Vincent
Don McLean Lyrics
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and grey
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
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 have 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 the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
A 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
Lyrics © CONSALAD CO., Ltd., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Don McLean
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is also known by its opening line, "Starry Starry Night", a reference to van Gogh's painting The Starry Night. The song also describes different paintings done by the artist.
McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist.
The following year, the song became the number one hit in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S.
In 2000, PBS aired Don McLean: Starry, Starry Night, a concert special that was filmed in Austin, Texas. Read Full Bio"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is also known by its opening line, "Starry Starry Night", a reference to van Gogh's painting The Starry Night. The song also describes different paintings done by the artist.
McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist.
The following year, the song became the number one hit in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S.
In 2000, PBS aired Don McLean: Starry, Starry Night, a concert special that was filmed in Austin, Texas.
The song clearly demonstrates a deep-seated admiration for not only the work of van Gogh, but also for the man himself. The song includes references to his landscape works, in lines such as "sketch the trees and the daffodils" and "morning fields of amber grain" - which describe the amber wheat that features in several paintings. There are also several lines that may allude to van Gogh's self portraits: perhaps in "weathered faces lined in pain / are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand", McLean is suggesting that van Gogh may have found some sort of consolation in creating portraits of himself. There is, too, a single line describing van Gogh's most famous set of works, Sunflowers. "Flaming flowers that brightly blaze" draws not only on the luminous orange and yellow colours of the painting, but also creates powerful images of the sun itself, flaming and blazing, being contained within the flowers and the painting.
In each chorus, McLean pays tribute to Van Gogh by reflecting on his lack of recognition: "They would not listen / they did not know how / perhaps they'll listen now," except in the final verse, McLean says "They would not listen / They're not listening still / Perhaps they never will." This is the story of van Gogh: unrecognised as an artist until after his death. The lyrics suggest that van Gogh was trying to "set [people] free" with the message in his work. McLean feels that this message was made clear to him: "And now I understand what you tried to say to me," he sings. Perhaps it is this eventual understanding that inspired McLean to write the song.
It is also thought that the song intends to portray van Gogh's tough relationship with his family. They were a wealthy family who did not accept him for his schizophrenia ("for they could not love you") and never understood his will to help the poor. It is thought that van Gogh felt that in killing himself he would make the point to his parents. This is seen in the line "Perhaps they'll listen now." Many believe that the song is a touching tribute to van Gogh in respect of the hardship he faced with regards to his mental illness and his admirable good natured ways.
There are also references to van Gogh's sanity and his suicide. Throughout his life, van Gogh was plagued with mental disorders, particularly depression. He "suffered for his sanity" and eventually "took [his] life, as lovers often do." The word "lover" puts into context how McLean saw the relationship of van Gogh with his art - a relationship of love. This love was strong enough for van Gogh to persevere with his art even without acceptance from his contemporaries: "For they could not love you, but still your love was true."
There is a great lyrics translation in german on http://www.swr.de/swr1/rp/musik/songbook/-/id=446740/nid=446740/did=598410/1a6wjpg/index.html
McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist.
The following year, the song became the number one hit in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S.
In 2000, PBS aired Don McLean: Starry, Starry Night, a concert special that was filmed in Austin, Texas. Read Full Bio"Vincent" is a song by Don McLean written as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. It is also known by its opening line, "Starry Starry Night", a reference to van Gogh's painting The Starry Night. The song also describes different paintings done by the artist.
McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist.
The following year, the song became the number one hit in the U.K. and No. 12 in the U.S.
In 2000, PBS aired Don McLean: Starry, Starry Night, a concert special that was filmed in Austin, Texas.
The song clearly demonstrates a deep-seated admiration for not only the work of van Gogh, but also for the man himself. The song includes references to his landscape works, in lines such as "sketch the trees and the daffodils" and "morning fields of amber grain" - which describe the amber wheat that features in several paintings. There are also several lines that may allude to van Gogh's self portraits: perhaps in "weathered faces lined in pain / are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand", McLean is suggesting that van Gogh may have found some sort of consolation in creating portraits of himself. There is, too, a single line describing van Gogh's most famous set of works, Sunflowers. "Flaming flowers that brightly blaze" draws not only on the luminous orange and yellow colours of the painting, but also creates powerful images of the sun itself, flaming and blazing, being contained within the flowers and the painting.
In each chorus, McLean pays tribute to Van Gogh by reflecting on his lack of recognition: "They would not listen / they did not know how / perhaps they'll listen now," except in the final verse, McLean says "They would not listen / They're not listening still / Perhaps they never will." This is the story of van Gogh: unrecognised as an artist until after his death. The lyrics suggest that van Gogh was trying to "set [people] free" with the message in his work. McLean feels that this message was made clear to him: "And now I understand what you tried to say to me," he sings. Perhaps it is this eventual understanding that inspired McLean to write the song.
It is also thought that the song intends to portray van Gogh's tough relationship with his family. They were a wealthy family who did not accept him for his schizophrenia ("for they could not love you") and never understood his will to help the poor. It is thought that van Gogh felt that in killing himself he would make the point to his parents. This is seen in the line "Perhaps they'll listen now." Many believe that the song is a touching tribute to van Gogh in respect of the hardship he faced with regards to his mental illness and his admirable good natured ways.
There are also references to van Gogh's sanity and his suicide. Throughout his life, van Gogh was plagued with mental disorders, particularly depression. He "suffered for his sanity" and eventually "took [his] life, as lovers often do." The word "lover" puts into context how McLean saw the relationship of van Gogh with his art - a relationship of love. This love was strong enough for van Gogh to persevere with his art even without acceptance from his contemporaries: "For they could not love you, but still your love was true."
There is a great lyrics translation in german on http://www.swr.de/swr1/rp/musik/songbook/-/id=446740/nid=446740/did=598410/1a6wjpg/index.html
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Joe Boxer
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dcWFYtG8RFM
Sarah Delarosa
I dedicated this song to my Mom. She committed suicide when I was 15, going on 16. She was only 36 years old. She loved to draw, and she was very good at it, but she never thought she was. She lost her Mom to a heart attack, when she was only 11 years old. She had a VERY hard life, and she never thought she was worth anything to anyone. I'm going on 60 now, and I still miss her. I didn't get to grow up with her because my father kidnapped me and my brothers, and the State found out, and they kidnapped us, and put us in different foster homes. This song brings it all back..., it still brings tears to my eyes. You never stop loving the people you truly care about, and nothing ever fills the empty space they leave in your heart. I write poetry, and I wrote a poem many years ago, called Phyllis.
Phyllis
A wife, a mother, an artist,
though never self-proclaimed.
She never truly believed that she,
should come through life un-mained.
The victim of men's lusts and rage,
a woman drunk and sorrowed.
What thoughts ran through her mind the day,
she used the gun she borrowed?
As in the song Starry- Starry Night,
you "took your life as lovers often do."
Phyllis, perhaps the song was right,
and "this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you."
Van Gogh could not have truly seen,
such a starry starry night,
for just as Phyllis -
his eyes were screened, by his agony and fright.
What beauty they kept hidden,
this sad world will never know.
Secret treasures forever buried now,
with Phyllis and Van Gogh.
Christian Rey Casalmer
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
LILYY
Ma'am please accept my deepest condolences for your loss.
Isaiah 26:19
But your dead will live, Lord;
their bodies will rise—
let those who dwell in the dust
wake up and shout for joy—
your dew is like the dew of the morning;
the earth will give birth to her dead.
akromic
What wonderful lyrics this song has. So beautiful and true. From this:
"This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you"
To this, so poetic and beautiful:
"The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed on the virgin snow"
And finally to this, so true:
"They would not listen
They're not listening still
Perhaps they never will"
Also thank you, the video author, for pairing all those verses with Vincent's paintings themselves!
wysty67
For those who may have missed my previous comments. I compiled and uploaded this so I could explain my love of Van-Gogh's art to a dear friend of mine and thought McLean's Stary Stary Night was perfect in helping to explain. The lyrics were strictly for the benefit of my Friend, who's first language is not English.I never imagined it would get so many views and comments. I'm so glad I was able to share.
rosemary cuthbert
Truly beautiful. Thanks. Probably my favourite artist. Such a wonderful song too. Amazing
Amber Paxton
@Danny Bradford I know this is a 4 yr old comment so you probably found this out but the reason you cant find it is because it is not actually by Van Gogh. It was done by a guy who claimed to be channeling his spirit. Josef Rulof was his name I think.
Mike Sisley
As you can see from my last name, I am related Alfred Sisley. He died a penniless painter but was somewhat impactful in the Impressionist scene. My Dad could paint, and I have many of his works and he was quite gifted. He made his living as a sign painter, and at that craft, did quite well too. I, age 61 am a trumpet player. My artistic gift was classical voice and jazz trumpet. I cannot make a stick figure look like a person. I appreciate Van-Gogh. I also love Mclean's music. It is extremely moving and directly ties to Van-Goghs art. Art comes in many forms and sometimes we have things we wish to express and if it takes many mediums of expressions to get it out, so be it. The common trait in musicians, artists, that I have seen, is there is a lot of emotion, feeling, passion, and expression that must be vented. There is something inside that we must let out and sometimes, if we feel we did not achieve that release, it frustrates us, builds, and can be very hard to deal with.
Lauramarcela Bermudez Schmedling
Could I contact you? I'd like to continue with your therapeutic idea, with other songs. I am Laura, bilingual educator and Norwegian in process. Permanent learner and co-founder of a Writer's Project. My msgr Laura Marcela Bermúdez. I'd love to hear from you
horacio fourzan
I had always liked Vincent's work, so different and so fully bright, and even having read about him, now I understand what he tried to say to us. Great artists Vincent and Don.
Ambition
my favorite song of all time. the lyrics touch my soul like no other song has. truly a beautiful masterpiece.
Kathy Hague
Yes has number one place in my heart for 50 years ❤
Love And Light
@LA Bauer awesome!