This has been my favorite song since 1973. Really. I've never heard anything more beautiful, or more emotional for me. It is the flip side of American Pie. The meaning of Vincent has evolved as my life has went on. Some friends know there is trouble when I listen to it. It does make me think of Tonya, and especially Maggie, nowadays, because Maggie was psychotic before she killed herself. Also makes me think of shit that went down at work, and of course, Van Gogh. The most frustrating thing for me is people who won't listen. I often play this over and over when I'm angry or depressed.

Here is the original, with a Van Gogh slideshow

This is a special video of Chet Atkins, who did an instrumental of Vincent, doing the song with Don McLean. Enjoy.

Vincent

Don McLean

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 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
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 man in ragged clothes
The silver thorn the 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
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen they're not listening still,
Perhaps they never will.

And, that's the most beautiful thing ever posted on XPT.
I'm gonna go cry now.

-Chuck, Vegetarian fanboy

There is also an historical attribute to this song, would they ever listen to the protesters? A possible political meaning, even today. There has been a lifetime of meaning here. Things I missed, so much beauty I was wrapped up in other things. Different color periods in all our lives.