The subject of Carly Simon’s 1972 hit “You’re So Vain” has puzzled music fans for decades. While there have been countless rumors, Simon has finally said who part of the song is about.
Simon told People that the song’s second verse is about actor/director/producer Warren Beattey. That’s the verse that includes one of the song’s most famous images: “I had some dreams, they were clouds in my coffee.”
“I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren,” Simon said. She added that Beatty does know that part of the song is about him. “Warren thinks the whole thing is about him!”
The other verses in the song refer to two different men, but Simon doesn’t think she will ever reveal publicly who they are.
One person who supposedly knows exactly who the song is about is NBC Sports executive Dick Ebersol, who famously paid $50,000 at a charity auction to get Simon to tell him the truth.
Many suspect that “You’re So Vain” is about one of the men she was romantically involved with, including her former husband James Taylor, Mick Jagger and Kris Kristofferson. Other theories suggest that it is about record executive David Geffen. Coincidentally, Jagger actually provides backing vocals on the original recording.
Here’s the verse about Beatty:
You had me several years ago when I was still quite 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 ...
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