# Delta Dawn/Ruby Red Dress type of songs **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 14, 2015, 10:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496 "2015-06-14T10:58:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/21 "2015-06-14T23:04:22Z")
Sorry, just remembered another one from the 70s: [Brandy](https://youtu.be/Ep7FWnbAaCI) - Looking Glass ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/22 "2015-06-14T23:35:16Z")
[The Hills of Shiloh](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQvdKM51Vn8) - Shel Silverstein song, sung by Judy Collins. [Dogtown](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmLAF2lB_90) - Harry Chapin (about that crazy widow Cather) ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/23 "2015-06-14T23:41:42Z")
[The late, hilarious Gilda Radner sings for your dancing and dining pleasure:](https://youtu.be/IQQhCU3Xxtc?t=35) ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2015, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/24 "2015-06-14T23:49:50Z")
One from the 80s: [Angel in Blue](https://youtu.be/q4YhOCnxADw) - **J. Geils Band** ---
**Author:** ![Horatio\_Hellpop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Horatio\_Hellpop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatio_Hellpop)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/25 "2015-06-15T00:57:50Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Really, the tour through all this 70s fem-glurge is… icky. 70s Fem Glurge. We have a name for it now! I was considering “I’m Not Lisa” by Jessi Colter, which I always assumed was about Multiple Personality Disorder, but apparently it’s more of a “boyfriend keeps calling me by his ex’s name” song. Not sure “Swamp Witch” belongs on the list, although I had and really enjoyed that album, too. I did not know Jim Stafford was married to Bobbie Gentry. I think he’s generally underrated as a guitarist. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/26 "2015-06-15T01:10:13Z")
Hattie was misunderstood and antisocial. 😉 The singer of Jolene was insecure and desperate. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chancetx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@chancetx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chancetx)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 1:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/27 "2015-06-15T01:20:09Z")
What about “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” by Marianne Faithful (among others)? ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/28 "2015-06-15T02:08:01Z")
> [@Horatio\_Hellpop](#): > > 70s Fem Glurge. We have a name for it now! > > I was considering “I’m Not Lisa” by Jessi Colter, which I always assumed was about Multiple Personality Disorder, but apparently it’s more of a “boyfriend keeps calling me by his ex’s name” song. Yup… The boyfriend’s mental stability is open to question too. “Lisa left you/years ago…” And then she makes a promise that her eyes won’t leave him (she doesn’t make any assertions about the rest of her) “till the sunshine/lights up your face.” Then, apparently, all bets are off. ---
**Author:** ![Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce7236/32.png) [@Mona\_Lisa\_Simpson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mona_Lisa_Simpson)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/29 "2015-06-15T08:15:19Z")
“If it Doesn’t Come Naturally, Leave it”, by Al Stewart. Off the Year of the Cat Album. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 8:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/30 "2015-06-15T08:47:41Z")
> [@Billdo](#): > > Her name was Lola, she was a showgirl . . . . But that was thirty years ago, when they used to have a show. Now it’s a disco. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 8:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/31 "2015-06-15T08:54:59Z")
There’s ELO’s Evil Woman: \*Hey woman, you got the blues, cos’ you ain’t got no one else to use. There’s an open road that leads nowhere, so just make some miles between here and there. There’s a hole in my head where the rain comes in, You took my body and played to win, Ha Ha woman it’s a crying shame, But you ain’t got no one else to blame \* ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/32 "2015-06-15T15:06:13Z")
Polk Salad Annie, a “wretched, dispiteful, straight-razor totin’ woman, Lord have mercy.” > [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > I’d say “Lyin’ Eyes” is a better example. I’m not sure I’d agree. I think the unnamed woman isn’t deranged or damaged, just cheatin’. Her long-suffering husband, on the other hand… We always sang than song as “you can’t hide your Cylon eyes”. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/33 "2015-06-15T16:38:31Z")
Of course, [Candle in the Wind](https://youtu.be/5GLwA4P3QDk) (original version) is about the ultimate damaged woman. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/34 "2015-06-15T16:53:29Z")
> [@chancetx](#): > > What about “The Ballad of Lucy Jordan” by Marianne Faithful (among others)? That’s what I came in to mention, if only because it’s one of my all-time favorites! ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/35 "2015-06-15T17:49:53Z")
Shel Silverstein’s _Queen of the Silver Dollar_ was covered by both Dr. Hook and Dave & Sugar. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 5:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/36 "2015-06-15T17:58:45Z")
_Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town_ by Kenny Rogers. ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/37 "2015-06-15T18:04:20Z")
I’m sorry, but a lot of these aren’t “damaged woman” songs; they are just “mean woman” songs. That’s a different animal. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/38 "2015-06-15T18:30:07Z")
> [@lieu](#): > > _Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love To Town_ by Kenny Rogers. _Lucille_ by Kenny Rogers. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/39 "2015-06-15T19:41:31Z")
> [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](#): > > _Lucille_ by Kenny Rogers. I think the guy is the damaged one, he’s talking about killing her by the end of the song. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2015, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496/40 "2015-06-15T20:29:50Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > I think the guy is the damaged one, he’s talking about killing her by the end of the song. You’ve got the wrong song. That’s “Ruby,…” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/delta-dawn-ruby-red-dress-type-of-songs/722496.md?page=3)