What does Carly Simon mean by clouds in my coffee in the song 'youre so vain'?

Answer 1

Clouds are always changing and rearranging. Clouds also block the view of the Sun. Carly Simon sang... "I had some dreams they were clouds in my coffee, clouds in my coffee. I think she is saying that she wasn't seeing the true chacter of David Lawrence Geffen, who would have been about 34 years old in 1972 when Carly wrote the song. The "clouds in her cooffee" were the dreams she had prior to waking up "coffee" and realizing dreams were clouded over (she wasn't able to see his true character because she hadn't had much experience with relationships and believed every word she was hearing. Once she was able to reflect on their "experience" she realized the "daydreams" she had about David Lawrence Geffen. and the possibility of whatever dreams she had at the time where clouds in her coffee. Once she was "awakened with coffee" She emotionally hurt and wrote "I had some dreams... (letting him know that she was invisioning her life with him) they were clouds in my coffee." Meaning I see clearly and my expectations were clouded by my innocence and youth and faith in the things a man told her. It's an extraordinary song and it is dealing with her and how she is dealing with being her first heartache and it isn't about David Lawrence Geffen but because he's so into himself, vein, at the time she wrote the song, when he heard the song, he'd think it was about him, not understanding the songs true, deeper meaning. Carly loved him deeply. I hope he understands that, and one day meets with her... It's beautifuly written and she has kept the identity secret for many years. I admire both of them, Carly and David, for their incredible contributions to the world, as well as their brilliance and their ability to keep a secret! :-)