Don McLean — Vincent
Album: Best Of Don McLeanAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 764
Length: 3:57
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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
And 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
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
And 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
Frame-less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The 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
And 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
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
And 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
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
And 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
Frame-less heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The 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
And 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
Comments (63)add comment
This song never gets old 
so long ago ...
Something in my eye...
The poetry...
Don McClean’s talent on display. I can see why RP has had this on the playlist since the early days.
Man, just thank you for this comment! This music is wonderful!
calypsus_1 wrote:
Chet Atkins plays Don Mcleans wonderful song "Vincent" acoustic guitar Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsePsTEgiqU
calypsus_1 wrote:
Chet Atkins plays Don Mcleans wonderful song "Vincent" acoustic guitar Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsePsTEgiqU
PR should play this more!!!!!!! It's a beautiful and yet a sad song.
Chet Atkins plays Don Mcleans wonderful song "Vincent" acoustic guitar Live:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsePsTEgiqU
avani wrote:
I admire Vonda Sheppard's talents
I'm assuming this is ban-worthy.
there really ought to be a line about a bloody ear.
Best of album? A 45, side A side B. That's all the space ya needd
Damn this is beutiful!!
Being a painter, I'm sure that effects my opinion on this tune!!
Hated it then, hate it now.
I've seen clouds from both sides now.
physicsgenius wrote:
It might be pushing it a little to use the phrase "sanity" when referring to the guy who cut off and mailed his ear to a lover.
A physicist, an engineer, and a mathematician walk into a room and see a fire.
The engineer takes a bucket of water from the corner, pours it on the fire and puts it out.
The physicist and pours the water eloquently around the fire and lets the fire put itself out.
The mathematician convinces himself there is a solution and leaves.
billy....keep the oldies coming, you've done one fine job thus far... 
I thought this was this...
7
(?)
Dreck then, Dreck now. 
physicsgenius wrote:
It might be pushing it a little to use the phrase "sanity" when referring to the guy who cut off and mailed his ear to a lover.
Yer either missing the point or just being goofy on purpose.
Gave it a 2...only that generous because I am envious of where this guy lives in Maine...Camden I think. As idyllic a town you'll ever see (in summer of course).
Yep...I think it's time to visit the Metal radio websites to wake myself up...
such a pretty song.
algrif wrote:
I like this song. But I was just reminded of an interview with Don where he was asked "Some of your lyrics are a bit obscure. So,what exactly does American Pie mean?" Replied "What it means is I'm so rich I don't have to work anymore" 
wish i could figure out a way to do that!
This was such a perfect song for a girl in high school. Can you remember the angst as only a 16-year-old could summon? I would weep for the beauty and the poetry of this song.
All I can say is, thank god I'm 50!
Next to American Pie, my most favourite Don McLean song. So beautiful and an excellent tribute to Van Gogh
I like this song. But I was just reminded of an interview with Don where he was asked "Some of your lyrics are a bit obscure. So,what exactly does American Pie mean?" Replied "What it means is I'm so rich I don't have to work anymore"
Xeric wrote:
My wife plays this for me on the piano now and again.
Lucky you!
I'll bet at least $1.99 that the negative comments about the wizard Santana were posted by people born after 1975. Have you listened with open mind to his guitar? Am I preaching? 
my father used to rock me and sing this as a lullabye when i was a baby (why, I'll never know)... it made me weep then, and it makes me teary even now...
(sniffle) 
Don McLean wrote and sang some of the most amazing songs lo these 30+ years ago. He is still singing them on tour. It's such a shame that this early promise didn't blossom into a fabulous career of continued genius.
Though it's trite to say, this is an exceptionally beautiful song both musically and lyrically. Vincent clearly had deep meaning to Don.
My wife plays this for me on the piano now and again.
Such a beautiful song.
PattonFever wrote:
this song makes me feel sad. it reminds me of my friend from highschool, who was a drama major, who killed himself because of boyfriend troubles... last time i heard this it made me cry my little face off missing my friend.
beautiful song. i love it.
About the same situation for me. Except she was a friend who I had known since first grade. She OD a week after her 20th birthday. I saw her the night before she did it
scionick wrote:
McLean's best song about the best painter of all time. :)
Couldnt agree more, saw Starry Night and now have as my screen saver and the song is as timeless as Vincents art
Here is the story about how Roberta came to sing the song:
https://www.superseventies.com/1973_9singles.html
Hannio wrote:
There was a recent "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" where the question was who was Roberta Flack singing about in "Killing Me Softly"? The (somewhat cocky) contestant immediately dismissed Don McLean as being the right answer and subsequently went home with $64000 instead of a quarter million (or possibly more). He looked very dazed and a little sick to his stomach as he left the studio.
It might be pushing it a little to use the phrase "sanity" when referring to the guy who cut off and mailed his ear to a lover.
yawwwwwwwwwn 
i saw maclean many moons ago in a beautiful concert hall singing this song...i was 18 or 19 at the time...great memory and a wonderful song.
i have always loved this song!!!!
and i agree with scionick... 
and i agree with scionick... scionick wrote:
McLean's best song about the best painter of all time. :)
agreed!
My 10th grade English teacher played this for us, and then he proceeded to not only engage us in discussion, but also to explain what the song meant to him.
nice song. now we just need to get Madonna to cover it.
McLean's best song about the best painter of all time. :)
profound, classic, excellent
American Pie so made me detest this guy....and dispite how much I love Roy and Kathy-Dawn, his version of "Crying" is the definitive.
this song makes me feel sad. it reminds me of my friend from highschool, who was a drama major, who killed himself because of boyfriend troubles... last time i heard this it made me cry my little face off missing my friend.
beautiful song. i love it.
Timeless....
Hannio wrote:
There was a recent "Who Wants to be a Millionaire" where the question was who was Roberta Flack singing about in "Killing Me Softly"? The (somewhat cocky) contestant immediately dismissed Don McLean as being the right answer and subsequently went home with $64000 instead of a quarter million (or possibly more). He looked very dazed and a little sick to his stomach as he left the studio.
i didn't know that was what her song was about! that's great to know! thanks!
This one has stood the test of time. Still very fresh and relevant.
Very nice!
There was a recent \"Who Wants to be a Millionaire\" where the question was who was Roberta Flack singing about in \"Killing Me Softly\"? The (somewhat cocky) contestant immediately dismissed Don McLean as being the right answer and subsequently went home with $64000 instead of a quarter million (or possibly more). He looked very dazed and a little sick to his stomach as he left the studio.
Love the artist, love how Don McLean laid him down in lines, should be played in the gallery in Amsterdam. 
Wow.
-ptah
-ptahOriginally Posted by Notelrac:
Great acoustic descriptionn of the angst of an artist. Much better than the overplayed "American Pie"
Agreed. But Van Gogh suffered from far more than the "angst of an artist" He obviously suffered from a serious and persistent mental illness, most likely bipolar disorder, which is often associated with creative genius.A short article with paintings illustrating his mood swings can be found https://vangogh.bonniebutterfield.com/
Oops. Posted twice while attempting to edit.Counting the days to the new website. 
Originally Posted by Notelrac:
Great acoustic descriptionn of the angst of an artist. Much better than the overplayed "American Pie"
ditto
:) :)
Sadly, I first heard this on Ally McBeal, but though I admire Vonda Sheppard's talents, this version is the one true classic.
I'd also like to meet the person who just gave this a 2. 
Great acoustic descriptionn of the angst of an artist. Much better than the overplayed \"American Pie\"
Something in my eye...
Mine too...