Released: January 16, 2012
Format: CD Single, Digital Download
Recorded: LA, California
Genre: Folk
Length: 4:03
Label: Studio60
Written By: Don McClean
Producer: Phil N.

Song Description
Hayden Merjos is already a familiar name and face in the entertainment world today. When he's not annoying other celebrities or causing trouble, he uses his talents in writing and making music. Although this is a cover song, Hayden captures the mood perfectly and re-tells the story of the song made famous by Don McLean. Hayden starts off by singing the first verse while playing his guitar. His voice is low and he sings with a little bounce to his voice. As he sings the next part, his voice gets noticeably higher and louder. As he sings the bridge, his voice sounds soft and gentle. While he sings the last part, you can hear violins and he holds the note, singing the same key, until the song ends. The song talks about Vincent Van Gogh and his life. Hayden remembers this being the first song he learned how to play while growing up.


"Don McClean is one of my inspirations and favorite artists. I thought it was necessary to do a cover of, probably my favorite song by him, and make it a hit record. It's very easy listening music and he was a genius when he wrote it. I wanna be able to write like him one day, just more than putting some lyrics on a piece of paper but to actually tell a story and make it come to life. I guess you could call him my idol or something."

Song Interpretation
The song is clearly paying homage to the late Van Gogh and his artwork. The lyrics include some references to his own work and his life. In the first two choruses, McLean pays tribute to Van Gogh by reflecting on his lack of recognition: "They would not listen / they did not know how / perhaps they'll listen now." In the final Chorus, McClean wrote "They would not listen / They're not listening still / Perhaps they never will." This is the story of Van Gogh: unrecognized as an artist until after his death. The lyrics suggest that Van Gogh was trying to "set [people] free" with the message in his work. McLean feels that this message was made clear to him: "And now I understand what you tried to say to me," he sings. Perhaps it is this eventual understanding that inspired McLean to write the song.

There are also references to Van Gogh's sanity and his suicide. Throughout his life, Van Gogh was plagued with mental disorders, particularly depression. He "suffered for [his] sanity" and eventually "took [his] life as lovers often do."



Personnel
Hayden Merjos - Vocals, Guitar
Phil N. - Production
Vincent Van Gogh - Artwork

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Lyrics

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

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
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

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 grain
Weathered faces lined in pain
Are soothed beneath the artist's loving hand

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

For they could not love you
But still your love was true
And when no hope was left inside
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 heads on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can't forget
Like the strangers that you've met
The ragged men in ragged clothes
A silver thorn
A bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know
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're not listening still

Perhaps they never will
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