When I was young before I had cassettes, the only good way of making a playlist of songs was to stack 45s on the turntable. I would arrange for them to play my favorite songs in my favorite order. These posts are about records I had in my stacks.
In 1972, a year after the famous “American Pie” by Don McLean he released “Vincent” on United Artists Records. It is a beautiful song sung with a haunting voice in a shy introspective manner describing Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” (1889) painting and sympathizing with his suffering for the art he created. The song peaked at No. 12 in the United States, where it also hit No. 2 on the Easy Listening chart.
Vincent’ is not an easy song to sing and you sing it very beautifully
Don Mclean tweeted to Ellie Goulding who covered his song in 2018
Don McLean was born October 2, 1945, in New Rochelle, New York. He wrote and plays the acoustic guitar on both sides of this record. “Vincent” was included on the American Pie LP released in 1971. The song’s time is 3 minutes and 55 seconds mainly guitar but includes the accordion, marimba, and strings.
The B-side is “Castles in the Air” describing a man who is unsatisfied with and weary of an urban lifestyle. Although native to the city, he decides to forsake not only his urban ‘castle in the air’ but also his love interest there. Because of his desire for and love of country life, he decides to seek romance with a like-minded woman. The song was originally recorded in 1970 and released as McLean’s first single. It was included on the 1971 “Tapestry” album. It reached #40 on the Adult Contemporary Chart.
Now, released again as the flip of Vincent, it received enough play to reach the Hot 100 Chart. He would release it again in 1981, re-recorded, slowed down, more melodic. It reached #36 on the Hot 100 in this version. I love both sides, this was a great single for my playlist.
Lyrics – A-side Vincent
Starry, starry night
Paint your palette blue and gray
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
And 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
And how you suffered for your sanity
And 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 inside
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
A silver thorn, a bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow
Now I think I know what you tried to say to me
And how you suffered for your sanity
And how you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they're not listening still
Perhaps they never will
Lyrics – B-side Castles in the Air
And if she asks you why, you can tell her that I told you
That I'm tired of castles in the air
I've got a dream I want the world to share
And castle walls just lead me to despair
Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky
A dream come true, I'll live there till I die
I'm asking you to say my last goodbye
The love we knew ain't worth another try
Save me from all the trouble and the pain
I know I'm weak, but I can't face that girl again
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain
But how can words express the feel of sunlight in the morning
In the hills, away from city strife
I need a country woman for my wife;
I'm city born, but I love the country life
For I cannot be part of the cocktail generation:
Partners waltz, devoid of all romance
The music plays and everyone must dance
I'm bowing out. I need a second chance
Save me from all the trouble and the pain
I know I'm weak, but I can't face that girl again
Tell her the reasons why I can't remain
Perhaps she'll understand if you tell it to her plain
And if she asks you why, you can tell her that I told you
That I'm tired of castles in the air
I've got a dream I want the world to share
And castle walls just lead me to despair
Sources
Wikipedia
Discogs
Kenosha News (Thursday, February 3, 1972)
