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).
Headroom
Don McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got to have headroom,
Some place to rest my head.
I'm gettin' taller,
Thinkin's gettin' smaller,
Time is winnin' out instead.
Well, I heard it on the news,
They're selling everything they can.And the American flag
Is manufactured in Japan.
They're fightin' battles in the stars,
They're pourin' billions into Mars.
And layin' right there at my feet,
There're people sleepin' in the street.
Give me room, room, room, room, room, room.
Well, I'm livin' on the farm,
Where chemistry has lost its charm.
And every dusty wind that blows,
Is burnin' big holes in my clothes.
They're burnin' big holes in the sky,
Makin' people wonder why
With all our land and sea and space,
Progress is wreckin' every place.
Give me room, room, room, room, room, room.
Well, if you want an assen-ell,
The government will wish you well,
And if you steal a million bucks,
The government will wish you luck.
And they might even give you more,
If you're makin' things for war.
But if you're poor and stealin' cars,
You'll spend your life behind the bars.
Give me room, room, room, room, room, room.
They're talkin' ethics on the hill,
They're talkin' justice at the farm,
They're talkin' safety in the car.
They're talkin' murder in the states,
They're talkin' cash to get a fix.
They're talkin' virus in the bed,
I'm talkin' room to rest my head.
Give me room, room, room, room, room, room.
I need headroom,
Got to have headroom,
Some place to rest my head.
Don McLean's song "Headroom," released in 1972, is a commentary on social and political issues affecting America at the time. The song's title refers to the need for space and freedom to think amid the chaos and noise of modern society. McLean laments the changing times, where progress has come at a cost to the environment and society's most vulnerable. The lyrics also criticize the government's focus on funding wars instead of tackling poverty.
The song has a slow and melancholy tune, which contrasts with the upbeat lyrics. McLean's voice is smooth and poignant, expressing the longing for peace and space away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The song's melody also adds to the sense of restlessness and confusion that the lyrics convey, with the chorus's repetition conveying the sense of needing space.
McLean's lyrics are thought-provoking, and he raises several societal issues that were important during the early 1970s, such as government corruption and the effects of pollution on the environment. He also critiques America's obsession with war and the mistreatment of poor people. The song's lyrics reflect McLean's views and his desire for change and progress. "Headroom" is an excellent example of how music can be used to express social and political commentary effectively.
Line by Line Meaning
I need headroom,
I need space or room to think and reflect on what's going on around me.
Got to have headroom,
It's important to have space to maintain mental clarity and avoid feeling suffocated or overwhelmed.
Some place to rest my head.
I need a place where I can feel safe and secure, where I don't have to worry about basic needs like shelter and rest.
I'm gettin' taller,
I'm growing and evolving as a person, gaining new perspectives and insights.
Thinkin's gettin' smaller,
Despite gaining new perspectives, the world seems to be getting more confusing and harder to make sense of.
Time is winnin' out instead.
There doesn't seem to be enough time to understand everything that's going on, or enough time to make meaningful changes.
Well, I heard it on the news,
The media is a source of information, but can be overwhelming and frustrating in its portrayal of the world.
They're selling everything they can.
Capitalism has commodified everything, even patriotism and national identity through the manufacturing of American flags in Japan.
And the American flag
Symbol of American identity
Is manufactured in Japan.
Even something as deeply ingrained in national pride as the flag can be manufactured elsewhere for profit.
They're fightin' battles in the stars,
Humanity is already engaging in battles and rivalries outside of the Earth, as space exploration and colonization begin to take hold.
They're pourin' billions into Mars.
Despite a lack of infrastructure and progress on Earth, governments and private companies are already investing heavily in colonizing Mars.
And layin' right there at my feet,
The suffering and poverty of others is always close at hand.
There're people sleepin' in the street.
Homelessness and poverty are visible signs of the failures of society to provide for its most vulnerable members.
Give me room, room, room, room, room, room.
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the need for personal space or mental clarity amidst the chaos and confusion of the world.
Well, I'm livin' on the farm,
The artist is removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, but is still impacted by environmental degradation and the negative effects of industrialization.
Where chemistry has lost its charm.
The negative impacts of modern technology cannot be ignored or downplayed.
And every dusty wind that blows,
Even natural elements like the wind are now hazardous due to pollution and environmental degradation.
Is burnin' big holes in my clothes.
Consumers are themselves being negatively impacted by the environmental harm of industrialization.
They're burnin' big holes in the sky,
Harmful industrial practices are damaging the environment and future prospects of humanity as a whole.
Makin' people wonder why
People are starting to question the morality of industrialization and the negative impacts it has on the environment and quality of life.
With all our land and sea and space,
Despite having so much potential, humankind is still struggling to make meaningful progress and protect its most basic resources.
Progress is wreckin' every place.
The negative impacts of industrialization and consumer culture can be seen all over, from cities to the countryside and beyond.
Well, if you want an assen-ell,
If you want to become wealthy or successful through dubious means, society might support those goals.
The government will wish you well,
The government or other authority figures may be complicit in or outright support activities that harm society or the environment.
And if you steal a million bucks,
Criminal activity and financial exploitation are often rewarded more than honest work or contributions to society.
The government will wish you luck.
Authorities may be more focused on preserving the status quo or benefiting the wealthy than supporting the common good.
But if you're poor and stealin' cars,
If you're struggling to make ends meet through illegal activities or other means, you're more likely to be punished than rewarded.
You'll spend your life behind the bars.
Society is often too focused on punishment and retribution than solving the problems that lead to poverty and criminal activity.
They're talkin' ethics on the hill,
Politicians and other authority figures talk about morality and ethics, but often don't follow through with meaningful action.
They're talkin' union at the mill,
Workers and labor unions are often fighting for fair treatment and pay, especially in industries with high risks or low pay.
They're talkin' justice at the farm,
Issues of fairness and justice are important everywhere, including in rural areas where farming and agriculture are main industries.
They're talkin' safety in the car.
Consumer safety is an important concern in the auto industry, but it's just one piece of a larger puzzle of environmental, social, and economic issues.
They're talkin' murder in the states,
Violent crime and murder are pervasive issues in many parts of the world, and often intersect with other issues like race, class, and power dynamics.
They're talkin' cash to get a fix.
Issues around addiction and substance abuse are often not addressed with empathy or thoughtful solutions.
They're talkin' virus in the bed,
Public health and infectious disease have become major concerns in the modern world, especially as globalization and climate change create new challenges.
I'm talkin' room to rest my head.
Despite all these pressing issues, the singer is more concerned with finding personal space and mental clarity to rest and recuperate.
Give me room, room, room, room, room, room.
The repetition of this phrase emphasizes the need for personal space or mental clarity amidst the chaos and confusion of the world.
I need headroom,
I need space or room to think and reflect on what's going on around me.
Got to have headroom,
It's important to have space to maintain mental clarity and avoid feeling suffocated or overwhelmed.
Some place to rest my head.
I need a place where I can feel safe and secure, where I don't have to worry about basic needs like shelter and rest.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DON MCLEAN
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