American Pie

American Song Project: American Pie

The concept of ‘sound’ is a familiar one. As humans, however, we have the ability to differentiate between sound, or noise, and music. Why do we distinguish the two? What is it about certain sounds that make us say “that is a song”? A song, according to the Webster’s Dictionary, is “a short musical composition of words and music”. Words we understand to be the spoken and written language, but what is music? Music can be explained as simply as sound that is agreeable to the ear. However, it is also a complicated concept of pitches, tones, and harmonies. Throughout the millennia that Man has been playing music, we have pinpointed certain tones and pitches that we deem to be “true”. In other words, there is a whole spectrum of sound waves, like light waves, and in Eurocentric music, 12 of those sound waves have been identified as “in pitch”. The reason they were chosen has to do with the fact that they are harmonious, they are agreeable to the human ear. Over the centuries, different types of music have been formed by the different cultures around the world. These types are called genres, such as folk, rock, classical and jazz. One of the folk-rock songs that Americans have become familiar with is American Pie by Don McLean, which he first recorded in 1971. Its catchy tune and words captured the feeling of the nation in the 1950’s and especially the 60’s.
Don McLean structured American Pie like many rock songs with a set tune for the verses, each separated by the refrain. There are many interpretations of McLean’s lyrics, though none by him. All that he has said about the song is that it started when he was thinking about Buddy Holly’s death and that it is a combination of how he perceived America and what he imagined it would become. He also said that he was attempting to mix his political views with a musical composition. Many people have described as an abstract autobiography of his life from the mid 50’s to the end of the 60’s. The general message explains the change in America from the happy 50’s to the dark 60’s with the death of J.F. Kennedy and the Vietnam War. The first verse would suggest that he it all started with the death of three iconic singers: Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper.

Here is a break down of the song’s lyrics and some of the possible translations:
American Pie by Don McLean

Verse 1
A long, long time ago
By the time American Pie was published in 1971, is had been over a decade since the incidences that he is referring to. In that time, many other changes had happened that made that time seem far away.
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
McLean is referring to the upbeat and happy rock and roll music of the 50’s.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
The general purpose of music in the 50’s was for dancing.
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
McLean wanted to make people happy.
But February made me shiver
On February 3rd, 1959, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash in Iowa. McLean was especially devastated because Holly was his hero.
With every paper I'd deliver
At the time, McLean was a paper boy.
Bad news on the doorstep
The plane crash was in the headlines.
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
When Buddy Holly died, his wife was pregnant and shortly after, she had a miscarriage.
But something touched me deep inside
T he day the music died
McLean is referring to February 3rd, 1959 as the day the music died.

Refrain
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie
There are many ideas about why McLean said “Miss American Pie.” He could have been describing the death of Marilyn Monroe (Miss American Pie). American Pie can also refer to the American Dream, especially since America was falling into a darker time.
Drove my Chevy to the levee
At the time, Chevy was the American car, and thus represents America. The Levee was a bar that McLean and his friends used to go to in his hometown in New York.
But the levee was dry
This could refer to when the Levee shut down, or it could be referencing the way that America and its music were ‘drying up’.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
This could possibly be a play on words, because there was a city in New York called Rye not far from where McLean grew up, and after the Levee shut down, he and his friends might have driven there for a drink.
Singin' “this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die”
The quoted song lyrics come from one of Buddy Holly’s hits called “That’ll Be the Day” whose chorus includes the line “That’ll be the day that I die.”

Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love?
“The Book of Love” was a hit in 1958 by the Monotones.
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
In 1955, Don Cornell wrote a hit called “The Bible Tells Me So,” and it is also a line in a children’s hymn called “Jesus Loves Me”.
Do you believe in rock n' roll?
This line is most likely referencing the 1965 hit “Do You Believe In Magic?” by Lovin’ Spoonful with lines like “I'll tell you about the magic, and it'll free your soul, but it's like trying to tell a stranger 'bout rock and roll.”
Can music save your mortal soul
Given the lines above, McLean is questioning if music can actually save you.
And can you teach me how to dance real slow
Slow dancing was prominent in the 50’s and suggested a commitment between the partners, but that began to decline in the 60’s as psychedelic guitar solos took over.
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
Again, dancing with someone meant more than it does today.You both kicked off your shoes
This line is referencing a sock hop.
Man, I dig those rhythm & blues
These events probably began to weight on McLean, and the rhythm and blues would have expressed that feeling.
I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
The pickup truck was a symbol of sexual freedom, but McLean is also referencing Marty Robbins 1957 hit “A White Port Coat (And A Pink Carnation).”
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music diedI started singin'

Refrain

Verse 3
Now for ten years we've been on our own
McLean probably started writing American Pie in 1969, 10 years after Buddy Holly died.
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
In this line, McLean reverses the adage “a rolling stone gathers no moss,” showing that things were becoming stale. Also, Bob Dylan’s first major hit was called “Like a Rolling Stone” in 1965.
But that's not how it used to be
McLean preferred Bob Dylan’s folk songs to his folk-rock songs following “Like a Rolling Stone.”
When the Jester sang for the King and Queen
In this line, the Jester is most likely Bob Dylan. The King and Queen however can be disputed. They could possibly refer to Peter Seger and Joan Baez, who were two of the biggest names in folk music at the time and who Dylan collaborated with on the song “Blowin’ In the Wind.” However, Elvis Presley is much more often referred to as the King. Also, Dylan once sang for the queen of England, and was not properly dressed, thus, a jester.
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In the movie “Rebel Without A Cause,” James Dean wears a red coat that Bob Dylan then makes a point of wearing on the cover of his album “The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan.” Also, the cover shot resembles a famous picture of James Dean.
In a voice that came from you and me
This could be referencing the folk style of music that Bob Dylan sang.
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The Jester stole his thorny crown
If “King” in the line above represents Elvis, then he this could be talking about how Dylan became more popular as Elvis began to decline, and how he took over the price of fame, the thorny crown, which is also a direct reference to Jesus Christ on the cross.
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
These last two lines talk about the Kennedy assassination, and how there was never any official verdict.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx
This line is also a play on words. John Lennon did read about Karl Marx and believed his philosophy, but so did Lenin, the soviet dictator.
The quartet practiced in the park
The quartet is The Beatles, but the park could refer to England, when they were still ‘practicing’, or it could be Candlestick Park, where they held their last concert.
And we sang dirges in the dark
Since a dirge is a funeral song, McLean is probably talking about Kennedy’s death, and also Martin Luther King Jr.
The day the music died We were singin'

Refrain

Verse 4
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
“Helter Skelter” is a Beatles song that was the inspiration for several murders by a man named Charles Mason in the summer.
The Byrd’s flew off with a fallout shelter
The Byrd’s were a folk-rock group. One of its members was arrested for possession of marijuana and admitted to a rehab program, for which another name is a fallout shelter.
Eight miles high and falling fast
“Eight Miles High” was a psychedelic song by The Byrd.
It landed foul on the grass
Foul grass is again referring to the marijuana.
The players tried for a forward pass
This football metaphor could be talking about anyone who was trying to get to a goal.
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast
Bob Dylan is the Jester again, and this time McLean is talking about the time that Dylan crashed his motorcycle and afterwards did not leave his house for nine months, hence the ‘cast’.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
The sweet perfumes here are the drugs in the half-time, or mid-60’s.
While the Sergeants played a marching tune
The Beatles’ album “Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band” was released in 1967 and it changed rock ‘n roll forever. It was the first to have printed lyrics on the back, and the first to use synthetic sounds, and it did not have a hit single.
We all got up to dance
Oh but we never got the chance
By the late 60’s the Beatles had transformed rock ‘n roll from dance music to music that was just meant to be listened to.
'Cause the players tried to take the field
In 1968 at the Chicago Democratic Convention, some protestors of the Vietnam War rioted and were beaten down by the police. There were also many other incidence and riots that this could refer to.
The marching band refused to yield
The marching band most likely refers to The Beatles and their anti-war songs.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died
We started singing

Refrain

Verse 5
Oh, and there we were, all in one place
The “place” was the Woodstock Performing Arts Festival in 1969. About 400,000 people were present.
A generation lost in space
This line refers to several things. First, the first landing on the moon was in 1969. Also, there was a TV show called “Lost in Space,” and the phrase “lost in space” refers to people who are high on drugs.
With no time left to start again
McLean thought that his generation was wasting its time on drugs.
So come on, Jack, be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
This is a reference to The Rolling Stone’s hit “Jumpin’ Jack Flash,” and also shows Jack’s failure to “jump over” the candlestick.
'Cause fire is the devils only friend
The Rolling Stones responded to “Sgt. Pepper” with the album “Their Satanic Majesties Request,” which turned out to not hold up to the Beatles at all. They also wrote a song called “Sympathy for the Devil.”
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
In December of 1969, an attempted to put on another Woodstock at Altamont Speedway was made and The Rolling Stones participated.
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
The “angels born in Hell” were the Hell’s Angels who were appointed to be the security at the Altamont Speedway. However, after downing their payment of beer and LSD, they proceeded to beat a black man to death and other members of the congregation.
Could break that Satan's spell
And as flames climbed high into the night
The Rolling Stones left the scene at Altamont Speedway in a helicopter, hence the “climbing high into the night.” According to McLean, they started the “hell,” and then left in the middle of the destruction.
To light the sacrificial rite
The sacrifice could possibly be the man’s life who was killed.
I saw Satan laughing with delight
At this point, McLean believes that Satan is winning, because the youth are no longer just fighting the police and authorities, but also among themselves.
The day the music died
He was singing

Refrain

Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues
The girl is Janis Joplin.
And I asked her for some happy news
McLean is still looking for the peace and happiness of the 50’s.
But she just smiled and turned away
Janis Joplin died of an accidental heroin overdose in 1970.
I went down to the sacred store
The “sacred store” is the record store that sold 50’s albums.
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
By the 70’s, the 50’s music was no longer played and no one paid any attention to it.
And in the streets the children screamed
The youth were being beaten in the streets by the police, especially near the end of the decade.
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
This is a reference to psychedelic age.
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
Because McLean is a religious man, this line probably speaks about his belief that people had turned away from God.
And the three men I admire most
Although in the next line McLean states the “three men”, he has also referred the three singers who died in the plane crash so often that could also be referring to them.
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
In either case about the “three men,” they were both gone for McLean. God was dying and so was rock ‘n roll as McLean loved it.
The day the music died
And they were singin'

Refrain X2

Don McLean first recorded American Pie in 1971 as a vinyl record. Since then, there have been many versions and recordings of the song. It was incorporated into the movie The Next Best Thing, and Madonna sang a pop version of it in the soundtrack. She later changed it into a dance-pop song and made her own music video, which was released in February of 2000. There have also been many parodies made of the song, including “American Pie Guy” on That’s 70’s Show, “Parable Guy” by the band ApologetiX in 1998 and possibly most well known, “The Saga Begins” by Weird Al Yankovic, as song about Star Wars.
American Pie by Don McLean certainly gives us a lot of information about events in the 1950’s and 60’s, especially what songs were popular at the time. The general message was one of a country sliding down a slope and losing its grip on what was once good and pure. The new generation was being thrust into a horrific war, but they were essentially powerless to stop it and resorted to distorting their reality with drugs. Not only was the original rock ‘n roll leaving, or being forgotten, but so, in McLean’s eyes, was God.