The song "Vincent" by Don McLean is a tribute to the artist Vincent Van Gogh. It describes several of Van Gogh's paintings, including his famous work "Starry Night." McLean wrote the song after learning that Van Gogh only sold one painting in his lifetime and struggled with mental illness and depression, ultimately dying by suicide at age 37. The song reflects on Van Gogh's suffering and hope that others would understand his genius, though he was not recognized during his lifetime.

1. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)
Composed & performed by Don Mclean
Read the short stories below and then listen and watch this incredible story, song,
and artwork unfold.
"Vincent”, 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 "Starry Night.” The song describes
different paintings by Van Gogh. Don McLean wrote the lyrics in 1971
after reading a book about the life of the artist. The following year the song
became the #1 hit in the U.K. and #12 in the U.S.
'Starry Night’ was painted during the time Van Gogh was in an asylum.
He sold only one painting during his lifetime, as his genius was not
recognized. That's perhaps what caused him to fall into an abyss of
depression, which eventually led to his suicide in 1890 at the age of 37.
He said in his final note that he was shooting himself ”for the good of
all”. How tragic to have felt so hopeless and not understood in spite of
being so gifted!

2. Starry, starry night,
paint your palette blue
and gray.

3. Look out on a summer's day

4. with eyes that know the darkness in my soul.
Shadows on the hills,

5. sketch the trees and the daffodils,
catch the breeze and the winter chills

6. in colors on the snowy linen land.
Now I understand

7. what you tried to say to me,

8. how you suffered for your sanity,
how you tried to set them free.

9. They would not listen,
they did not know how.

10. perhaps they'll listen now.

11. Starry, starry night,

12. flaming flowers that brightly blaze,

13. swirling clouds in violet haze
reflect in Vincent's eyes of China blue..

14. Colors changing hue,

15. morning fields of amber grain,

16. weathered faces lined in pain
are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand.

17. Now I understand

18. what you tried to say to me,
how you suffered for your sanity,
how you tried to set them free.

19. They would not listen.
They did not know how.
Perhaps they'll listen now.

20. For they could not love you,

21. but still your love was true,
and when no hope
was left in sight
on that starry, starry
night,

22. 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.

23. Starry, starry night,

24. portraits hung in empty halls,

25. frameless heads on nameless walls,

26. with eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met,

27. the ragged men in ragged clothes,

28. the silver thorn of bloody rose
lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

29. what you tried to say to me,
how you suffered for your sanity,

30. how you tried to set them free.
They would not listen.
They're not list’ning still.

31. Perhaps, they never will.

32. Vincent van Gogh suffering in his final months