A song written on a paper bag to argue for sanity

Wars & Conflicts · Published 17 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 1970, Don McLean sat on a veranda and decided to challenge the world's perception of Vincent van Gogh. He didn't want to write a song about a madman; he wanted to write a paean for a man suffering from a treatable illness in an insane world.

Don McLean composed 'Vincent' in the autumn of 1970 after reading a biography of the Dutch painter. While the public often dismissed van Gogh as merely 'crazy' due to his mental state, McLean sought to distinguish his condition from the 'garden variety' of insanity. He noted that both Vincent and his brother, Theo, suffered from a specific illness—which McLean ultimately believed to be bipolar disorder—rather than the common narrative of a man rejected by a woman.

The song's construction is deeply tied to van Gogh's visual legacy. McLean used a print of 'The Starry Night' (1889) as a visual prompt, writing the lyrics on a simple paper bag. Musically, the track balances major and minor chords to create a 'bittersweet palette' that evokes high emotion within a sense of tranquility. It features a rich arrangement of guitar, accordion, marimba, and violin, aiming to tell van Gogh's story through both melody and poetry.

Since its release on the 1971 album 'American Pie,' the song has moved from a personal tribute to a cultural touchstone. It peaked at No. 12 in the United States and topped the UK Singles Chart for two weeks in 1972. Its influence spans from being a formative musical moment for musicians like Jake Bugg to being used in the 2017 film 'Loving Vincent.' Even its historical artifacts hold significant value, with the original handwritten lyrics selling for $1.5 million in 2020.

The song's legacy is marked by its ability to evoke deep sympathy. Critics have described it as a 'sane comment on an insane world,' a sentiment that resonates in its various covers and its inclusion in diverse media, from 'The Simpsons' to Olympic ice dance programs.

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