David Geffen Was Target of Carly Simon's 'You're So Vain'

David Geffen at 67 years old, pictured in late 2009. INFDaily.com.

Carly Simon puts all other theories to rest.

You probably thought the song was about Warren Beatty or James Taylor, but the 1972 Carly Simon hit "You're So Vain" was actually targeted at record executive David Geffen. After nearly four decades of speculation (interviewers have asked Carly Simon the song's inspiration in dozens of interviews), Carly Simon has finally stepped forward to reveal that Geffen's name is whispered at certain points of the recording.

Our friends at Huffington Post report that they've heard a recording of "You're So Vain" played backward, in which the name "David" is spoken almost inaudibly. Apparently David Geffen was the head of Carly Simon's record label when the song was recorded in the very early 1970's, and it's said Geffen was paying more attention to Joni Mitchell than he was to Simon.

For years the public has speculated that the subject of the song was Mick Jagger (who sings backup) or Carly Simon's ex-husband James Taylor (to whom she was married from 1972 to 1983. Simon has said James Taylor was "definitely not" the inspiration for "You're So Vain"). Other sources have concluded that the song was about Simon's old flame Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson or Cat Stevens. Until now David Geffen has never been a widely regarded source for the song's concept.

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