Ruby Rose Fox Covers Leonard Cohen

Photo via Facebook

Leonard Cohen wrote "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy" about a real woman who was forced to give up her child because she gave birth out of wedlock in 1960's Ontario. Because of this, she took her own life with a gun. Ruby Rose Fox covered the song as a response the mass shooting that took place during a Las Vegas country music festival. Since she recorded her version of the song and its release, it has also gained new significance with the #metoo movement of women sharing their personal stories of sexual assault and harassment to show just how wide spread it is.

Ruby Rose Fox's version of "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy" and the accompanying video is haunting. It's haunting to the point that I'm hesitant to use that term since it doesn't feel strong enough. There is an occasional use of a whispered backing vocal that will just chill you to the core. The song, although beautiful, isn't a pleasant listen by any means. But that's kind of the point. It's almost a spiritual relative of Tori Amos' Strange Little Girls, which was an album of covers of songs by male singers/songwriters about violence towards women. For some reason, a listener never quite realizes how horrible these songs can be until a female voice is singing them.

You can watch the video for Ruby Rose Fox's version of "Seems So Long Ago, Nancy" below. For more on Ruby Rose Fox, check out her website.