“Southern trees bear strange fruit

blood on the leaves

and blood at the root

black bodies swinging

in the southern breeze

strange fruit hanging

from the poplar trees”

Billie Holiday

Starry, starry night

Paint your palette blue and gray

Look out on a summer’s day

With eyes that know the darkness in my soul.

Shadows on the hills

Sketch the trees and the daffodils

Catch the breeze and the winter chills

In colors on the snowy linen land.

Starry, starry night

Flaming flowers that brightly blaze

Swirling clouds in violet haze

Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china-blue.

Colors changing hue

Morning fields of amber grain

Weathered faces lined in pain

Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand

Now I understand

What you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity

And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they did not know how

Perhaps they’ll listen now

For they could not love you

But still your love was true

And when no hope was left in sight

On that starry, starry night

You took your life, as lovers often do

But I could’ve told you, Vincent

This world was never meant for

One as beautiful as you.

Starry, starry night

Portraits hung in empty halls

Frameless heads on nameless walls

With eyes that watch this world and can’t forget

Like the strangers that you’ve met

The ragged men in ragged clothes

A silver thorn upon a bloody rose

Lies crushed and broken on the virgin snow.

Now I think I know

What you tried to say to me

How you suffered for your sanity

And how you tried to set them free

They would not listen, they’re not listening still

Perhaps they never will.

It is without a doubt that few would not consider Vincent Van Gogh to be one of the saddest artistic figures who ever lived. Therefore, it seems a likely deduction that “Vincent” by Don McLean, first published and sung by the composer in 1971, is one of the saddest songs ever written, clearly exemplified by its lovely lyrics and haunting musical melody.

Van Gogh, who suffered for 37 years with mental illness, depression, and poverty, was thought to be a madman and a failure during his lifetime. It was only after his controversial death by suicide or a shotgun wound, that he gained recognition and was considered a misunderstood genius. With his bold colors and dramatic brushstrokes, he is perhaps one of the most famous artists from the Post-Impressionistic and Expressionistic Eras.

All these dynamic aspects of Van Gogh’s pivotal life and his sad, untimely death are noted in subliminal stimuli that flow within the lyrical body of the song, the haunting softness of its melody creating the perfect backdrop for such beautiful prose. As one listens, a permeating sense of loneliness and despair is decidedly felt, and a moving factor for any listener.

For me, there is no question that this song, which is so clearly demonstrative of the artist for which it was named, is one of the most emotional and saddest songs ever written, embodying the scope and depth of Van Gogh’s beautiful work and all too tragic life. It will forever remain one of my favorite pieces of both prose and music.

Chiquitita, tell me what's wrong

You're enchained by your own sorrow

In your eyes there is no hope for tomorrow

How I hate to see you like this

There is no way you can deny it

I can see that you're oh so sad, so quiet

The first time I heard this song, way back when in 1979, it brought tears to my eyes. It hit me in the gut, and all these years later, it still has the power to make me cry, yet I play it often. Especially on road trips, which makes no sense. It's damn hard to see the road through tears sliding down your face.

It has the power to help me release whatever is bottled up inside and let it go through the salty drops spilling over my lashes until the lay heavy on my cheeks. There are other songs that tighten my chest, and close my throat with emotion, but this one is guaranteed to make me weep, and feel better for it.

The tears of a strong woman only give her a way to find the determination to continue. Don't ever think it's a sign of weakness or surrender.