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American Pie
Don McLean Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

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 ol' 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 '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 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 ol' 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 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 ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And 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 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 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 ol' 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 ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and 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 ol' 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', bye-bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "This'll be the day that I die"

Overall Meaning

American Pie is a song by Don McLean that was released in 1971. It is a tribute to the history of American rock and roll, exploring the impact it had on society and how it felt to lose some of its biggest players. The song reveals the personal experiences of the artist and how he viewed the world after losing three rock and roll legends who passed away in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The song begins with “A long long time ago, I can still remember how, that music used to make me smile.” This implies that the piece is a nostalgic retrospective of the time gone by when music was an integral part of life.


The first verse of the song sets the tone for what is to follow, and the second verse explains why the singer is feeling the pain. These verses refer to the assassination of John F. Kennedy, which occurred while the singer was still in high school. The verse “But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver. Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step” refers to the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, who all died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The lyrics also refer to music's ability to bring people together and make them happy, “And maybe they'd be happy for a while.”


The remainder of the song alludes to the political and cultural changes that occurred starting from the early 1960s. Don McLean references the Beatles and Bob Dylan and their impact on American culture. The song also takes a darker turn, referencing the Altamont Free Concert, where a concertgoer was killed by the Hell's Angels, and the rise of Charles Manson, whose influence Don McLean calls the "Satan's spell." The song concludes with "The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, they caught the last train for the coast, the day the music died," suggesting that music will never be the same again. Overall, American Pie is an intricate, nostalgic ode to a period of time that created a significant impact on society and culture, both good and bad.


Line by Line Meaning

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.




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Don McLean

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Comments from YouTube:

@timothyjackson4006

On February 3rd 2024 it has been 65 years since that tragic day we LOST BUDDY HOLLY, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper. Yet their music still Rocks to this very DAY! Thank You Don McLean for this awesome Tribute to the entire Rock & Roll Industry. Rock On!

@finallife87

they would probably have died now anyway.

@Ryan15beast

@@finallife87maybe but it’s totally possible they could still be alive considering Donna (Ritchie’s gf) is still alive

@Rajib317

May the music never die. May we all sing together in harmony.

@aharonwsmith

amen and amen!

@noobfailgaming5703

YES! My grandads favourites. Can't believe half my music taste Is game music and the other half my grandads playlist lmao. This song is a banger >:)

@cabbey31

@@noobfailgaming5703 dirges in the dark!

@michaelseiber1794

Dude the point of the song is that the music is dead. The culture of the United States is nearly gone.

@noobfailgaming5703

@@michaelseiber1794 why did you ruin the nostalgia for me 😭😭😭 I knew it had a sad outlining but you didn't need to ruin my childhood

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@havingagr8time

This has been one of my favorites songs since I first heard it. I saw Don McLean live at my college campus in the mid-seventies and he obliged all of us by performing it. What a thrill!!

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