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).
Go Tell It On The Mountain
Don McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
While shepherds kept their watching
Over silent flocks by night
Behold throughout the heavens
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
The shepherds feared and trembled
When lo! above the earth
Rang out the angels chorus
That hailed the Savior's birth
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born
Down in a lowly manger
The humble Christ was born
And God sent us salvation
That blessed Christmas morn
Go, tell it on the mountain
Over the hills and everywhere
Go, tell it on the mountain
That Jesus Christ is born.
The song "Go Tell It On the Mountain" by Don McLean is a gospel tune that recounts the nativity story of Jesus Christ. The song begins with an exhortation to spread the news that Jesus Christ has been born, over the hills and everywhere. The following lines describe the setting in which the world-changing event took place: while shepherds kept their watch over silent flocks by night, a holy light shone throughout the heavens, signaling the birth of the savior.
The song then goes on to recount the appearance of angels who heralded the birth of Christ, causing the shepherds to fear and tremble. The chorused melody of the angels' songs announces the news of salvation to the world. The third stanza focuses on the humble setting of Christ's birth, being born in a lowly manger. The song concludes with the same chorus that calls on the listener to spread the news, that Jesus Christ is born.
Overall, the song "Go Tell It On the Mountain" is a powerful call to action, compelling listeners to do their part in spreading the good news of Christ's birth and his message of salvation.
Line by Line Meaning
Go, tell it on the mountain
Spread the joyful news of Jesus Christ's birth far and wide
Over the hills and everywhere
Make sure everyone hears the good news, no matter where they live
That Jesus Christ is born
Share the news that the savior has been born
While shepherds kept their watching
The night was calm and the shepherds were vigilant
Over silent flocks by night
Watching over the quiet flocks of sheep during the night
Behold throughout the heavens
Suddenly, the sky was filled with a holy light
There shone a holy light
There was a miraculous light that drew the shepherds' attention
The shepherds feared and trembled
The shepherds were scared and overwhelmed by the sight of angels
When lo! above the earth
Suddenly, appearing out of nowhere in the sky
Rang out the angels chorus
The angels sang a beautiful chorus in celebration of Christ's birth
That hailed the Savior's birth
The heavenly chorus rejoiced in the birth of the savior
Down in a lowly manger
Jesus Christ was born in a humble and simple stable
The humble Christ was born
Even in his birth, Christ showed humility and simplicity
And God sent us salvation
Jesus was sent by God to bring salvation to humanity
That blessed Christmas morn
On that special Christmas morning, the savior was born
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CONNIE SMITH
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