"Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)" is a song written and recorded by Don McLean in 1971, but it was popularized by Josh Groban's cover in 2002. The song is a tribute to the Dutch post-impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh, who suffered from mental illness throughout his life and committed suicide at the age of 37. The lyrics describe van Gogh's famous painting "Starry Night," with its swirling stars and blue and gray palette, as well as his other works, including landscapes, portraits, and still lifes. The song also references the darkness in van Gogh's soul and his struggles to be understood and appreciated by the people around him. The chorus repeats the line "Now I understand what you tried to say to me," suggesting that the narrator has gained a new appreciation for van Gogh's art and message after his death. The verse "For they could not love you, but still your love was true" implies that van Gogh's passion and dedication to his art was not fully appreciated or understood by others in his lifetime. Ultimately, the song laments the fact that van Gogh's beauty and creativity were not recognized in his own time, but it honors his legacy and the enduring power of his paintings.
