American Pie
Don McLean Lyrics

A long long time ago
The songwriter is reflecting on a distant past.

I can still remember how That music used to make me smile
The songwriter recalls how much he enjoyed music in his younger days.

And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they'd be happy for a while
The songwriter believes that music has the power to bring joy and happiness to people's lives.

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 Something touched me deep inside The day the music died
The songwriter is referring to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper on February 3, 1959, which he sees as the day that the innocence and joy of early rock and roll was lost.

So Bye, bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die
The songwriter is bidding farewell to the ideal of American culture that he associated with early rock and roll, represented here by the metaphor of 'Miss American Pie,' and acknowledging that this event has marked the end of an era.

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?
The songwriter is posing a series of questions about the role of music and religion in people's lives, and suggesting that music has the power to be a spiritual force that can bring salvation to the soul.

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
The songwriter is reminiscing about a past love affair and the power of rock and roll to bring people together and create a sense of joy and community.

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck But I knew I was out of luck I started singin'
The songwriter is describing his own youth and sense of isolation, and suggesting that music was a form of self-expression and rebellion against the constraints of society.

Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye And singin' this'll be the day that I die
The songwriter is referring back to the earlier refrain, suggesting that the sense of cultural loss and disillusionment he feels is widely shared.

Now, for ten years we've been on our own And moss grows fat on a rolling 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 We were singin'
The songwriter is painting a picture of a historical moment in which music and culture played a more powerful role in society than they do now, and suggesting that this sense of community and shared purpose has been lost in the years that have passed since then.

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
The songwriter is using a series of surreal and disjointed images to suggest the chaos and instability of contemporary society.

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?
The songwriter is describing a chaotic scene in which cultural forces are clashing and no progress is being made, a reflection of the broader sense of social unrest that characterized the late 1960s and early 1970s.

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 He was singin'
The songwriter is referencing the cultural turmoil of the 1960s and 1970s, giving voice to the sense of anger and disillusionment that many young people felt towards the establishment and mainstream culture.

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
The songwriter is describing the breakdown in communication and cultural values that he sees as symptomatic of contemporary society, suggesting that many people are feeling lost and disillusioned.

And the three men I admire most The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost They caught the last train for the coast And they were singing
The songwriter is referencing the Christian Holy Trinity, but reinterpreting it in light of the cultural and social upheavals of modern times.

They were singing bye, bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye Singin' this'll be the day that I die
The song returns to its earlier refrain, emphasizing the sense of disillusionment and cultural loss that many people are feeling.