Carly Simon Confides 'You're So Vain' Secret In Taylor Swift

Carly Simon's famous 'You're So Vain' continues to raise questions 41 years after its release. Taylor Swift has revealed Simon confided the identity of the song's subject. Swift, unfortunately, is sworn to secrecy.

There are a variety of theories regarding who the mystery man could be. Simon had a number of relationships with high profile men such as Mick Jagger, Warren Beatty, Kris Kristofferson, Cat Stevens and Simon's former husband James Taylor. None of the aforementioned was particularly renowned for their modesty.

Warren Beatty is said, according to a 2010 Daily Mail article, to have been convinced the song was about him. However, this same article claims Simon's lyrics were directed at a record producer David Geffen who frequently favoured Joni Mitchell to Simon.

Simon revealed the vacuous man's identity after performing 'You're So Vain' on stage in Massachusetts with Swift. The performance was prompted by Swift inviting Simon, who is one of her influences, on stage in order to perform a duet.

Swift expressed her reason for doing so in behind the scenes footage for her Red tour. After hearing 'You're So Vain', Swift said she'd thought "this is the best song that has ever been written". She went on to praise Simon, saying the song "is the most direct way anyone has ever addressed a breakup. It's amazing".

Simon responded to Swift's praise by expressing her gratitude for the "dramatic" performance. On the matter she said "it was just so wonderful" and that she wanted a repeat performance. Regarding Swift, Simon commented that "she was great. She really led me through my own song". She did digress into sycophancy by adding "we loved each other and we moved together and apart. It was dramatic".