Vincent

Vincent

You probably already know this song about the artist Vincent van Gogh. Van Gogh, a Dutch Post-Impressionist pioneered a form of art known as expressionism. He drew in inks, and painted in watercolours and oils. Most of his best-known works were produced in the final two years of his life, during which time he suffered recurrent bouts of mental illness which led to his suicide. His brother Theo continually and selflessly provided financial support and was the central figure in van Gogh’s life.
This video (or view at bottom of page) shows some of van Gogh’s paintings, and accompanies this song written and performed by Don McLean, an American folk and folk rock singer-songwriter.

Can you write the correct words in the gaps in this song?

Starry, starry night.
Paint your palette blue and ….. ¹,
Look out ….. ²,
With eyes that know the ….. ³
Shadows on the hills,
….. ⁴ the trees and the ….. ⁵,
Catch the ….. ⁶ and the winter ….. ⁷,
In colours on the snowy linen land.

Now I understand what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your ….. ⁸,
How you tried to ….. ⁹.
They ….. ¹⁰, they did not know how.
Perhaps they’ll listen now.

Starry, starry night.
….. ¹¹ that ….. ¹²,
….. ¹³ clouds in violet ….. ¹⁴,
Reflect in ….. ¹⁵ eyes of china blue.
Colours changing ….. ¹⁶, morning fields of amber grain,
….. ¹⁷ lined in pain,
Are ….. ¹⁸ 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.
….. ¹⁹ listen now.

For they could not love you,
But ….. ²⁰ your love was true,
And when no ….. ²¹ was left in sight
….. ²² that starry, starry night,
You ….. ²³, as lovers often do.
But I could have told you, Vincent,
This world was never ….. ²⁴ for one
As beautiful as you.

Starry, starry night.
….. ²⁵ hung in empty halls,
Frameless heads on nameless walls,
With eyes ….. ²⁶ watch the world and can’t forget.
Like the ….. ²⁷,
The ragged men in ragged ….. ²⁸,
The silver thorn of bloody rose,
Lie ….. ²⁹ and ….. ³⁰ on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me,
How you suffered for your sanity,
How you tried to set them free.
They would not listen, they’re not listening still.
Perhaps they never will…

For the key, you need to click here!

To check you understood the meaning of the words you heard, click here, for a quiz!

If you’d rather skip the quiz (= miss it out) here is the link to the Home page