McLean's grandfather and father, both also named Donald McLean, had roots originating in Scotland. The Buccis, the family of McLean's mother, Elizabeth, came from Abruzzo in central Italy. They left Italy and settled in Port Chester, New York at the end of the 19th century. He has other extended family in Los Angeles and Boston. Though some of his early musical influences included Frank Sinatra and Buddy Holly, as a teenager, McLean became interested in folk music, particularly the Weavers' 1955 recording At Carnegie Hall. He often missed long periods of school because of childhood asthma, particularly music lessons, and although McLean slipped back in his studies, his love of music was allowed to flourish. By age 16, he had bought his first guitar and began making contacts in the music business, becoming friends with the folk singers Erik Darling and Fred Hellerman of the Weavers.
McLean recorded Tapestry in 1969 in Berkeley, California during the student riots. After being rejected 72 times by labels, the album was released by Mediarts, a label that had not existed when he first started to look for a label. He worked on the album for a couple of years before putting it out. It attracted good reviews but little notice outside the folk community, though on the Easy Listening chart "Castles in the Air" was a success, and in 1973 "And I Love You So" became a number 1 Adult Contemporary hit for Perry Como.
McLean's major break came when Mediarts was taken over by United Artists Records, thus securing the promotion of a major label for his second album, American Pie. The album launched two number one hits in the title song and "Vincent". American Pie's success made McLean an international star and piqued interest in his first album, which charted more than two years after its initial release.
In 2004, he was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In January 2018, BMI certified that "American Pie" and "Vincent" had reached five million and three million airplays respectively.
His composition "And I Love You So" has been sung by Elvis Presley, Perry Como, Helen Reddy, Glen Campbell, and others, and in 2000, Madonna had a hit with a rendition of "American Pie". His other hit singles include "Vincent" (US #12, UK #1 in 1972), "Dreidel" (US #21 in 1972), a rendition of Roy Orbison's "Crying" (US #5, UK #1 in 1980), a rendition of the Skyliners' "Since I Don't Have You" (US #23 in 1980), and "Wonderful Baby" (US AC #1 in 1975).
Everybody Loves Me Baby
Don McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Fortune has me well in hand, armies wait at my command
My gold lies in a foreign land, buried deep beneath the sand
The angels guide my every tread, my enemies are sick or dead,
But all the victories I've lead, haven't brought you to my bed
You see, everybody loves me baby,
Won't you tell me what did I do to offend you?
Now the purest race I've bred for thee to live in my democracy
And the highest human pedigree awaits your first-born boy, baby
And my face on every coin engraved, the anarchists are all enslaved
My own flag is forever waved by grateful people I have saved.
You see, everybody loves me, baby
What's the matter with you
Won't you tell me what did I do to offend you
Now, no man is beyond my claim
When the land is seized in the people's name by
Evil men who rob and maim. If war is hell, I'm not to blame!
Why, you can't blame me, I'm the heaven's child
I'm the second son of Mary Mild
And I'm twice removed from Oscar Wilde
But he didn't mind, why he just smiled
Yes, and the ocean parts when I walk through
And the clouds dissolve and the sky turns blue
I'm held in very great value by everyone I meet
But you
'Cause I've used my talents as I could,
I've done some bad, I've done some good
I did a whole lot better than they thought I would so
Come on and treat me like you should
Because everybody loves me baby,
What's the matter with you?
Tell me, what did I do to offend you?
Woh, yeah, everybody loves me, baby,
What's the matter with you?
Tell me, what did I do to offend you?
Yeah, everybody loves me, baby,
What's the matter with ypu?
Tell me, what did I do to offend you?
The lyrics to Don McLean's song Everybody Loves Me Baby are a satirical commentary on how powerful leaders believe that they are loved by everyone because of their achievements, while neglecting the fact that they may have hurt some people along the way. The opening lines suggest that the singer is a powerful ruler with vast armies at his command and access to vast wealth. He also suggests that angels guide his every step, and his enemies are either dead or incapacitated. However, he acknowledges that despite all of his victories, he is unable to win the love of a particular person, asking them what he did to offend them.
The second verse continues with the theme of the leader's accomplishments. The singer claims to have created the purest race to live in his democracy, and his first-born son has the highest possible pedigree. He boasts that his face is on every coin, and his banner is flown by grateful citizens he has rescued from danger. The third verse has a political focus as he claims ownership of land seized in the people's name, and despite war being hell, he absolves himself of any liability. The final verse suggests that he thinks of himself as someone special, almost beyond normal people. He mentions his good and bad deeds, concluding that he has done better in life than people expected, and demands that he should be treated accordingly.
Line by Line Meaning
Fortune has me well in hand, armies wait at my command
I am wealthy and influential, with vast military power at my fingertips.
My gold lies in a foreign land, buried deep beneath the sand
My wealth is hidden and securely stored in a far-off country.
The angels guide my every tread, my enemies are sick or dead
I'm divinely guided and lucky, with all of my enemies either defeated or in a weakened state.
But all the victories I’ve lead, haven’t brought you to my bed
Despite my many triumphs, I still haven't been able to win over the person addressed in the song.
Now the purest race I’ve bred for thee to live in my democracy
I've created a pure and superior population for my democratic society.
And the highest human pedigree awaits your first-born boy, baby
Your child will have a superior genetic lineage in my society.
And my face on every coin engraved, the anarchists are all enslaved
I am the ruler of a society where everyone is grateful to me and all opposition has been successfully suppressed.
My own flag is forever waved by grateful people I have saved
The citizens of my society display my flag with pride and owe me their gratitude.
Now, no man is beyond my claim, when the land is seized in the people’s name by evil men who rob and maim
I am entitled to take anything I want from anyone, especially if it benefits the greater good.
If war is hell, I'm not to blame!
While I may wage war, I refuse to take responsibility for any resulting destruction or loss of life.
Why, you can't blame me, I'm the heaven's child
I am not at fault for anything, for I am divinely chosen to be a ruler.
I'm the second son of Mary Mild, and I'm twice removed from Oscar Wilde, but he didn't mind, why he just smiled
My lineage includes Jesus Christ and famous writer Oscar Wilde, who I assume would approve of me.
Yes, and the ocean parts when I walk through, and the clouds dissolve and the sky turns blue
I'm so powerful that natural elements change their behavior in response to me.
I’m held in very great value by everyone I meet, but you
While most people admire and value me, the person addressed in the song seems to dislike me.
‘Cause I’ve used my talents as I could, I’ve done some bad, I’ve done some good
I’ve done both good and bad things in my life, but I’ve tried my best with the talents I’ve been given.
I did a whole lot better than they thought I would, so come on and treat me like you should
Despite being underestimated, I’ve exceeded expectations and deserve to be treated with respect.
Because everybody loves me, baby, what’s the matter with you? Tell me, what did I do to offend you?
I'm confused and hurt that the person addressed in the song doesn't like me, and I want to understand what I did to cause them to feel this way.
Woh, yeah, everybody loves me, baby, what’s the matter with you? Tell me, what did I do to offend you?
I'm still trying to understand why the person addressed in the song dislikes me, and I wish they would tell me why.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
The Goddess
on The More You Pay
No. As The Auctioneer explains "what we don't sell we shoot or give away - cuz the more you pay, the more it's worth" so the horse is given to the persona/narrator rather than shooting it to death. The Gallery goes wild in celebration that the horse will go to someone instead of being killed.
Joe Boxer
on Vincent
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=dcWFYtG8RFM