Vincent (Starry Starry Night)
Don McLean wrote Vincent in 1971 after reading a book about the life of artist Vincent Van Gogh. In the 1970s, the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam played the song daily and a copy of the sheet music, together with a set of Van Gogh’s paint brushes, is buried in a time capsule beneath the museum.
The song itself was an even bigger international hit than American Pie. In 1972, it reached number 1 in the UK and number 12 in the USA.
In recent years, the song has become even more well known thanks in part to Josh Groban’s successful version and to the song being sung by contestants on high profile shows such as American Idol and BBC Fame Academy.
Listen to Don sing Vincent (Starry Starry Night) in concert
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 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 what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for you 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
Chorus:
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 stranger that you’ve met, the ragged man 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
How you suffered for you sanity How you tried to set them free
They would not listen they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will.Â
Vincent Slide Show
Here is the slide show of Van Gogh paintings with a soundtrack of Don McLean singing “Vincent”. Originally posted as a storyline on our forum several years ago by abeille and put to music in our streaming music section, modern technology and youtube allow us to present the high quality ‘video’ version (requires flash).
June 27th, 2009 at 9:08 am
excellent song
June 16th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
I grew up in the 60’s and always had my transistor radio glued to my ear. “Starry Starry Night” - as I knew the song - always “grabbed” me. I am ashamed to admit that(even tho I was an art student) I never made the connection to Van Gogh until I received the slide show a couple weeks ago! It blew me away. I sat at my desk, playing it over and over, tears running down my face, as I realized how exquisitely this song described this troubled man’s life. I was never a fan of Van Gogh but I am now, thanks to the song and the slide show.
June 11th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
I bought your American Pie album in the early ’70s and it was always in my top 5. Have just rediscovered the vynyl (post cd) and love it all over again. Want to come to your next concert near London. Without being morbid I have always especially loved The Grave. Doug Milford.
June 8th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Don, you are a true musician, poet and artist, as each one of your songs is a masterpiece… the melody, the words, your voice, everything. I first heard Vincent a couple of years ago and loved it, now I love all your music. Crossroads in particular has a special meaning to me. Thank you and greetings from Italy.
June 7th, 2009 at 4:02 am
This is such a hauntingly beautiful song..you can almost feel his pain and suffering. And the video is a masterpiece, a great tribute to his beautiful soul. I get chills each and everytime I hear the song!! Great work Don!!
June 5th, 2009 at 7:07 pm
Aunque puedo escribir en inglés, hoy no me apetece. He cantado esta canción hace 20 años. Ahora tengo 40 años, padezco trastorno afectivo bipolar, como Van Gogh, y realmente se describe muy bien lo que se siente. No es una cuestion solo biográfica -murió pobre, solo y sin vender un cuadro- sino el gran sufrimiento e incomprensión que se padece y que él padeció muchísimo más. La canción es simplemente soberbia, magnífica …
May 20th, 2009 at 3:52 am
Another interpreter of your lyrics to Vincent asked what the painting, Starry Night was to the. To me it’s a quite, peaceful village. Most of it’s inhabitants are slumbering. In our foreground there’s a blaze. I don’t yet know what’s burning. A painting, a thought or idea. I wish it woul have been his dark yet brillant mind that burned.
To struggle as he did with his mind is absolutly tortuous. I can tell you that for sure.
“And when no hope was left in sight on that starry, starry night you took your life as lovers often do . . .” I lost a cousin, he too took his life on a starry starry night. A fine young man with a Masters in Fine Arts to his love; Art, from paper making to sculpture and painting. He was a great thinker. Many of whom this world has known to be nuts. It ain’t easy being smart, I supose.
Thanks for listening!
“Art”.
May 13th, 2009 at 9:45 am
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………..
vincent,
I do love you!!!!!
May 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
I love everything you have done Don. American Pie is a special treat, but Starry Starry Night is likely my all time favorite.
Don you are a wonderful singer, songwriter and my all time favorite troubadour!
Thanks for all the years!
April 25th, 2009 at 3:59 pm
I, too, was a long time realizing this was about Vincent Van Gogh…………one I did, it made my all-time favorite “story-song” even more loved and valued.Whoever coupled this slideshow with the song did an amazing job, as well. PAintings coincide with each chorus and verse. And like the lady above, I rarely hear the song with a dry eye… at the very least, a large lump in my throat.My God, it’s beautiful.