Pop Music’s “Delilah” Is a Columbian

The Plain White T’s’ “Hey There Delilah” turns 20 this year, but the lyrics are just as recognizable as they were in 2005.

Lead singer Tom Higgenson asks his “Delilah” about what it’s “like in New York City” and promises one day he’ll “pay the bills with this guitar” despite the distance that separates them.

But those iconic lyrics aren’t based in fiction. The real Delilah is Delilah DiCrescenzo ’05, a Columbia track star with an impressive athletics career in addition to her claim to fame as Higgenson’s muse for this song.

DiCrescenzo earned All-American honors, won three Ivy League Heptagonals steeplechase titles and still holds the third fastest time in school history in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase. After graduation, she was sponsored by Puma and represented the United States in international track and field and cross country competitions.

She met Higgenson through a mutual friend during her sophomore year at the College. The two never had a romantic relationship, though Higgenson told DiCrescenzo he was going to write a song about her (she “was the most beautiful girl I had ever seen,” he told USA Today in 2007). The song was released on the 2005 album All That We Needed, but started topping charts in 2006 after being marketed as a single.

“Delilah” earned two Grammy nominations in 2008, but lost to Amy Winehouse’s “Rehab” for Song of the Year and Maroon 5’s “Makes Me Wonder” for Best Duo/Group Pop Vocal Performance.

Despite the losses, DiCrescenzo had a great day — she got a glamourous trip to the awards ceremony as Higgenson’s guest.