Rob Thomas' "Her Diamonds" New Anthem for AutoImmune Disease
Loving Song Written for His Wife Marisol
That makes Rob Thomas' new hit single "Her Diamonds" all the more amazing.
The song was written for his wife Marisol Maldonado Thomas who suffers from a rare autoimmune disease similar to lupus. The beautiful Puerto Rican model doesn't seem like the poster child for autoimmune disease, but with her husband's words, anyone suffering from one of the autoimmune disease recognizes her pain.
In the first verse, Thomas' writes:
Oh what the hell she says
I just can't win for losing
And she lays back down
The sentiment is very familiar to those of suffering with autoimmune disease. Most days, I feel as though the disease is just a memory, haunting me with fears that it will someday take over my life. I live with multiple sclerosis, but I refuse to let it get me down. But other days, the things I do to treat the disease seem like torture in themselves and having the energy to do anything takes a sheer force of will that I sometimes don't have.
Like any loving husband, Thomas is concerned about his wife's pain and writes eloquently about his inability to make things better for her.
And I don't know what I'm supposed to do
But if she feels bad then I do too
So I let her be
And she says oooh
I can't take no more
Her tears like diamonds on the floor
And her diamonds bring me down
Cuz I can't help her now
The sentiment behind the words is something that everyone suffering from autoimmune disease and the people who love them understand well. There is no easy explanation for why the disease flares up or the pain it causes when it does. As an MS survivor, I both understand my husband's confusion and get angry about it. Some days I need him more than anything to understand the pain; other days I need him to let me work through it on my own. The changing attitude along with the changing pain threshold and changing ability levels can be confusing and downright devastating to our family members as they try to help us along.
Though the specifics of Marisol Thomas' health issues are not public, "Her Diamonds" definitely addresses the pain and fear the disease can cause as well as the vision deterioration that can occur with autoimmune disorders.
"By the light of the moon
She rubs her eyes
Says it's funny how the night
Can make you blind"
Many autoimmune diseases put pressure on the optic nerve, causing patients to see less clearly in dim lighting, but it doesn't make much sense to people who have never experienced. The pressure on the optic nerve can vary hour to hour and day to day and so can the impact it has on vision. Some people are confused that an autoimmune disorder would even affect the eyes.
Though Thomas' single was obviously written as a love song to his wife and not as an anthem for the millions of people suffering with autoimmune disease, the depth of the emotion and understanding for our symptoms, our needs and our pain makes "Her Diamonds" a hit even if it never goes any higher up the charts.
To see the video for "Her Diamonds" featuring Alicia Silverstone, click here.
Published by Lucinda Gunnin
Lucinda Gunnin is a writer in Illinois, who spends her days running a mini-storage complex. She had her first short stories published in 2009's Elements of the Soul and more in the recently published Element... View profile
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15 Comments
Post a CommentI have been a huge Rob Thomas fan for a very long time. His song Her Diamonds spoke so much to me. I suffer from an autoimmune disease that attacks my skin and gives me chronic hives. I am on so many meds. Right now one that kils my immune system. I thought he was singing to me and my husband when we first heard it. My version of the disease won't kill me but makes days hard to deal with. some of the drugs i have to take can one day cause cancer if I take them too long but I have to be able to function for my husband, 2 yr old daughter and me. This song melts me!! I understood what my husband feels when i heard this song! Thank you Rob!
I cry almost every time I hear this. My wife has lived with MS for nearly 9 years now. All I can do is thanks Mr. Thomas for bringing AI disease to such a public forum and helping to raise the public awareness of these devistating diseases.
I can totally relate with his wife, I was diagnosed with both internal and external lupus on Sept 12, 2001. I did pretty good the first 3 1/2 years, but then my lupus progressed and disabled me. I think its great that we are finally getting some celebrity'voices' that is making the world 'hear'. Autoimmune diseases like Lupus are NOT commonly known. Sure, everyone hears of fibro and/or MS, but there are more than those two. And Lupus is becoming one of the leading Autoimmune diseases. Julian Lennon is giving his voice to Lupus too! "Lucy in diamons in the sky", was written about a child hood friend of Julian's, and passed away in September from Lupus. So, maybe now the scientists will put as much effort in the cure or even better treatments for this disease, as they do cancer and all the other diseases. AI's are NOT just chronic illnesses, but are the reason for their deaths in the end. So, give to Lupus too! We need the help too!
Wow..this song is truely amazing,. it brings joy to my heart because i know im not alone. my mom suffers with multiple scolicosis everyday. and this song explains her soo much. i love you rob thomas!
I am a new Rob Thomas fan and didn't realize this song was in tribute to his wife's illness. I've loved the song since the first time I heard it. It originally struck me as a song about depression.
To Psych1, don't give up hope, there are a lot of good people out there. My husband married me knowing I have MS and a cluster of mystery autoimmune issues and he has been an angel to me. He cares for me with unconditional love and compassion and I never thought that was possible to find either, it is rare to find but it is possible! I know how you feel in so many ways, feeling old & worthless at what should be the prime of our lives. I'm 46 and have been battling this for 15 years now, it's certainly not easy and has been getting worse. I was able to keep fighting hard and worked as a Registered Nurse until 18 months ago so it's hard losing my independence now. Having true love and a wonderful best friend who always has my back surely helps. I wish the best for you and everyone else fighting these exhausting conditions!
I have Lupus (SLE) and MS. So this song means the world to me. You are so caught up in fighting that you forget to realise that your family is suffering just as much as you.Thank you for opening up my eye's Rob. Remember always keep smiling
I have Fibromyalgia and have been made to feel old and worthless at 44. I don't really consider having a relationship I've been told what a burden I am once too often. This song makes me belive there are still good men out there. I just wish I had a cure to offer in return they deserve the best.
Saw your article linked on Twitter and want to thank you for it. I've always liked Rob Thomas' work but this song, heck, this whole album, is one of his best. My partner suffers from a chronic illness and the helplessness I feel when it flares up is exactly as Rob describes in this song. But my partner likes the line about "will be alright, just not tonight" for it's hopefulness. Thanks, Rob, for writing something so meaningful to both of us.
Thanks for explaining the disease to people.