Evidently, 40 years of keeping quiet about who inspired her hit "You're So Vain" was enough for Carly Simon. The 1972 hit song that rocketed Carly Simon to fame had long been rumored to have been about one of her former boyfriends.
There was Hollywood legend Warren Beatty (my pick) and then there was Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. However, Carly Simon decided on her upcoming album that she would reveal a cryptic clue in the acoustic version of the song. In that song, Carly Simon whispers the clue backwards on the track.
The name she whispers is Geffen, as in David Geffen the gay record label boss of her previous record label, Elektra Records. Obviously, the song's resentment were not about a failed relationship she may have had years ago, but anger she had at Geffen. The rumor was that Geffen put more promotional effort into Carly Simon's rival at the record label, Joni Mitchell.
I'm a little sad to hear that she decided to reveal Geffen. Life is full of mysteries and some are comforting to have. Carly Simon was an artist I grew up with and with this revelation, a little bit of history has changed.