Vincent 1971 Don McLean

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"In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms. I was sitting on the veranda one morning, reading a biography of Van Gogh, and suddenly I knew I had to write a song arguing that he wasn't crazy. He had an illness and so did his brother Theo. This makes it different, in my mind, to the garden variety of crazy- because he was rejected by a woman. So I sat down with a print of Starry Night and wrote the lyrics out on a paper bag."
Don McLean reflected on the creation of the song "Vincent," which serves as a tribute to Vincent van Gogh. The song is often mistakenly titled after its opening refrain, "Starry Starry Night," referencing Van Gogh's iconic 1889 painting The Starry Night.
McLean wrote the lyrics in 1970 after immersing himself in Van Gogh's life through a biography. It was released on his 1971 album, American Pie. The composition primarily features the guitar but also incorporates accordion, marimba, and violin. In 2020, the original handwritten lyrics were put up for sale at a staggering $1.5 million.

The Telegraph remarked that "With its bittersweet blend of major and minor chords, 'Vincent' features a soothing melody that embodies deep emotion recalled in tranquility."
Record World described the song as "artful," stating that "the story of Vincent Van Gogh is beautifully conveyed through melody and poetry."
Cash Box referred to it as "another tune for those who enjoy dissecting lyrics and messages." AllMusic later characterized the song as "McLean's tribute to Van Gogh," noting that it reflects on Van Gogh's suicide as a rational response to an irrational world. The site also highlighted McLean's particularly poignant performance of "Vincent" on his 2001 live album, Starry, Starry Night.