DON MCLEAN - VINCENT

VINCENT

DON MCLEAN

SONGWRITER: DON MCLEAN

COUNTRY: U. S. A.

ALBUM: AMERICAN PIE

LABEL: UNITED ARTISTS RECORDS

GENRE: FOLK

YEAR: 1971

 

          Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie", an 8.5-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation.

            His other hit singles include "Vincent", "Dreidel", a rendition of Roy Orbison's "Crying", a rendition of the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You", and "Wonderful Baby".

           His composition "And I Love You So" has been sung by Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, and others, and in 2000, Madonna had a hit with a rendition of "American Pie".

          In 2004, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In January 2018, BMI certified that "American Pie" and "Vincent" had reached five million and three million airplays respectively.

             American Pie is the second studio album by the American singer-songwriter Don McLean, released by United Artists Records on 24 October 1971. containing the chart-topping singles "American Pie" and "Vincent." Recorded in May and June 1971 at The Record Plant in New York City, the LP is dedicated to Buddy Holly, and was reissued in 1980 minus the track "Sister Fatima".The album was released to much acclaim, later being included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.

           At the Australian 1972 King of Pop Awards the album won Most Popular Overseas L.P. 

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

And 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 in sight

On that starry, starry night

 

You took your life, as lovers often do

But I could've told you Vincent

This world was never meant for

One as beautiful as you

 

Starry, starry night

Portraits hung in empty halls

Frame-less 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

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.