Pepper album was also a huge influence, and mclean has said in numerous interviews that the song represented the turn from innocence of the 50s to the darker, more volatile times of the 60s both in music and politics. Vincent van gogh you might ask what vincent van gogh has to do. What does don mclean mean by the father, son, and the. Don mclean vincent starry starry night lyrics genius. Don mclean was a singersongwriter in the folkpop tradition who first achieved fame in the early seventies, scoring an american number one hit with american pie a song later covered superbly by madonna, for whom it became a british number one, a british number one with vincent the song about the painter van gogh that begins starry starry night and an irish number one with. Starry starry night understanding the lyrics to vincent. Vincent van gogh he loved color and he let it show song, jonathan richman vincent starry starry night song, don mclean v. As he studied a print of van goghs painting the starry night, he realized that a song could be written about the artist through the painting. Don mclean released his debut album, tapestry, at the dawn of the 1970s when the hangover haze of the 1960s still lingered strongly in the air. General commentthis work by mclean was created out of his deep love of art, humanity and vincent is probably the finest musical tribute to an artist in existence. I think that vincent is about how don mclean understands what the struggles of an artist is like.
The british electronic artist vincent frank aka frankmusik check out better off as two was named after this song. Meaning to vincent song lyrics 5 meanings anthony essex march 11, 201420. While starry night is one of the best known and most reproduced pieces of art in the world today. Vincent don mclean song, by don mclean as a tribute to vincent van. Mclean seems to be lamenting the lack of danceable music in rock and roll and in part attributing that lack to the absence of buddy holly et. Vincent is a classic name that never seems to go out of style. Don mclean vincent lyrics meaning lyric interpretations. Oct 16, 2011 american pie 1971 is an allegorical song by don mclean that starts on the death of buddy holly in an airplane crash in february, 3rd 1959, the day the musi. Don is an artist with words and music while vincent was an artist with paints and colors. Vincent is a name thats been used by parents who are considering baby names for boys.
What is the meaning of the song vincent by don mclean. American pie by don mclean song meanings at songfacts. Most well known by its opening line, starry starry night was one of don mclean s most popular songs. Hed never abandon this aesthetic, crafting a handsome. Don mclean explains the meaning of american pie huffpost. Similar to don mclean vincent which has a push out centre barcode and other identifiers matrix runout runout side a, stamped variant 1. It is also known by its opening line, starry starry night, a reference to van goghs painting the starry night. What does don mclean mean by the father, son, and the holy. There are thought to be several dylan references in the song.
The three poetic devices that are hyperbole, alliteration, and simile. This book offers an insight into don mclean complete with scores of wonderful photographs beautifully presented with over 300 pages, don mclean is so much more than. Don mclean american pie album 1971 sign in to like videos, comment, and subscribe. Aug 08, 2014 he wrote this song 1971 after reading a book about vincent van gogh depressing life. Cent the black hole movie, 1979 vincent mancini was the illegitimate son of santino sonny corleone in the book the godfather by mario puzo. The worldfamous hit by american singersongwriter don mclean b. A slideshow of vincent van goghs work set to the song vincent by don mclean.
Vincent starry, starry night don mclean, 1971 ballad. Although it reached only number 12 on the billboard hot 100, it proved to be a huge hit. Starry, starry night flaming flowers that brightly blaze swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in vincent s eyes of china blue you took your life, as lovers often do the message this song is trying to send is. Don mclean s american pie is generally regarded as a tribute to buddy holly and a commentary on how rock and roll changed in the years since his death. Apr 07, 2015 as the original manuscript for don mclean s 1971 classic is sold at auction, fans may finally discover what the song of the century is really about. The song also describes different paintings done by the artist.
Although it reached only number 12 on the billboard hot 100, it proved to. Most well known by its opening line, starry starry night was one of don mcleans most popular songs. Books by don mclean author of doityourself gunpowder cookbook. Starry night by van gogh is one famous piece of art. According to the movie tupac, the resurrection, gangsta rapper tupac shakur was influenced by don mclean, and this was his favorite song.
If you ask most people today to identify a famous painter, many of them will give you the name of the dutch artist vincent van gogh, most famous for his landscape painting starry night 1889. Don mclean is trying to tell us the listeners that no one would listen to what vincent was trying to say, and that people didnt realise the true meaning of vincents paintings, people thought of him as odd. Cover versions of vincent written by don mclean secondhandsongs. General commentthe entire song is a tribute to buddy holly and a commentary on how rock and roll music changed in the years since his death. He was living in the sedgwick house, a beautiful federal style house in stockbridge, massachusetts. American pie is a masterpiece that describes through some really fantastic imagery a moment in time when the usano, lets start again. Mclean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of the artist. Gloomy don mclean reveals meaning of american pie and. It is also known by its opening line, starry starry night, a reference to van goghs 1889 painting the starry night. Paint your palette blue and grey, look out on a summers day, this is giving van goghs vantage point looking out from the asylum at saintremy.
The inspiration came to him one morning while he was sitting on the veranda looking at a book about vincent van. This song, like few others, tuggs at my heart in a powerful way. Don mclean is the author of doityourself gunpowder cookbook 3. I was fortunate enough to see don perform this live a year ago at the florida theatre. True to his tributary form, this song gives a nod to dutch postimpressionist artist vincent van gogh. Vincent lyrics vincent lyrics by don mclean, 4 meanings. Learn how to play don mclean vincent notefornote on guitar. The song vincent was written by don mclean and was first released by don mclean in 1971. Don mclean 1967 lyrics meaning lyric interpretations. Vincent, by don mclean is about vincent van gogh, the impressionist painter. Irish singer brian kennedy sang this song at footballer george bests funeral. Don mclean was a singersongwriter in the folkpop tradition who first achieved fame in the early seventies, scoring an american number one hit with american pie a song later covered superbly by madonna, for whom it became a british number one, a british number one with vincent the song about the painter van gogh that begins starry starry night and an irish number one with mountains of. Apr 01, 20 this book offers an insight into don mclean complete with scores of wonderful photographs beautifully presented with over 300 pages, don mclean is so much more than american pie he has single handedly educated generations about the music of josh white, buddy holly berlin and many many more. Jun 04, 20 starry night by van gogh is one famous piece of art.
Dec 29, 2009 a slideshow of vincent van goghs work set to the song vincent by don mclean. Mclean says he was reading a biography of vincent van gogh when he stumbled upon the idea of composing a song about him. Don mcleans most popular book is doityourself gunpowder cookbook. Starry, starry night paint your palette blue and gray look out on a summers 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. Mclean specialized in that netherworld between 60s coffeehouse folk and 70s introspection, navigating the distance between confessional singersongwriter and mor pop. Each line in the song has been extensively analyzed. The lyrics suggest his struggle with seeing the world differently and not getting enough recognition during his life as a painter, mclean refers to one of his paintings that vincent called. Superficially this is a heartfelt song about the loss of a dear, longstanding friend.
Books by don mclean author of doityourself gunpowder. The title track from don mcleans 1971 album american pie, dedicated to the late buddy holly, is a reflection on how rockandroll evolved over the 1960s absent hollys influence and the parallel transformation in american society, from family va. American pie by don mclean the entire song is a tribute to buddy holly and a commentary on how rock and roll changed in the years since his death. Don mcleans other big hit after american pie written about the tragic life and death of dutch impressionist vincent van gogh the lyrics show don mcleans admiration for both the. Below are the lyrics to don mclean s hit song vincent starry, starry night and a comparison to van goghs actual life. When he first entered the asylum, he painted mainly from. Mclean was a yearold paperboy in new rochelle, new york when holly died. Vincent is a tribute to the 19thcentury dutch painter vincent van gogh. Mclean wrote the lyrics in 1971 after reading a book about the life of van gogh. I also love art garfunkels bright eyes, another sad song that is very beautiful too.
Try disabling any ad blockers and refreshing this page. Mclean is lamenting the lack of danceable good time party music in rock and roll and in part attributing that lack to the absence of buddy holly et. Meaning of american pie by don mclean wlyrics youtube. Vincent is a song by don mclean written as a tribute to vincent van gogh. Thirteen years later, don mclean wrote a song about this tragedy. Perhaps more than in any other song, the lyrics reveal mcleans personal feelings for the artist and his works.
Don mclean author of doityourself gunpowder cookbook. Jul 05, 2019 american pie is a masterpiece that describes through some really fantastic imagery a moment in time when the usano, lets start again. Famous vincents include artist vincent van gogh, actor vincent donofrio, actor vince vaughn, and actor vincent kartheiser. For they could not love you, but still your love was true and when no hope was left in sight, on that starry. American pie 1971 is an allegorical song by don mclean that starts on the death of buddy holly in an airplane crash in february, 3rd 1959, the day the musi.
Don mclean has 36 books on goodreads with 231 ratings. Apr 08, 2015 thirteen years later, don mclean wrote a song about this tragedy. Starry, starry night paint your palette blue and gray look out on a summers 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. He is saying that society doesnt the meaning of why artists are painting or writing, he has dealt with this problem as well. Don mcleans american pie is generally regarded as a tribute to buddy holly and a commentary on how rock and roll changed in the years since his death. Don mclean has seen vincents paintings and has seen what vincent was trying to showsay with them. As the original manuscript for don mcleans 1971 classic is sold at auction, fans may finally discover what the song of the century is really about.
Watch official video, print or download text in pdf. Mclean wrote vincent, also known as starry, starry night, in the fall of 1970, while he was working for the berkshire school district. The inspiration came to mclean one morning while looking at a book about vincent van gogh. See more ideas about don mclean, american pie and songs. Starry, starry, nights one of my favorites by van gogh and how no one would give him acclaim. Vincent 1987 film, a documentary film by australian director paul cox. Starry, starry night flaming flowers that brightly blaze swirling clouds in violet haze reflect in vincents eyes of china blue you took your life, as lovers often do the message this song is trying to send is. All of a sudden, we were the big kids on the block, bless. Vincent music producer born 1995, canadian electronic music producer and pianist. Don mclean as an artist is impossible to describe hes country, hes pop,hes jazz, hes gospel, hes rock and hes contemporary and thats the secret of don mclean.
Below are the lyrics to don mcleans hit song vincent starry, starry night and a comparison to van goghs actual life. Vincent 1982 film, a 1982 stopmotion short film by tim burton. It is made clear early on that he died fighting in a war, but it is not until the final verse that we learn that he died saving his friend from a landmine explosion. Starry, starry night paint your palette blue and gray. While starry night is one of the best known and most reproduced pieces of art in the world today, most people cant really tell. Perhaps more than in any other song, the lyrics reveal mclean s personal feelings for the artist and his works.