Vincent
Chloë Lyrics
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Paint your pallette blue and gray
Look out on a summer′s day
With eye's that know the darkness in my soul
Shadows on the hills
Sketch the trees and daffodils
Catch the breeze and the winter chillsIn 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.
But still, your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
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
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
The silver thorn, a 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...
The song "Vincent" by Chloë discusses the life and work of the famous Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh. The lyrics present a picture of van Gogh's world and his emotional struggles, which ultimately led to his tragic suicide. The first two lines of the song, "Starry, starry night / Paint your palette blue and gray," accurately describe one of van Gogh's most famous works, "The Starry Night." The song goes on to discuss the beauty of nature that van Gogh painted, including trees, daffodils, and weathered faces, which he captured with his "loving hand."
The lyrics also touch on the fact that van Gogh suffered from mental illness and battled with his own inner demons. The line "With eyes that know the darkness in my soul" suggests a connection between the singer and the painter, both of whom may have struggled with their own mental health. The song concludes with a reflective and poignant message about the tragic end of van Gogh's life: "Perhaps they never will."
All in all, the song "Vincent" celebrates the life and work of Vincent van Gogh while also addressing the struggles he faced throughout his life. It is a song that encourages empathy and compassion for those who may be struggling with mental health issues.
Line by Line Meaning
Starry, starry night
The beauty and mystery of the night sky
Paint your pallette blue and gray
Using colors to capture emotions and feelings such as melancholy
Look out on a summer's day
Seeing the world through the eyes of an artist
With eyes that know the darkness in my soul
Feeling a deep sense of sadness and longing
Shadows on the hills
The contrast of light and dark in nature
Sketch the trees and daffodils
Drawing inspiration from everyday natural beauty
Catch the breeze and the winter chills
Capturing the essence of the changing seasons
In colors on the snowy linen land
Translating the beauty of a winter landscape through art
Now I understand
Gaining greater insight and empathy
What you tried to say to me
Realizing the message and meaning behind the art
And how you suffered for your sanity
Recognizing the pain and struggle that inspired the art
And how you tried to set them free
Wanting to share the vision and beauty with others
They would not listen, they did not know how
Feeling misunderstood and unsupported by society
Perhaps they'll listen now
Hoping that the art will resonate with future generations
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
The intensity of color and emotion in the natural world
Swirling clouds in violet haze
The ever-changing and mystical nature of the sky
Reflect in Vincent's eyes of china blue
The personal connection and inspiration behind the art
Colors changing hue
The way that light and emotion can transform a scene
Morning fields of amber grain
The beauty and simplicity of rural life
Weathered faces lined in pain
The human experience of suffering and hardship
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand
The transformative power of art to heal and inspire
For they could not love you
Feeling isolated and unappreciated by others
But still, your love was true
The sincerity and authenticity behind the artist's work
And when no hope was left inside
Reaching a point of desperation and despair
On that starry, starry night
The fateful moment of tragedy and loss
You took your life as lovers often do
Using the ultimate act of love to escape suffering
But I could've told you, Vincent
The hindsight and empathy of looking back on the artist's life
This world was never meant
The harsh reality of a society that undervalues and mistreats artists
For one as beautiful as you
The tragic irony of a world that cannot appreciate true beauty
Like the strangers that you've met
Feeling alienated and alone in a world that does not understand
The ragged men in ragged clothes
Experiencing the poverty and hardship of everyday life
The silver thorn, a bloody rose
The beauty and pain of the natural world intertwined
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
The fragility and transience of life and beauty
Now I think I know
Reflecting on the lessons and insights gained from the artist's life and work
What you tried to say to me
Realizing the depth and complexity of the artist's vision and message
And how you suffered for your sanity
Appreciating the pain and sacrifice behind the artist's work
And how you tried to set them free
Honoring the artist's desire to inspire and uplift others
They would not listen, they're not listening still
The ongoing struggle to be understood and appreciated by society
Perhaps they never will...
The haunting and enduring legacy of the artist's life and work
Writer(s): Don Mclean
Contributed by Jasmine T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.