Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Vincent (Starry Starry Night)

Was humming this while driving earlier. To me, the greatest song ever written, so beautifully sung by 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 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,
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...


1 comment:

  1. Hi, I'm a quilter who found your blog through links on a Yahoo list . . . . but I just had to say, I so agree with you about this beautiful song. It gives me the chills every time I hear it and I agree that it is absolutely one of the very best songs ever. The emotion in his voice is equal to the emotion one feels when learning about Vincent's tormented, lonely and difficult life. Having some experience with mental illness AND incredible creativity in the family, it is pretty easy for me to imagine how hard things were for Vincent and his brother Theo and the other few people who cared about Vincent.

    We can only hope that Vincent hears this song every time it is played.

    Take care.

    Mary

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