World Before Columbus
Vega Suzanne Lyrics
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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
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
In Vega Suzanne's song "World Before Columbus," the lyrics describe a passionate love where the singer declares that if their lover were to be taken from them, everything in the world would become bleak and devoid of color. The reference to the "world before Columbus" suggests a time before the arrival of the explorers and colonizers who brought new goods and ideas to the Americas. The singer's repeated use of the phrase "Those men who lust for land and for riches strange and new" refers to the European explorers who sought to conquer and exploit the land and resources of the New World.
The singer's devotion to their lover is described as something unique and rare, symbolized by the references to "the gold or the copper in your hair" and "the worth of you so rare." The contrast between the beauty of their love and the greed and cruelty of those who seek power and possessions is highlighted throughout the song. The use of vivid imagery such as "every color would be black and white" and "all the trees would freeze in this cold ground" conveys the depth of the singer's emotions and the devastating impact that losing their lover would have on their world.
Line by Line Meaning
If your love were taken from me
Without your love, my world would be devoid of color and vibrancy
Every color would be black and white
The absence of your love would strip the world of its vivid hues, leaving only a monochrome palette
It would be as flat as the world before Columbus
Like the Earth thought to be flat prior to Columbus' voyage, my life would lack dimension and depth without you
That's the day that I lose half my sight
The loss of your love would be so devastating, I would feel half-blinded
If your life were taken from me
If you were to die, my world would become icy and barren
All the trees would freeze in this cold ground
The death of your life force would cause the world to wither and die
It would be as cruel as the world before Columbus
Your demise would make my existence as harsh as the desolate wasteland of the pre-Columbian world
Sail to the edge and I'd be there looking down
If I were to journey to the end of the world, I would still feel your absence and gaze upon a world that feels empty without you
Those men who lust for land
The greedy men who seek to conquer and claim new territories
And for riches strange and new
Those who desire wealth and treasures they have never before possessed
Who love those trinkets of desire
Those whose hearts are captured by the allure of material possessions
Oh they never will have you
They will never possess you or know the depth of your worth
And they'll never know the gold
They will never appreciate the value of your inner beauty and spirit
Or the copper in your hair
They will never see the richness and uniqueness of your physical attributes
How could they weigh the worth
These men have no means to truly assess and understand the value of who you are
Of you so rare
You are exceptional and irreplaceable
Every light that's bright would soon go dim
Without your love, all hope and joy would fade from my life
It would be as dark as the world before Columbus
My life would be bleak and seemingly without direction, as was the world before Columbus brought new horizons
Down the waterfall and I'd swim over the brim
In despair, I would plunge into the depths of hopelessness but strive to rise above the brink of my emotions
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: SUZANNE VEGA
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind