Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)

Words & Music by:

Don McLean

               G  Gsus  G                   Am

Starry, starry night----- paint your palate blue and gray.

              CM7               D                                 G

Look out on a summer's day with eyes that know the darkness in my soul.

             G  Gsus  G                         Am

Shadows on a hill------- sketch the trees & the daffodils.

                     CM7                              D           G   C   G

Catch the breeze and winter chills with colors on the snowy linen land.

 

CHORUS:

           Am   D                G      G/F#  Em7

Now I understand what you try to say to me.

Em7                           Am   D                             Em

And how you suffered for your sanity & how you tried to set them free.

Em                                A7       D7

They would not listen -- they did not know how.

D7                     G   GM7   G6   G

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 gray.

Weathered faces lined in pain are soothed beneath the artists loving hand.

 

CHORUS:

 

         Am    G   Am      D                         G   G/F#   Em7

For they could not love you, but still your love was true.

            Am                             Cm

And when no hope was left in sight on that starry, starry night,

    G                 F#dim        A7/E

You took your life as lovers often do.

Am7

But I could have told you, Vincent,

     C               Am               D            G   GM7   G6   G

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 this world & can't forget.

Like the strangers that you've met.

The ragged man in ragged clothes -- the silver flooring, the bloody rose

Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

 

Now I understand what you try to say to me.

And how you suffered for your sanity & how you tried to set them free.

Em                                   A7

They would not listen -- they're not listening still.

D7                 G

Perhaps they never will.