Warren Beatty Is So Vain (Among Others)

Ken AshfordPopular CultureLeave a Comment

Well, mystery partially solved:

Carly Simon released the hit song “You’re So Vain” about a self-absorbed lover in November of 1972, leaving fans to wonder for more than four decades who it could be about.

Now the mystery is somewhat solved. Simon, 70, told People magazine that at least part of the song refers to actor Warren Beatty.

“I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren,” she told People.

That apparently is no surprise to Beatty.

“Warren thinks the whole thing is about him!” Simon said.

You’re so vain, you probably think this song is about you, goes the chorus. You’re so vain, I’ll bet you think this song is about you, don’t you, don’t you?

The second verse includes the lines:

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…

Simon, who was married to singer James Taylor from 1972-83 and has two children with him, claims the other verses in the song are about two other men. She doesn’t plan on revealing their identities any time soon.

I think everyone had already figured out that Beatty was the guy.  Or one of them.