American Pie
Don McLean
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
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 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 ole boys were drinking 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? Do you believe in rock and 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 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 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 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 ole boys were drinking 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 falling 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 half-time air was sweet perfume While 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 ole boys were drinking 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 ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye 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 singing 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 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
Become A Better Singer In Only 30 Days, With Easy Video Lessons!
Written by: Don McLean
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
2 facts about this song
American Pie" by Don McLean(Origin) "American Pie" is a song by American singer-songwriter Don McLean. Recorded in 1971 and released on the album of the same name.
- (Significance) The song is a folk/rock musical saga that is an allegorical chronicle of the changes in American society and pop culture from the late 1950s to the early 1970s.
- (Length) The original song is among one of the longest songs to have been released as a single, with a runtime of 8 minutes and 42 seconds.
- (Chart Success) "American Pie" was a major hit, reaching No. 1 in the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States in 1972.
- (Song Lyrics) The lyrics to the song have been analyzed exhaustively with McLean never fully explaining the song's abstract narrative which appears to mourn the loss of an idyllic past.
- (Cultural Impact) In 2017, "American Pie" was selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or artistically significant.”
|
American Pie" by Madonna(Cover Version) Madonna covered "American Pie" in 2000 for the soundtrack of her movie "The Next Best Thing".
- (Chart Success) Madonna's cover of the song was a global hit, reaching No. 1 in numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and Australia.
- (Song Length) Madonna’s version of the song is condensed, running at 4 minutes and 33 seconds, nearly half the length of the original.
- (Music Video) The music video of the song features Madonna and her backup singers and dancers dressed in patriotic attire, dancing in front of an American flag, as well as showing different people representing American society.
- (Reception) Despite its commercial success, reception to Madonna's cover was mixed, with some critics appreciating her take on the classic song, but others criticizing her for not honoring the original's depth and significance.
- (McLean's Reaction) Don McLean appreciated Madonna's cover and said, "It is a gift for her to have recorded 'American Pie'".
- (Noteworthy) Madonna's recording of "American Pie" was later included in her 2001 compilation album "GHV2".
|
Citation
Use the citation below to add these lyrics to your bibliography:
Style:MLAChicagoAPA
"American Pie Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 21 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/885859/Don+McLean/American+Pie>.
Discuss the American Pie Lyrics with the community:
Report Comment
We're doing our best to make sure our content is useful, accurate and safe.
If by any chance you spot an inappropriate comment while navigating through our website please use this form to let us know, and we'll take care of it shortly.
Attachment
You need to be logged in to favorite.
Log In