Simon said the song refers to three men, one of whom she has named publicly: the actor Warren Beatty.

A year after Simon had written the chorus lyric, "You're so vain, you probably think this song is about you," a scarfed man arriving at a party studied himself in a mirror; Simon's friend said, "he looks like he's walking onto a yacht," inspiring more lyrics, including, "You…watched yourself gavotte."

[10] Simon told the CBC that she took artistic license with the reference, and the subject may not have actually witnessed the eclipse in Nova Scotia.

[11] The 2012 biography More Room in a Broken Heart: The True Adventures of Carly Simon quotes her: "I didn't know anyone who raced at Saratoga or went to view the total eclipse, I just wanted to portray someone who thought he was ultra-cool.

[15] In a 1993 book, Angie Bowie said she was the wife of a "close friend" mentioned in "You're So Vain", and that Jagger had been "obsessed" with her.

[16] Simon appeared as a guest artist on Janet Jackson's 2001 single "Son of a Gun (I Betcha Think This Song Is About You)", which sampled "You're So Vain".

In the song, Simon recites: "The apricot scarf was worn by Nick / Nothing in the words referred to Mick.

[19][20][21] In August 2003, Simon agreed to reveal the subject to the highest bidder of the Martha's Vineyard Possible Dreams charity auction.

[25] In her 2008 book Girls Like Us, Sheila Weller includes a detailed account of Simon's love affair with the musician Dan Armstrong, and suggests that he was the inspiration.

[28] In an interview for WNYC in November 2009, Simon said she had hidden the name of the subject in a new recording of the song.

[30] In February 2010, Simon reiterated that the name was whispered in a rerecording of "You're So Vain": "There's a little whisper—and it's the answer to the puzzle.

[13] Vanity Fair noted that in addition to "David", "Warren" and an unintelligible name are whispered in the song.

[38] Reviewing the single, Record World called it Simon's "most commercial song yet", praising the lyrics, melody and string arrangements.

1 hit in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, and reached No 4 in Ireland and South Africa.

From the No Secrets album liner notes: The Rolling Stones singer Mick Jagger contributed uncredited backing vocals.