NOVA, Larence G.

1BSA-2

1. Answer the ff. questions: As you listen to the song, how do you interpret
it? What is the message? What is the songwriter trying to say about him? Why
do you think he wrote a song for him? For you, what makes him great as an
artist? (15 pts)

This song's lyrics and imagery depict Vincent Van Gogh's life, career, and death. The first
line, "Starry, starry night," refers to one of the Dutch impressionist's most famous
paintings, A Starry Night. The lyrics, "Paint your palette blue and gray," represent the
painting's popular colors and are most likely a nod to Vincent's habit of sucking on or
chewing his paintbrushes while working. Van Gogh's charitable efforts and love of the
economically outcast are expressed in his portraits and sketches as "ragged men in
ragged clothing" and "how you tried to set them free." "They would not listen, they did not
know how," Van Gogh's relatives and several friends who were dismissive of his
generosity to "the wretched," are referred to. The phrase "How you fought for your sanity"
refers to Van Gogh's schizophrenic illness.

McLean was going through a tough patch at the time he wrote this album. He was in an
abusive marriage that was tormenting him. He said to have been tortured. He wasn't in
as bad of shape as Vincent, but he wasn't happy either.

One thing I'd like to point out is that music, in certain respects, is similar to poetry. You
have wit and irony and comedy and pathos and rage, and all of these things combine to
form the hidden instruments that an artist, a successful stage artist, employs. Regrettably,
this has all but disappeared from music. But that makes someone like me a relic, and I
do stuff and people like me do things that use all of the traditional modes of emotional
communication."
2. In response, give your message to Vincent through a drawing. Then below the
drawing write the meaning/explanation. Use coloring materials. (15 pts)

The meaning of this drawing is in life, we need to encounter trials and problems in order to
succeed. There is no successful person that have not gone through any obstacles in life.
According to this drawing, you need to provide for solution to your problems and do it yourself
or if you need the help of others, do it. Nothing will happen if you don’t do the work. The
problem won’t solve on its own. You need to execute your plan in order to achieve success.