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).
Till Tomorrow
Don McLean Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can you tell me?
Would you like to discover why we're not free, to be lovers?
I've been wanting to ask you
Where has all the love gone and what have we become?
Storm clouds full of thunder move silent as they drum.
Though I hope it won't rain.
You will be mine and my sorrow will take wings in the morning.
High above the heavens a rainbow paints the sky.
White doves sing their songs of love.
I watch them as they fly and wonder.
What can this be? Can you tell me?
Would you like to discover why we're not free, to be lovers?
The lyrics to Don McLean's "Till Tomorrow" are full of questions and a longing to understand what has gone wrong with love between two people. The singer, who is not identified in the song, wants to ask their partner where all the love has gone and why they are not free to love each other. There is a sense of confusion and sadness in the lyrics, as the singer observes storm clouds overhead and wonders what has become of their relationship. The line "you will be mine and my sorrow will take wings in the morning" suggests a desire for reconciliation and hope for the future, despite the uncertainty of the present.
The song ends on a hopeful note, with the image of a rainbow painting the sky and white doves singing songs of love. The singer watches the doves and wonders about the possibility of love and freedom in their relationship. The repetition of the question "What can this be? Can you tell me?" suggests a desire for answers and understanding, but also a recognition that the mystery of love and relationships can be difficult to unravel.
Line by Line Meaning
What can this be?
What is the reason behind our distance?
Can you tell me?
Can you explain why we are not together?
Would you like to discover why we're not free, to be lovers?
Do you want to know why we are not able to be in a relationship freely?
I've been wanting to ask you
I have been eager to have this conversation with you.
Where has all the love gone and what have we become?
What happened to all the affection, and how have we changed?
Storm clouds full of thunder move silent as they drum.
The storm seems quiet, but there's a lot of chaos inside.
And when they're gone, we'll be fine, till tomorrow.
If we can survive the storm, we will be okay until the next time.
Though I hope it won't rain.
I wish that we do not go through the storm again.
You will be mine and my sorrow will take wings in the morning.
I will make you mine, and my anguish will disappear with the dawn.
High above the heavens a rainbow paints the sky.
The beauty of the universe is still present even in times of grief.
White doves sing their songs of love.
Nature is peaceful and full of love.
I watch them as they fly and wonder.
I observe their beauty and reflect upon my life.
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