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American Pie Lyrics

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Don McLean : American Pie Lyrics

Songwriters: Mclean, Don;

. Send "American Pie" Ringtone to your Cell .

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
But 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 old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing 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?
Now 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 dancing 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 singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singing 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 Lenin 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 singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singing 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
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 singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singing 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 singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singing 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
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing 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 old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die

. Send "American Pie" Ringtone to your Cell .

� BENNY BIRD MUSIC; MUSIC CORPORATION OF AMERICA;

Lyrics Terms of Use

Corrections Disabled
American Pie Album Lyrics

Send "American Pie" Ringtone to your Cell

User Comments

uawproud09

down up

(0)
Oct 18, 2009 at 02:36 AM

this is a great song concerning the turn of events in the 1960's after buddy holly died, the beatles dethroning elvis, kent state ****ings, war protests, the death of robert kennedy, the burning of detroit, and riots in america, then the death of jimmy hendrix and janis joblin from alleged overdose of ****s, true they both died from **** overdose, but, they have been using ****s for a long time, so i guess they were both given hot ****s by our government, because they were teen icons and people were afraid too many people would follow there example

Rated: reply
Panacea

down up

(0)
Sep 27, 2009 at 09:40 PM

This song is great because it can be interpreted in so many ways. The song, as was mentioned before, is argued to most likely be about the death of Buddy Holly (et al), but you could also read it as being about America itself, Vietnam, or the growing lack of "morality" in American society. It's a very interesting song, and very provocative.

There is most definitely an article about it on Wikipedia, btw. Just type in "American Pie" and it will be the first one.

Rated: reply
B Dylan

down up

(0)
Sep 04, 2009 at 07:21 PM

f

reply
thecookieoreochan

down up

(2)
Jun 16, 2009 at 09:07 PM

its the best song in the world

Rated: reply
twilightfan_forever

down up

(1)
Jun 01, 2009 at 03:11 AM

this song is cool it's a type of song where you could be down at a shack or something and just sing along to it.
it's sweet

Rated: reply
corpsebrideslastwish

down up

(1)
Jan 02, 2009 at 06:38 PM

This song is incredible....

I love it!

Rated: reply
livliv

down up

(1)
Dec 18, 2008 at 11:17 PM

froggirl:

it's about the transformation of music after the death of buddy holly.

there are also references to bob dylan, janis joplin (supposedly), ritchie valens.

reply
froggirl

down up

(1)
Mar 01, 2008 at 02:17 AM

really whats the story behind it!?!?!?!?!?!?!? !?!?!?!?!?! ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? !?!?!?!?!?!?!? !?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! ?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? !?!?!

reply
conman120

down up

(1)
Feb 02, 2008 at 06:00 PM

this song is my favorite, don mclean rocks

Rated: reply
froggirl

down up

(1)
Jan 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM

whats the story behind the song??? i tried looking on google but i couldn't find anything!!

Rated: reply