About the song
Don McLean’s song “Vincent,” also known by its subtitle “Starry Starry Night,” is one of the most poignant and touching tributes ever written about an artist. Released in 1972 on McLean’s *American Pie* album, “Vincent” is a heartfelt ode to the Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh, whose work and life were marked by extraordinary creativity and profound emotional turmoil.
The song opens with the iconic lines “Starry, starry night,” directly referencing Van Gogh’s famous painting *The Starry Night,* which he created during his time at the Saint-Paul-de-Mausole asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. McLean’s lyrics paint a vivid picture of Van Gogh’s world, capturing the beauty and intensity of his art, as well as the struggles he faced with his mental health. The song delves into the loneliness and pain that Van Gogh experienced, feelings that many believe contributed to his tragic death at the age of 37.
“Vincent” was not just a hit, but a song that resonated deeply with listeners. It reached number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 in the United States and number 1 on the UK Singles Chart, showcasing its broad appeal. McLean’s gentle acoustic guitar, coupled with his tender, sorrowful voice, makes “Vincent” a song that invites reflection and empathy. The lyrics, “This world was never meant for one as beautiful as you,” encapsulate the tragic beauty of Van Gogh’s life and the sense of misunderstanding and isolation that he endured.
Beyond its commercial success, “Vincent” has become a song that endures in popular culture, often used in films, television shows, and even educational settings to explore the life and work of Van Gogh. The song’s simplicity and emotional depth make it a timeless piece, reminding us of the thin line between genius and despair.
Listening to “Vincent” is an emotional journey that honors the life of a man who was, in many ways, ahead of his time. Through McLean’s lyrics and melody, we are given a glimpse into the soul of an artist who saw the world in a way that few others could, and whose legacy continues to inspire and move people around the world.
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Lyrics
There was a boy
Very strange, enchanted boy
They say he wandered very far
Very far over land and sea
A little shy and sad of eye
But very wise was he
And then one day
A magic day he passed my way
Though we talked of many thing, fools and kings
This he said to me
“The greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return”
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
Look out on a summer’s day
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and the daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
In colors on the snowy linen land
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now
Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china-blue
Colors changing hue
Morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand
Now I understand
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they did not know how
Perhaps they’ll listen now
For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left in sight
On that starry, starry night
You took your life, as lovers often do
But I could’ve told you, Vincent
This world was never meant for
One as beautiful as you
Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch this world and can’t forget
Like the strangers that you’ve met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
A silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know
What you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will
You’re gonna do that for me?
I’m gonna do this for you