‘Starry, starry night’: Why did Don McLean write a song about Vincent van Gogh?

The song “Vincent,” popularly known as “Starry, Starry Night,” by Don McLean, tells the story of an artist and his struggles with bipolar disorder.

Donald McLean III, born in 1945, is a celebrated American singer-songwriter famous for his 1971 hit “American Pie,” according to Last FM.

This lengthy folk-rock tune reflects the changes in early rock and roll. It topped the charts in the US for four weeks in 1972 and reached number two in the UK.

During the 1969 student riots in Berkeley, California, McLean recorded his album “Tapestry.”

Despite being rejected 72 times by labels, it was eventually released by Mediarts, a new label at the time.

Though it received positive reviews, it didn’t gain much attention beyond the folk music scene.

Don McLean’s breakthrough came when United Artists Records took over Mediarts, supporting his second album, “American Pie.”

This album produced two number-one hits, the title song and “Vincent, “propelling McLean to global fame and sparking renewed interest in his debut album.

This album produced two number-one hits, the title song and “Vincent, “propelling McLean to global fame and sparking renewed interest in his debut album.

In recognition of his achievements, McLean was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2004.

McLean found inspiration for the song while reading about Van Gogh’s life and sought to celebrate his art through music, said Van Gogh Museum.

Additionally, BMI confirmed in January 2018 that “American Pie” had amassed five million plays, while “Vincent” had reached three million plays.

“Vincent,” also called “Starry, Starry Night,” is a song honoring the Dutch artist Vincent Van Gogh.

McLean found inspiration for the song while reading about Van Gogh’s life and sought to celebrate his art through music, said Van Gogh Museum.

In the lyrics, McLean sympathizes with Van Gogh’s struggles, seeing him not as crazy but as someone affected by illness.

Vincent van Gogh was a famous post-impressionist painter born in Holland on March 30, 1853, per Van Gogh Gallery.

Raised in a religious family, he initially aimed to be a preacher but eventually discovered his passion for art.

After struggling with various jobs, he studied art in Belgium and Paris, where he met other artists and developed his unique style.

In 1888, van Gogh moved to Arles to form an art community, but his mental health declined, leading to an incident where he cut off part of his ear.

He spent time in an asylum and later moved to Auvers-sur-Oise, where he died in 1890, likely by suicide.

Though he sold only one painting in his lifetime, van Gogh’s work, known for its passionate brushwork and vibrant colors, is now highly celebrated.

His legacy as one of the most influential modern artists endures.

What’s the meaning behind the song “Vincent,” known as “Starry, Starry Night?”

Don McLean’s song was a tribute to Vincent Van Gogh, but it carried a deeper message, something that was considered controversial at the time, says American Songwriter.

“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”

“Vincent” revealed a truth about Van Gogh that many didn’t know or talk about when it was released in 1972.

“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”

McLean’s lyrics discuss Van Gogh’s struggle with bipolar disorder.

When the song came out, talking about mental illness was rare and often avoided, McLean shared in a 2022 interview with American Songwriter.

“I was brought up in a day when absolutely nobody had therapy, and the only person who talked about therapy in the early ’60s was Woody Allen,” said McLean. “There was a word people used: analysand.”

McLean learned about Van Gogh while performing at schools in 1970.

He found a biography of the artist, which fascinated him and led him to write a song about Van Gogh’s life.

In a 2010 interview, McLean said he believed Van Gogh’s struggles were more than just being “crazy” and were related to his illness, which he shared with his brother Theo.

He wrote the lyrics to the song on a paper bag while looking at a print of Van Gogh’s “Starry Night.”

“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”

In 2022, McLean joined the Immersive Van Gogh exhibit in Los Angeles and the International Society for Bipolar Disorders.

Together, they created a new video for “Vincent” to mark its 50th anniversary and Van Gogh’s birthday on March 30, also observed as World Bipolar Day.

McLean expressed to the American Songwriter how significant the song is to him personally and how it has impacted him over the years.

He finds it incredible how the song continues to resonate with people, attracting them to Van Gogh’s art and that of other artists.

“It’s grown and continually brings young people to Van Gogh’s art and the art of all artists. It’s a circularity there that’s been going on for 50 years, story after story,” the singer said.

Watch Don McLean’s heartfelt performance of “Starry, Starry Night” or “Vincent” below: