Meaningful songs #15 - CARLY SIMON

This is the fifteenth in an occasional series of songs from my collection, with the intent of introducing music to younger readers that they may gain appreciation of music from the classic years, 1957-1990. 

I have lived long enough to hear the "popular" music industry become ever-more formulaic, lazy, uninspiring and cynical; delivering "units" and "artistes" as interesting and memorable as polished mud.

Meaningful songs that eloquently convey a story, sentiment, or social comment and make it to national consciousness are rare these days. If you agree this song is meaningful, please introduce it to someone young; they might enjoy becoming "musical archaeologists".

Todays song, titled "You're So Vain", released in 1972, is by a singer called CARLY SIMON.

Carly Simon

Hear the song here

This song is a story about a (showbiz) personality who singer/songwriter Carly Simon has steadfastly refused to identify, merely giving rather nebulous clues over the years since its release. The song narrates the failing of its subject. To understand her life and musical output start here.

YOU'RE SO VAIN

    

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht

Your hat strategically dipped below one eye

Your scarf it was apricot

You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte

And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner

They'd be your partner and

 

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain (so vain)

I bet you think this song is about you

Don't you don't you?

You had me several years ago when I was still quite naive

Well you said that we made such a pretty pair

and that you would never leave

But you gave away the things you loved

And one of them was me

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee

clouds in my coffee and

 

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain (you're so vain)

I bet you think this song is about you

Don't you don't you don't you?

 

I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee

clouds in my coffee and

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain (so vain)

I bet you think this song is about you

Don't you don't you?

Well he hear you went up to Saratoga

And your horse naturally won

Then you flew your Lear jet up to Nova Scotia

To see the total eclipse of the sun

Well you're where you should be all the time

And when you're not you're with some underworld spy

Or the wife of a close friend wife of a close friend and

 

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain (so vain)

I bet you think this song is about you

Don't you don't you don't you?

You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you

You're so vain

Probably think this song is about you

You're so vain

Return to the first article in this series or hear the first song in this series.

Read the next article in the series or hear the next song in the series.

For the index of all songs in this blog click here.