Don McLean – American Pie

About This Song

“American Pie” is a 1971 epic ballad written and performed by American singer-songwriter Don McLean. It is one of McLean’s most popular and critically acclaimed songs, and has been covered by numerous artists. The song is notable for its length (nearly eight minutes), its complex structure, and its rich tapestry of imagery.

The song’s lyrics are a meditation on the 1960s, a period of social and cultural upheaval in the United States. McLean reflects on the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the rise of the counterculture movement, and the Vietnam War. He also pays tribute to a number of popular culture figures from the era, including Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles.

“American Pie” is a complex and ambiguous song, and its meaning has been debated by critics and fans for decades. Some interpret the song as a lament for the loss of innocence, while others see it as a celebration of the 1960s counterculture. Whatever its interpretation, “American Pie” is a powerful and enduring anthem that continues to resonate with listeners today.

Here are some of the key themes and symbols in “American Pie”:

• The music industry: The song is set against the backdrop of the 1960s music industry, with references to Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley, and the Beatles. McLean suggests that the music of the 1960s had a profound impact on American culture, and that its decline is a reflection of a broader social loss.
• The Vietnam War: The war is mentioned in the song’s bridge, and is represented by the image of “the day the music died.” McLean suggests that the war was a turning point in American history, and that it ushered in a period of disillusionment and cynicism.
• The counterculture movement: The song also reflects on the rise of the counterculture movement, which challenged traditional values and advocated for social change. McLean suggests that the movement was both a positive and negative force, and that it ultimately failed to achieve its goals.
• The American Dream: The song is ultimately a meditation on the American Dream, which McLean suggests is under threat. He sings of a time when “America was young” and “there were fights on every street corner,” suggesting that the country has lost its spirit of idealism.

“American Pie” is a complex and multifaceted song that continues to be interpreted and debated by critics and fans. It is a powerful anthem that captures the essence of the 1960s, and its legacy is sure to endure for generations to come.

Video

Lyric

A long, long time ago, I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they’d be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step
I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

So, bye, bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

Did you write the Book of Love?
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock ‘n’ roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you’re in love with him
‘Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Then I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died

I started singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

Now for ten years we’ve been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone
But that’s not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lennon read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died

We were singin’, “Bye-bye Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

Helter Skelter in the summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and fallin’ fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Now, the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance
‘Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
And singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

Oh, and there we were, all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
‘Cause fire is the devil’s only friend

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan’s spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
And singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I’d heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn’t play

And in the streets, the children screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died

And they were singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
And Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

They were singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in Rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die”