Reaction Paper on the song Vincent by

Don McLean
Songwriter: Don McLean

©1971 Universal Music Publishing Group

Starry, Starry Night, is an art piece painted by Vincent van Gogh while he was in the mental hospital
having medications on his mental illness. While he was in the mental hospital, he use to be in the
window at night, doing star gazing. That became his inspiration on painting the Starry, Starry Night. The
painting of van Gogh became the inspiration of Don McLean (a famous singer-songwriter in the 70’s and
80’s) on writing and putting melody on the song and it was realesed in 1971. There’s a lyrics in the near
end of the song that says:

Starry, Starry Night, portraits hung on empty halls

Frameless heads on nameless walls, with eyes that watch the world and can’t forget

In the lyrics, (Starry, Starry Night, portraits hung on empty walls) it means that this painting (Starry,
Starry Night) was never sold nor exibited, because the year after he painted the said painting, he died
while he was on the mental hospital due to his mental illness. His relatives decided not to sell the
painting for some reasons. But many years have past, the remaining relatives of van Gogh wanted the
painting of their ancestor to be exibited, that’s why it is now a famous and acclaimed painting
nowadays.

If your gonna ask me what I have learned in this song: Even though your “very down” in life, remember
that there’s someone who loves, and that’s GOD. He is at your side always and he is the one that can
understands you even in hard times.