 Cadd9.                 F#                                G  Cadd9  
And the gray colt knickered at the gate,  She said "You're right it's getting late.
EmYou and me got work to do, we can't F#be burning daylight too."
   Cadd9.                       F#                            G          Cadd9      Em  F#  
She took down the long lead rope, and stayed off that slippery slope
             G            Cadd9             F#x2
The aspen trees were turning gold up top,  The talk was buzzin 'round the beauty shop
Cadd9.                           F#                         G  Cadd9  
"Wasn't he barely half her age?,  Well that's just how they do now days
EmWe should all had been so luckF#y."
                  G               Cadd9              F#x2
By spring she'd had the run of the free born men, Ruby turned 50 in a sheep camp tent
Cadd9.                            F#                              G  Cadd9  
Her body still could rock all night, but her heart was closed and locked up tight
EPotato fields all muddy and brown, tF#he gossip long since quieted down
Cadd9And after one more CF#oggins test, PGouring coffee for the Cadd9county vet
EmPictures on the ice box door, of F#Carlos in the first Gulf War
Cadd9Black-eyed brown and youthful face, F#smiling back from a Saudi base
And then Cadd9Carlos on the F#big bay mare, GHeavier now and Cadd9longer hair
EmLooking past the saddle shed, F#From way on back inside his head
Cadd9And the old vet F#said, "One day, Rube, tGhat colt will break an Cadd9egg in you
EmNow and then one comes along you F#just can't ride." And he went on home.
Cadd9And the storm door didn't F#catch, It blew Gback hard as she struck Cadd9a match
EmBut she cupped it just in time??.  And she F#sent that ash tray 
       Cadd9                F#   G\  F#\ Em  
And holding back the flood, Just don't do no good
     Cadd9                      F#   G\  F#\ Em  
You can't unclench your teeth, To howl the way you should
            Cadd9              F#   G\  F#\ Em  
So you curl your lips around, The taste, the tears, and the hollow sound
Cadd9That no one owns but you, No oF#ne owns but you
     Cadd9   F#   Em   F#   Cadd9   F#
               G           Cadd9                 F#x2
Carlos took the road gig and he saw it through, He rode the tour bus while the singer flew
Cadd9Managed out of music row, F#Carlos never saw the studio, EmSession guys had that all sewn uF#p.
             G               Cadd9               F#x2
He looks out the window and it starts to sleet, Laying on a friend's couch on Nevada Street
Cadd9Lately he's been F#staying high, GSick all winter and they Cadd9don't know why
TEmhey don't know why or they just won't say, They don't F#talk much down at the V.A.
Cadd9And Ruby's in his thouF#ghts sometimes, GWhat thoughts can get out Cadd9past the wine
EmHe feels her fingers on his brow, And rF#ight then he misses how
Cadd9She looked in that gray morning light, ShF#e never shaved like they all do now
Cadd9He sees it all behind his eyes, and his F#hands go searching but they come up dry
Cadd9And half way in that wakin' dream, F#Carlos lets the land line ring
GHe never guessed it was Ruby calling, The Cadd9pin in her hip from the gray colt falling
EmFigure eight in a lazy lope, F#Stumbled on that slippery slope
          Cadd9             F#   G\  F#\ Em  
And holding back the flood, Just don't do no good
          Cadd9                 F#   G\  F#\ Em  
You can't unclench your teeth, To howl the way you should
          Cadd9               F#   G\  F#\ Em  
So you curl your lips around, The taste, the tears, and the hollow sound
Cadd9That no one owns but you, No F#one owns but you

All chords in this song (5)

🎸 Tips from players

Got a tip for playing this song — capo position, easier chords, strumming? Be the first to share one.

Chord Book

670,000+ free guitar chords · free-chords.com

Ruby And Carlos

by James McMurtry

Lyrics & chords · Original key

Chords in this song · guitar

Cadd9

G Cadd9 F#

G Cadd9 F# G Cadd9 F#

Ruby said "You're gettin' us in a world of hurt, Down below the Mason-Dumbass line the food gets worse.

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9 Em F#

I can't go back to Tennessee that NASCAR country's not for me, Go on...if you think you must."

G Cadd9 F#

Carlos packed his drums up in the dark of night, Ruby's standing just outside the front porch light

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9 Em F#

Chain-smoking Camel straights the sky off to the east got gray, And he rolled off in a cloud of dust.

F# G Cadd9

Cadd9.

And the gray colt knickered at the gate, She said "You're right it's getting late.

Em F#

You and me got work to do, we can't be burning daylight too."

F# G Cadd9 Em F#

Cadd9.

She took down the long lead rope, and stayed off that slippery slope

G Cadd9 F#

The aspen trees were turning gold up top, The talk was buzzin 'round the beauty shop

F# G Cadd9

Cadd9.

"Wasn't he barely half her age?, Well that's just how they do now days

Em F#

We should all had been so lucky."

G Cadd9 F#

By spring she'd had the run of the free born men, Ruby turned 50 in a sheep camp tent

F# G Cadd9

Cadd9.

Her body still could rock all night, but her heart was closed and locked up tight

E F#

Potato fields all muddy and brown, the gossip long since quieted down

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9

And after one more Coggins test, Pouring coffee for the county vet

Em F#

Pictures on the ice box door, of Carlos in the first Gulf War

Cadd9 F#

Black-eyed brown and youthful face, smiling back from a Saudi base

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9

And then Carlos on the big bay mare, Heavier now and longer hair

Em F#

Looking past the saddle shed, From way on back inside his head

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9

And the old vet said, "One day, Rube, that colt will break an egg in you

Em F#

Now and then one comes along you just can't ride." And he went on home.

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9

And the storm door didn't catch, It blew back hard as she struck a match

Em F#

But she cupped it just in time??. And she sent that ash tray

Cadd9 F# G F# Em

\ \

And holding back the flood, Just don't do no good

Cadd9 F# G F# Em

\ \

You can't unclench your teeth, To howl the way you should

Cadd9 F# G F# Em

\ \

So you curl your lips around, The taste, the tears, and the hollow sound

Cadd9 F#

That no one owns but you, No one owns but you

Cadd9 F# Em F# Cadd9 F#

G Cadd9 F#

Carlos took the road gig and he saw it through, He rode the tour bus while the singer flew

Cadd9 F# Em F#

Managed out of music row, Carlos never saw the studio, Session guys had that all sewn up.

G Cadd9 F#

He looks out the window and it starts to sleet, Laying on a friend's couch on Nevada Street

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9

Lately he's been staying high, Sick all winter and they don't know why

Em F#

They don't know why or they just won't say, They don't talk much down at the V.A.

Cadd9 F# G Cadd9

And Ruby's in his thoughts sometimes, What thoughts can get out past the wine

Em F#

He feels her fingers on his brow, And right then he misses how

Cadd9 F#

She looked in that gray morning light, She never shaved like they all do now

Cadd9 F#

He sees it all behind his eyes, and his hands go searching but they come up dry

Cadd9 F#

And half way in that wakin' dream, Carlos lets the land line ring

G Cadd9

He never guessed it was Ruby calling, The pin in her hip from the gray colt falling

Em F#

Figure eight in a lazy lope, Stumbled on that slippery slope

Cadd9 F# G F# Em

\ \

And holding back the flood, Just don't do no good

Cadd9 F# G F# Em

\ \

You can't unclench your teeth, To howl the way you should

Cadd9 F# G F# Em

\ \

So you curl your lips around, The taste, the tears, and the hollow sound

Cadd9 F#

That no one owns but you, No one owns but you

About Ruby And Carlos Chords by James McMurtry

Learn how to play Ruby And Carlos by James McMurtry with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Ruby And Carlos chords”, “Ruby And Carlos guitar chords”, or “James McMurtry Ruby And Carlos chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Ruby And Carlos chords and for experienced players who want accurate Ruby And Carlos lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Cadd9, F#, Em, E, A.

FAQ — Ruby And Carlos by James McMurtry

How do I play "Ruby And Carlos" by James McMurtry on guitar?

Open the free chords for "Ruby And Carlos" by James McMurtry on Free Chord Book. Tap any chord to see its diagram, use transpose to change the key, and turn on auto-scroll to play hands-free.

Are the chords for "Ruby And Carlos" by James McMurtry free?

Yes. The chords for "Ruby And Carlos" by James McMurtry are 100% free on Free Chord Book — no sign-up required.

Can I transpose "Ruby And Carlos" to a different key?

Yes. Use the transpose buttons on the song page to shift "Ruby And Carlos" up or down by half-steps so it matches your vocal range or capo position.

Can I see chord diagrams for "Ruby And Carlos"?

Yes. Tap any chord in "Ruby And Carlos" to instantly see an interactive guitar chord diagram with alternate fingerings.

Is "Ruby And Carlos" easy to play on guitar?

Many players learn "Ruby And Carlos" by James McMurtry with our free chords. Use transpose and chord diagrams to simplify tricky shapes, and browse related songs by James McMurtry below.

What key is "Ruby And Carlos" in?

The chords for "Ruby And Carlos" show the original chord names (including G, Cadd9, F#, Em, E, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.