You're So Vain

Carly Simon

About You're So Vain

"You're So Vain" is a song written in 1971 by Carly Simon and released in November 1972. It is one of the songs that Simon is most identified with, and upon its release, reached number 1 in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The song is ranked at number 92 on Billboard's Greatest Songs of All-Time. "You're So Vain" was voted number 216 in RIAA's Songs of the Century, and in August 2014, the UK's Official Charts Company crowned it the ultimate song of the 1970s. The song is a critical profile of a self-absorbed lover about whom Simon asserts "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you." The title subject's identity has long been a matter of speculation, with Simon stating that the song refers to three men, only one of whom she has named publicly, actor Warren Beatty. The distinctive bass guitar intro is played by Klaus Voormann. The strings were arranged by Simon and orchestrated by Paul Buckmaster. Simon plays piano on the track. 


Year:
1975
4:17
4,074 
#7

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You walked into the party
Like you were walking on a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf, it was apricot
You had one eye on the mirror
And 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, 
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you?
Don't you?

Oh, you had me several years ago
When I was still 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'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you? 
Don't you?

Well I hear you went to Saratoga
And your horse, naturally, won
Then you flew your Learjet 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, you're so vain
I'll bet you think this song is about you
Don't you?
Don't you?

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Carly Simon

Carly Elisabeth Simon (born June 25, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, musician, and children's author. She rose to fame in the 1970s with a string of hit records; her 13 Top 40 hits include "You're So Vain", "Nobody Does It Better", and "Coming Around Again". Her 1988 song "Let the River Run" was the first to win a Grammy Award, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award for a song written and performed by a single artist. She was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1994. more »

8 fans

Written by: Carly E. Simon

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


11 facts about this song

Release Information
"You're So Vain" was released in November 1972 as the third single from Carly Simon's No Secrets album.
Chart Achievements
The song topped the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks in 1973, making it Carly Simon's biggest hit. It also reached number 1 in Canada and number 3 in the UK Singles Chart.
Lyrics Speculation
The lyrics are a critical profile of a self-absorbed lover. Carly Simon's refusal to reveal the inspiration behind the song resulted in decades of speculation. Names speculated include Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger, Cat Stevens, and Simon's ex-husband, James Taylor.
Warren Beatty Acknowledgment
Carly Simon acknowledged in 2015 that the second verse of the song is about actor Warren Beatty but maintained the other verses are about two other unnamed men.
Inclusion in the Grammy Hall of Fame
"You're So Vain" was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004.
Use in Popular Culture
The song has been featured in a number of movies and commercials. Notable usage includes the film "Little Black Book" (2004), and it is a recurring tune in the television show "This Is Us."
Mick Jagger's Contribution
The popular Rolling Stones frontman, Mick Jagger, sang backup vocals on the track. His contributing vocals were uncredited and came about from a coincidence, as he visited the studio when Simon was recording the song.
'The Scarf' Speculation
In the lyrics, Simon mentions a scarf 'that was apricot.' This led to further speculation as Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) once gifted Carly an apricot-colored scarf.
Record Magazine Poll
In a 1973 poll conducted by Record Magazine, "You're So Vain" was voted the Best Song and Carly Simon was voted the Best Female Vocalist.
Parody and Covers
Due to its popularity, the song has been parodied and covered by numerous artists over the years, including Foo Fighters, Marilyn Manson, and Liza Minnelli.
Music Video
The song's music video was one of the first to be aired on MTV when it launched on August 1, 1981.

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    You're So Vain

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1973

    Billboard #1


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