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

🎵 Let’s sing along with the lyrics! 🎤
A long, long time ago, I can still rememberHow that music used to make me smileAnd I knew if I had my chanceThat I could make those people danceAnd maybe they’d be happy for a while
But February made me shiverWith every paper I’d deliverBad news on the doorstepI couldn’t take one more stepI can’t remember if I criedWhen I read about his widowed brideBut something touched me deep insideThe day the music died
So, bye, bye, Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dryAnd them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeSingin’, “This’ll be the day that I dieThis’ll be the day that I die”
Did you write the Book of Love?And do you have faith in God aboveIf 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 gymYou both kicked off your shoesThen I dig those rhythm and bluesI was a lonely teenage broncin’ buckWith a pink carnation and a pickup truckBut I knew I was out of luckThe day the music died
I started singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dryThem good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeSingin’, “This’ll be the day that I dieThis’ll be the day that I die”
Now for ten years we’ve been on our ownAnd moss grows fat on a rollin’ stoneBut that’s not how it used to beWhen the jester sang for the king and queenIn a coat he borrowed from James DeanAnd a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the king was looking downThe jester stole his thorny crownThe courtroom was adjournedNo verdict was returnedAnd while Lennon read a book on MarxThe quartet practiced in the parkAnd we sang dirges in the darkThe day the music died
We were singin’, “Bye-bye Miss American Pie”Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dryThem good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeSingin’, “This’ll be the day that I dieThis’ll be the day that I die”
Helter Skelter in the summer swelterThe birds flew off with a fallout shelterEight miles high and fallin’ fastIt landed foul on the grassThe players tried for a forward passWith the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now, the half-time air was sweet perfumeWhile the sergeants played a marching tuneWe all got up to danceOh, but we never got the chance‘Cause the players tried to take the fieldThe marching band refused to yieldDo you recall what was revealedThe day the music died?
We started singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dryThem good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeAnd singin’, “This’ll be the day that I dieThis’ll be the day that I die”
Oh, and there we were, all in one placeA generation lost in spaceWith no time left to start againSo come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quickJack Flash sat on a candlestick‘Cause fire is the devil’s only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stageMy hands were clenched in fists of rageNo angel born in HellCould break that Satan’s spellAnd as the flames climbed high into the nightTo light the sacrificial riteI saw Satan laughing with delightThe day the music died
He was singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dryThem good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeAnd singin’, “This’ll be the day that I dieThis’ll be the day that I die”
I met a girl who sang the bluesAnd I asked her for some happy newsBut she just smiled and turned awayI went down to the sacred storeWhere I’d heard the music years beforeBut the man there said the music wouldn’t play
And in the streets, the children screamedThe lovers cried and the poets dreamedBut not a word was spokenThe church bells all were brokenAnd the three men I admire mostThe Father, Son, and the Holy GhostThey caught the last train for the coastThe day the music died
And they were singin’, “Bye-bye, Miss American Pie”Drove my Chevy to The Levee, but The Levee was dryAnd Them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeSingin’, “This’ll be the day that I dieThis’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 dryThem good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey in RyeSingin’, “This’ll be the day that I die”

 

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