(Getty Images) After 38 years one of pop music's greatest mysteries appears to be solved. For years, fans have speculated that
Carly Simon's 1972 smash hit "You're So Vain," was about an array of ex-boyfriends including
Warren Beatty and
Mick Jagger. Instead, it seems the song was written about music executive
David Geffen.
The cover for Carly Simon's new album, Never Been Gone.
In a reworked version of "You're So Vain" appearing on her new album
Never Been Gone Carly can be heard whispering during a musical interlude. When played backwards, the whisper clearly says "David."
If this means the song really was written about David Geffen, it changes the meaning for many fans and critics who thought it was written to a lover. David is openly gay and London newspaper
The Sun speculates that Carly was angry that David, who at the time was the head of her label Elektra, was promoting rival
Joni Mitchell more heavily.
For years, Carly has said the subject of the popular song was a sort of composite character made up of men she'd known. The probable truth -- that it's written about a record exec instead of a capricious lover -- is far less titillating than the myth. It's no wonder she's never come out with it before.
Classic Images of Stars
(Getty Images) 
The cover for Carly Simon's new album, Never Been Gone.
