Carly Simon

Carly Simon, the daughter of the founder of the publishing company Simon & Schuster, sprang into the singer-songwriter scene in the early 1970s. She quickly became one of the top artists of the early 1970s with her feminist anthems and witty lyrics, including the songs "That's the Way I've Always Heard It Should Be" and You're So Vain". Simon was considered the "It Girl" of the singer-songwriter era. She was the muse for many musicians and dated prominent figures of the 1970s such as Cat Stevens, Kris Kristofferson, Jack Nicolson, Warren Beatty, and Mick Jagger. She also had a ten year marriage to James Taylor, another famous singer-songwriter.

"You're So Vain"

The song "You're So Vain" describes the actions of a narcissistic ex-lover. The singer explains that the man only thinks of himself and believes that everyone wants to be with him because of his looks, his connections, and his wealth. The singer, however, states that he is very conceited and not worth her wasting her time. This song was one of the first songs that specifically gives the message of a woman leaving a man because of his actions. It shows the growing autonomy women had during the feminist era to choose their relationships and leave men for the narcissistic actions.

The song has remained popular since it was released in late 1972. It was nominated for Record of the Year, Song of the Year, and Best Pop Vocal Performance in 1973. It also was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2004. It has gone on to inspire artists such as Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and multiple other 2000s female musicians to sing about their exes.

The Song

Original Music video for the song

Recent Cover by Olivia Rodrigo

"You had one eye in the mirror, as you watched yourself gavotte
And all the girls dreamed that they'd be your partner"

Full Lyrics

Son of a gun

You walked into the party like you were walking onto a yacht
Your hat strategically dipped below one eye
Your scarf it was apricot
You had one eye in the mirror, as you 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 (you're so vain)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you don't you?

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
You're so vain

You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain (you're so vain)

I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you don't you don't you?

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 bet you think this song is about you
Don't you don't you?

Well I hear you went up to Saratoga
And your horse naturally won
Then you flew your lear jet 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 (so vain)
I bet you think this song is about you
Don't you don't you don't you?

You're so vain
You probably think this song is about you
You're so vain
Probably think this song about you
You're so vain