March 30, 2010

I often think that the night is more alive and more richly colored than the day - Vincent Van Gogh, March 30, 1853 - July 29, 1890

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and grey,
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,
How you suffered for your sanity,
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 field 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,
How you suffered for your sanity,
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 have told you, Vincent,
This world was never meant for one
As beautiful as you.

Starry, starry night.
Portraits hung in empty halls,
Frameless head on nameless walls,
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget.
Like the strangers that you've met,
The ragged men in the 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,
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..

Don McLean, 1970

11 comments:

StimmeDesHerzens said...

I wonder what became of him, Don McLean...
The melody plays in my head when I read the words. What a HUGE hit it was, so different from the music nowadays....
greetings to my wisepupchen, oh yes I just have to comment on the auction. wow. I would have loved the wardrobe, any of those pieces! bummer that I live here and could not partake!

ds said...

I love those words of van Gogh's (& painting of course!). Love the song, too (now the melody will be stuck in my head for the rest of the day). Wonderful tribute for Vincent's birthday; may he be at peace. Thanks.

Alistair said...

Great memories this brings back.

thanks for posting.......

regards....Al.

le chat said...

I love the Café Terrasse the most. The indigo and the cadium yellow....

Anna said...

Night is more richly colored for me, even in the country because my eyes fool me into impressions that override my other senses in the day. I run at night. When I lived in the countryside this time of year was deafening with the sound of waking frogs calling for mates,nothing was more frightening than restless coyotes in the old stalks on corn fields. (always sent shivers up my spine). In the city at night I smell the river and hear the steady whoosh of highway traffic in the distance The sound of my shoes hitting the sandy shoulders keeps my rhythm and concentration. Both experiences are enchanting.

The Clever Pup said...

Hi Anna - so nice to hear from you. Take care on your nightly runs. But I know you like to be spooked anyway.

Anna said...

Thanks Hazel. I'll be careful. I'm not that into spooky, just a very supportive spouse I guess. I prefer to live in the sunshine of the day. (Running at night came from having kids.)
I enjoyed looking at your Etsy offerings. I will buy soon.

Anonymous said...

I love the song and the painting is one of my all time favorites. I never would have thought of pairing them...very nice. I love to look at the night sky...the moon and stars agains the dark.

Monica said...

Lovely to read this today. Adore Gogh and those lyrics are so great to read again.

Off I go humming all day....

Monica said...

darn it, ate my comment!! argh

Thanks for sharing this anyway. Love painting and song.

PeterParis said...

One of the few things I regret about living in a big city is that you cannot see the night sky as you should! I remember having spent hours laying on the lawn (when we had a country house), just watching the sky!