Songs I love

Suzanna Vega’s World Before Columbus from her album Nine Objects of Desire is heart-rending in its vulnerability. At first listen I thought she was talking about her partner but I then realized and it was confirmed in an interview that it’s a ballad for her daughter, Ruby. (Sidenote Ruby’s father is noted producer Mitchell Froom. The band Soul Coughing homaged Ruby in their album titled Ruby Vroom, but I digress)

Sometimes you can hear a song and know that it was written for someone. There’s an emotional integrity to it. Before I had E it moved me, now I’m really weepy goofy when I hear it. Thanks Suzanne!


World Before Columbus
Suzanne Vega


If your love were taken from me
Every color would be black and white
It would be as flat as the world before Columbus
That's the day that I lose half my sight

If your life were taken from me
All the trees would freeze in this cold ground
It would be as cruel as the world before Columbus
Sail to the edge and I'd be there looking down

Those men who lust for land
And for riches strange and new
Who love those trinkets of desire
Oh they never will have you

And they'll never know the gold
Or the copper in your hair
How could they weigh the worth
Of you so rare

If your love were taken from me
Every light that's bright would soon go dim
It would be as dark as the world before Columbus
Down the waterfall and I'd swim over the brim

Those men who lust for land
And for riches strange and new
Who love those trinkets of desire
Oh they will never have you

And they'll never know the gold
Or the copper in your hair
How could they weigh the worth
Of you so rare