In 1983, she decided to become a psychologist, enrolling in Yeshiva University. She continued playing music while completing her PhD, and began to have some success as part of a duo with Shawn Colvin. However, when they began to attract record company interest, Kaplansky declined, choosing instead to set up a private practice and become a staff psychologist at a New York hospital. For several years, she concentrated largely on her work, and played little in the way of concerts. However, she still did some session work, such as singing backing vocals in the studio for Suzanne Vega.
By the early 1990s she found herself increasingly drawn back to music. Colvin, who by this time had experienced some commercial success, offered to produce an album for her. The result, The Tide, a mixture of her own songs and several covers, was released by Red House Records (Greg Brown's label) in 1994. At this time, she decided to give up her psychology practice, and return to music full-time. She released her second album, Flesh and Bone, in 1996.
In 1998 Kaplansky joined with Dar Williams and Richard Shindell to form the folk group Cry Cry Cry, which made an album and toured extensively as a result of the success of the original six week tour.
1999's Ten Year Night won rave reviews and boosted her popularity, leading to performances on CBS-TV. She followed that album in 2001 with Every Single Day.
The Red Thread, released in early 2004, includes songs about adopting her new daughter Molly, who Lucy and her husband Rick brought home from China in late 2003, and several songs relating to her experiences living in downtown Manhattan during 9-11. In 2007 she released her latest album Over the Hills.
Ruby
Lucy Kaplansky Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Not a piece of coal
Looking for a lover, looking for a home
Just some peace here in this old world
The sun will melt the glaciers
The mountains turn to dust
The rivers carve the canyons
Mother, please protect me
Mother, please defend me
Mother, please don't abandon me
Only half a life has been my own
And half I never knew
Split the atoms of this half life
Let the phoenix rise anew
There's a face of love and kindness
There's a mother deep inside
And she knows a ruby when she sees one
And her arms are open wide
Mother, please protect me
Mother, please defend me
Mother, please don't abandon me
Just some peace here in this old world
Just some peace here in this old world
Just some peace here in this old world
The song "Ruby" by Lucy Kaplansky is a poignant tune about finding one's place in the world and the search for peace and love. The opening lines, "I'm a ruby to someone somewhere, not a piece of coal," suggest that the singer is seeking recognition and validation from others, longing to be seen as valuable and unique rather than ordinary or forgettable. She is looking for love and a sense of belonging, hoping to find some peace amid the chaos of the world around her.
As the song progresses, the lyrics take on a more metaphysical tone, invoking images of natural phenomena and the transformative power of time. The singer notes that "the sun will melt the glaciers" and "the mountains turn to dust," emphasizing the transience of all things and the impermanence of our lives. She sees beauty in this impermanence, however, suggesting that what is not lived is "lost" but that there is a chance for new beginnings and fresh starts.
Throughout the song, the singer calls out to her mother for protection and reassurance that she will be supported and accepted. She speaks of the need for guidance and affection, seeking the nurturing energy of a parent who can provide the "face of love and kindness" that she needs to feel safe in the world. Ultimately, the song is a meditation on the human need for connection and belonging, and the longing for a sense of security and home in an unpredictable and ever-changing world.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a ruby to someone somewhere
I hold value and worth to someone out there, even if I may not feel valuable to myself or to those around me.
Not a piece of coal
I am not worthless or insignificant, despite how society may sometimes make me feel.
Looking for a lover, looking for a home
I am searching for love and acceptance in this world, and a sense of belonging.
Just some peace here in this old world
Ultimately, all I want is to find some sense of calm and balance in the chaotic and unpredictable world we live in.
The sun will melt the glaciers
Everything in life is constantly changing and evolving, and even the strongest and most unyielding things will eventually soften and give way to new growth.
The mountains turn to dust
No one thing in this world lasts forever, and everything we know and love will eventually fade away into the passage of time.
The rivers carve the canyons
Even the small and seemingly insignificant things can have a profound impact on the world around us, and slowly but surely shape the world we live in.
What I do not live is lost
Every moment of life is precious, and the things we don't experience or take advantage of can never be truly reclaimed or regained. We must make the most of every moment and opportunity we have.
Mother, please protect me
I need a sense of safety and security in this world, and sometimes I look to the idea of a maternal figure to provide that for me.
Only half a life has been my own
I feel like I've spent much of my life living for others, or trying to meet their expectations, rather than truly living for myself.
And half I never knew
There are many parts of myself and my identity that are still a mystery to me, and that I have yet to fully explore or understand.
Split the atoms of this half life
I need to break down the barriers and limitations that have held me back in the past, and explore new paths and possibilities in order to truly grow and evolve.
Let the phoenix rise anew
I have the power to reinvent myself and rise from the ashes of my past, creating a new and more empowered version of myself.
There's a face of love and kindness
Despite the darkness and pain in the world, there are still people who embody compassion and love, and who offer a glimmer of hope to those around them.
There's a mother deep inside
I have the strength and nurturing qualities of a maternal figure within myself, and can tap into that power to find the love and compassion I seek.
And she knows a ruby when she sees one
I am capable of recognizing my own worth and value, and can see the unique beauty and strengths that I possess, even when others may not be able to.
And her arms are open wide
I am capable of providing myself with the love and acceptance that I need, and can metaphorically embrace myself in a warm and comforting hug.
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: LITVIN KAPLANSKY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind