Don McLean performs “American Pie” 1974

About the song

Don McLean’s epic ballad, “American Pie,” is more than just a song; it’s a cultural touchstone that has captivated audiences for decades. Released in 1971, the song quickly became a sensation, topping charts worldwide and cementing McLean’s status as a songwriting legend.

At over eight minutes long, “American Pie” is a sprawling narrative that delves into the tumultuous social and cultural landscape of the 1950s and 1960s. The song’s title references the tragic plane crash that claimed the lives of early rock and roll icons Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens, an event that marked the end of an era. However, “American Pie” goes beyond a mere elegy for lost musicians. It’s a poignant reflection on the changing times, the loss of innocence, and the disillusionment that characterized a generation.

McLean’s lyrics are cryptic and evocative, filled with allusions to historical events, cultural figures, and societal shifts. While the songwriter has often declined to provide a definitive interpretation, the song’s themes have been widely debated and analyzed. Many listeners have connected the lyrics to the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and the counterculture revolution.

Despite its complexity, “American Pie” remains a beloved and enduring piece of music. Its haunting melody, evocative imagery, and timeless themes have resonated with audiences across generations. Whether you’re a longtime fan or discovering the song for the first time, “American Pie” is a masterpiece that continues to captivate and inspire.

Video

Lyrics

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 and 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?
Now do you believe in rock and 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 dancin’ in the gym

You both kicked off your shoes
Man, 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 and rye
And 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 Lenin read a book on Marx
A 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 and rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

Helter-skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling 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 halftime 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 and 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 and rye
And singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

Well, I met a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
And 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
While they caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died

And they were singin’, sing it for me now
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry (everybody)
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die”

They were singin’ (what do you say?)
“Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “This’ll be the day that I die”

Great to be here, 10 years later
Thank you (good morning)
Thank you very much