So February made him shiver! Wasn’t from cold, from the day the news was on his newspaper if date music died. Feb. 1959! 3 musicians died. About change in culture 60s-70s. American Pie saw sweet fun music.
As one who graduated in 1970, this is my view of some (not all) of the lyrics. The Day the Music Died refers to the plane crash of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Big Bopper in Clear Lake, IA, Feb 3, 1959. The 60's marked a change in the innocence of Americans. When we were in Junior High in the mid 60's scholls would hold "sock hops", with local bands playing Rock and Roll. It was held in the gym on the basketball floor so, you took of your shoes. King = Elvis; Jester = Dylan, Birds = The Byrds (Eight Mile High is one of their big songs), The Beatles "Marching Band" (Sgt Pepper), The Stones hired Hell's Angels as security in Altamont, CA and they ended up killing a number of concert goers, Girl Who sang the blues = Janis Joplin., The Three Men Admired most: John Kennedy, Robt Kennedy and Martin Luther King, all assasinated in the 60's. That's all I got for you Cliff, others may have more. btw, Sox need a house cleaning.
I agree 100% with your breakdown, but let me add that it also is a reference to American music “died” with the invasion of the big British bands. There are so many tangents one could go down with this song.
That song makes me emotional every time I hear it. I bought the CD in 2000 from Columbia House for American Pie, but Vincent instantly became my favorite!
The name of the plane that crashed with those three rock stars was the American Pie. Jester aka Bob Dylan sidelined in a cast. Dylan broke his arm and couldn’t play guitar for awhile. Helper Skelter had to do with Charles Manson and Paul McCartney did a song about it of the same name. Miss grows fat on a rolling stone is about The Rolling Stones. Jack Flash one of the Stones songs. The Devil is Mick Jagger or maybe the whole group. They did a song called Sympathy for the Devil. Bad news on the doorstep was about the plane crash. Buddy Holly’s wife was with child when Holly died. There is a song called the Book of Love. Also pink carnation was a song. John Lennon did read about Marx and was interested in it. There was a tv show Lost In Space as well as our space program. The sacred store can be the local record store or the ones that were really big like Tower Records. Others may have more info on that. The things I didn’t mention were already mentioned in here. Or I’m not sure about them. I was 16 when this song came out. We all had a blast trying to figure out who or what was mentioned in here.
The lyric is spelled Lennin as in the Russian rebellion Lennin, not John Lennon BUT it does have a double entendre linking John Lennon and the Beatles > "the quartet practiced in the park" ?? Maybe even more entendres in the way that rappers put down "bars" having multiple threads....
You got the order backwards. "Helter Skelter" was a song by the Beatles. Charles Manson, liking the song, adopted the name as a plot to start race riots. Charles Manson's "family" broke into Sharon Tate's home and murdered her and others. Helter Skelter was written in blood on the walls of the house along with other slogans.
Going to the sacred store where he heard the music played before, with the stores where you could go buy music, but they had set up stations where you could listen to the music on the records in the store before you bought them, but by the time he wentlater, and the man said the music wouldn’t play, when the shops had changed and no longer allowed you to listen to the music.
There was a rock group in the '60's called The Byrds with a song "Eight Miles High". The "girl that sang the blues" was in reference to Janis Joplin. So much you need to dive into with the meaning of this song.
I was born in 74 and have listened to this my whole life slowly catching on to different parts. I was today years old when I finally got it’s The Levy bar that’s dry
Every sentence has a reference to something, the day the music died, refers to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. My mother who was a teenager at the time used to talk about the devastating impact that event had on her generation all the way down here in New Zealand.. It is my understanding that the good ole boys drinking whiskey and rye singing this will be the day that I die are the ones who got their conscription letter for Vietnam, the Angel's born in hell references the Stones' concert in which Hells Angels provided securtiy and there was s a riot, the quartet playing in the park is the Beatles, the widow is Holly's wife, they were newly married etc.
Born in 74 always loved this song and knew a lot before today. Actually looked up and learned about the Levy today. Learned a couple others. This song has always been amazing and the meaning shouldn’t be lost.
There is no way a child would get and understand all the references and history in this song, even if you were a kid in the 70s (which I was). I was 11 in 1971 when this song was all over the radio. I didn't get all the references at first, by high school I understood most of them.
Cliff, others here have already mentioned in the comments quite a bit so I'll just add what I haven't seen mentioned yet. The lyrics had a typo which is easy not to catch, it's not Lennin read a book on Marx but Lennon read a book on Marx. It's speaking on John Lennon and immediately spoke on "the marching band/the quartet in the dark" who refused to yield. This speaks specifically on the challengers trying to knock the Beatles off the #1 Billboard slot that they kept winning back again and again anytime a new single was released. The King and Queen they mentioned, was as you already guessed Elvis ... and Aretha Franklin who ruled the blues charts. The Devil was Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones. The basis of the song is Don watching the music scene change from childhood until the day he released American Pie, Like Don, my father was a major fan of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper so when they died in the plane crash it hit him hard. The weird part was finding out Waylon Jennings (who is best known for writing the theme to The Dukes of Hazzard was supposed to be on that plane that night. He swapped with The Big Bopper who wasn't originally supposed to be on the flight. Now the song begins where young Don was working as a paperboy and looked at the front page getting floored at the headline "the day the music died". Don spoke on watching the music scene continue with bands stepping up and stepping down again and again and again until the days of Folk/Americana arrived where he'd actually take his shot at storytelling and getting noticed. It was then that Folk/Americana started taking a backstage to hard rock, which Don didn't like, putting the Rolling Stones at the fore-front which Don couldn't stand. We had another day the music died thanks to the Rolling Stones as well in California where numerous teens died and more were injured when the Stones stupidly decided to put The Hell's Angels in charge of event security at an outdoor event with a crowd of over 30,000 people.. There was originally one more verse to the song that Don cut: "And there I stood alone and afraid I dropped to my knees and there I prayed And I promised Him everything I could give If only He would make the music live And He promised it would live once more But this time one would equal four And in five years four had come to mourn And the music was reborn" We have no idea what that cut verse meant, Don refused to answer when asked by the press. We don't know where the cut verse in the song or if it was replaced by one of the other verses we got but many of us think it was just one final verse to finish the story.
You hit nearly everything I was going to add. It was also about young men going off to Vietnam. So many didn't come back. This will be the day that I die..... And the verse, 'in the streets the children screamed' is about the students protesting the war.
That mistake always bugs me in this unofficial lyric video. People will swear up and down it is Lenin because of this video, but Lenin was long dead by this time period (he died in 1924) and has nothing to do with the song. It is Lennon tinkering with communism in his lyrics which Don did not like.
I'm 71 years old and I was blessed to have grown up with this kind of music being the soundtrack of my life. I still listen to music from the 60s 70s and 80s on my ancient iPod! we were super lucky!
Where he sings "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 moonlight the sacrificial rite" he's referencing Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar on stage. Mclean was highly offended by that act, feeling that it was disrespectful to music.
Actually Jack Flash refers to the Rolling Stones and the concert they held at Candlestick Park where the Hell's Angels were security. Several people died that night and a fire broke out.
I was a teen in the early 70s. This song is just a sample. Yes. A great sample . Of the music we had then. Im soo glad i was there to hear it as NEW MUSIC. Now its called -oldies.well. True enuff. It is. But it is also still the best music ive heard yet.. and im now an ( OLD MAN) of 68. Another oldie😂 soo glad you get to enjoy it…50+ yrs ltr. … dan. North fl👍
When I was a teen I took over my cousin's paper route while he was out of town. I remember sitting on the porch folding papers, and there was the terrible headline that Jim Morrison had been found dead. This song reminds me of that. Plenty of others here will explain this song for you. I was 15 the year this came out, and had it memorized pretty quickly because it was all over the radio, and yes it was truly an amazing time for music! Growing up in that era is the best part of being old, and I wouldn't trade it for being young again for anything! I had the privilege of listening to rock go from Chuck Berry, Elvis, Buddy Holly, etc. and all thru the changes it went thru. It started so simple and morphed into the may sub-genres that it became. It's a shame that you will never know the excitement of waiting for the next Beatle album, or the next Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Doors etc. Every month it seemed like another killer album came out. I'm just very happy that you are on this journey of discovering it for yourself, and watching you hearing something for the first time is almost as good as hearing it for the first time myself. Definitely check out his song "Vincent" about Vincent Van Gogh. The live performance is really emotional. Wow, didn't know that he lives in Palm Desert, that's only about 40 miles from me!
I was 10 when this came out, born in '61. Yes you are right, the best times where the 60-90's. Now is a dead time and the worst of times. The music is certainly dead now compaired to what it used to be! Miss those days!
I was lucky to be born in 1960! So I was 11 when this song came out on the radio. Was lucky to live through the best times of music ever! 60' 70's and 80's. I was truly blessed! I love reliving this great MUSIC through your eyes Cliff! Thank you hun! Im learning a lot I never knew while watching you grin here and there..its priceless! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You are so humble and kind..like my only son Tyler.
This is going to be fun. Janice Joplin is the girl who sings the blues and a generation lost in space is the LSD Era. The Quartet singing in the park is the Beatles, there are so many cultural references if you didn't research it or live it or your parents it's hard to break down. You caught the Hells Angel's reference 😅Great reaction and Peace out Cliff ☮️ ✌️ 🙏
I was in middle school when this came out. I remember the whole bus singing along to this once when somebody managed to play it on their portable radio. Even the bus driver sang. It is unbelievably catchy and the verses are so sophisticated. But everybody was singing “I took my Chevy to the levee!”
Yeah, the lyrics describe not only events that happened (the plane crash called "The Day The Music Died" in 1959 and other events over the next ten years), along with his own faith in God.
I was 19 when this song was released. The 60s until the early 80s was an innovative time for music, starting with groups like the Beatles and then others who revolutionized pop music and later rock music. This was a time when there was an explosion of new musical sounds by a multitude of new artists expressing anything what they wanted and that had not been heard before. This change in music was a natural outgrowth of the social and cultural changes that started in the 60s which were in response to social injustice, civil rights and unjust wars and more sexual freedom. It was not just in the USA but a worldwide phenomenon where seemingly all youth was united in common beliefs and music was the glue holding us together and where such ideas were expressed through music. We did not always succeed in breaking the cycle but so many now had the freedom to be different without social stigma which wasn’t tolerated before. The zeitgeist of these times had a sense of change for the positive and was also fueled with the enthusiasm youth when everything seems possible, but times and people change so sadly it didn’t last.
I was 11 when this song came out. I didn't pay it much attention, seemed like a fun song. Then, in 10th grade AP English, was spent a whole semester 'dissecting' rock songs and this was one of them. It was perhaps the most interesting class I ever had.
American Pie is a brilliant anthology of 50s-60s America told through McLean’s love of music from that period. Many references to the culture, events and of course music of the day. History in a song done exceptionally well all round! It was HUGE in 1971 AND beyond. I was 20 yrs old and must have played it thousands of times - it was THE song in my car cassette every morning as I took my 5 yr old son to preschool!! My best memories of the song and those singalongs with my son! A blessing!! Thank you Don McLean!!😊❤❤❤
When asked what the song meant, he said it means that I never have to work again LOL. There are countless references to Americana in the late 60s when there was an upheaval socially happening in American youth.
Cliff, man, I was 16 in 1971 when this came out. I was not too young to catch most of the hidden references in this tune. T'was a fantastic time to come of age.
I was 15 when this was released; you are right, it was an incredible musical era to grow up in, especially with two older brothers guiding the way during the ‘60’s. So glad to see your generation discovering this material. Don McLain’s “ Vincent” is a must for a follow up.
I don’t have to imagine, kiddo. It was a great time. Don McLean has always been cagey about interpreting his song, but there are a few videos on TH-cam that try to break it down. I think they identified Bob Dylan as the jester, and the “girl that sang the blues” as Janis Joplin, for example. I took a look at your back catalog and it doesn’t look like you’ve covered Don McLean’s “Vincent” which is beautiful.
There are references to other musicians that died in the late 60s/early 70s like Hendrix, Joplin. Also, to the Altamont free concert with the Rolling Stones where security was provided by the Hells Angels. Someone was stabbed and killed during the song, Sympathy for the Devil.
The song details the change in American music and culture over a 10 year period from when Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in February 1959. The lyrics are very cryptic and Don has always been secretive about all the hidden references in the lyrics. It is quite fun to work out the artists he mentions in the song. Elvis as the King and Bob Ylan as the jester stealing Elvis crown. John Lennon and the Beatles are in withe the marching band reference to Sgt Peppers band. Rolling stones referenced by Jack Flash and their album Sympathy for the Devil. Helter Skelter is another Beatles track. The play on words reference to the Byrds. Events such as Woodstock also mentioned in the lyrics everyone gathered in the same place. There is still much to work out but enjoy if you look further into the lyrics.
Helter Skelter in the summer selter refers to the Manson Murders in the summer of 1969 in LA. Others have said the day the music died refers to the plane crash in which the Big Bopper- JP Richardson, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly all died on route to Minnisota to play at a venue. Don McClean has said that he fers to their deaths as the Day that Music Died.
As a child of music lovers, born in 1969, I can definitely tell you we grew up with the best music, the most poetic lyrics and sheer musical brilliance. All bets were off, musicians followed their hearts. 💜🙏
I was nine years old the day the music died. When I heard the news I was angry. I liked Marty Robbin’s , but to me Buddy Holly was the future of music. I went back to listening to classical music until 1963 and the Beatles reawakened my interest in popular music. I remember the references in the song because I lived it. It was a fun time, but it was tarnished by turmoil. That said, I would gladly ride that roller coaster again.
February made me shiver is in reference to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Same as the following references “with every paper I delivered” “bad news on the doorstep, I couldn’t take one more step. “Can’t remember if I cried. As I read about his widowed bride” talks of Holly’s only 6 month long marriage score he died.
My brother and I saw Don Mclean in concert c.1981. The best concert I ever felt. He was one guy with a guitar, . . . and he held us in the palm of his hand.
I do believe you just said I’m almost as old as your grandfather. Yikes. Yes, we remember this song from when we were teenagers, it’s rife with historical references-but they are veiled. Don’t feel bad for not instantly knowing what he’s referring to. I’m sure others will chime in with what has been deciphered
I was in High School in the early y seventies. My English teacher was about 26 or so. We spent a class listening to this song and disecting it. I am 67 now. There aren't many high school English classes I still recall, but that class, I will never forget.
And while Lennon read a book on Marx, Literally, John Lennon reading about Karl Marx; figuratively, the introduction of radical politics into the music of the Beatles. The Marx-Lennon wordplay has also been used by others, most notably the Firesign Theatre on the cover of their album 'How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?' Helter Skelter in a summer swelter 'Helter Skelter' is a Beatles song which appears on the White album. Charles Manson, claiming to have been inspired by the song (through which he thought God and/or the devil were talking to him) led his followers in the Tate-LaBianca murders. Summer swelter is a reference to the long hot summer of Watts. So come on Jack be nimble Jack be quick A reference to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones; 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' was released in May, 1968. I met a girl who sang the blues Janis Joplin. And I asked her for some happy news But she just smiled and turned away Janis died of an accidental heroin overdose on October 4, 1970. With the jester on the sidelines in a cast On July 29, 1966, Dylan crashed his Triumph motorcycle while riding near his home in Woodstock, New York. He spent the next nine months in seclusion.
To mark the 50th anniversary of this song Don McLean did a new version with the vocal group Home Free, which brought it back into the limelight for a whole new generation of listeners, although it never really had disappeared. In that video he shows he still has the voice to reach our souls, with the support of a group of very gifted singers. This year he did another remake of his beautiful song "Vincent", also with Home Free.
I was 16 when this was released. It was played at least 10 times a day on every major station in the country. Everyone knew every word then and still do today!
Another really reaction. I love that you dig deep. There's a documentary called American Pie. Don McLean tells the story about the story. and Bob Dylan is the Jester on the sidelines in a cast. He was reportedly in a serious motorcycle accident in 1966 in upstate NY. But it wasn't substantiated in any police report. Rumour or fact, McLean heard about it and it's been associated with that lyric.
I've read a lot of the comments prior to mine. McLean has said "over and over again," that he will NOT disclose what the Song means. The idea it's about Valens and Holly, etx.. is just conjecture. Nothing more... I've even read that the explaination of the Song is hidden in its lyrics. To die with your most famous Song a mystery, interesting.
In one of Buddy Holly's classic hits is a repeating lyric that goes, "That'll be the day when I die." Hence the lyric in McLean's chorus: "Singin' this'll be the day that I die". So many references to unpack in this masterpiece. I grew up in the generation this song came from. I remember when that plane crashed. And still I'm not sure I've figured out every single reference. A lot of people miss the reference to the "pink carnation" because it seems to pass by unnoticed. But even those two words are a reference to Marty Robbin's romantic hit: A White Sport Coat (and a pink carnation). An entire book could be written about this song and it's pop-culture references and their historical, societal, and cultural significance.
One of the songs with THE MOST AMAZING LYRICS: EVER!!! Also should check-out Vincent by Don McLean!! This man was SO, SO TALENTED!! SO MANY MONIKERS in this song and SO MANY "references"....I'm sure that everyone will fill you in, in the comments. AMAZING PIECE OF WORK: RIGHT HERE, CLIFF!!!
The 1972 song is a masterpiece & Don McLean is legendary. The song is so deep, covering everything from the tragic plane crash to Kent State, the travesty of Altamont to Janis Joplin. On the 50th anniversary of the song, he re-issued it with a collaboration with Home Free - if you haven't seen it, he still sounds fantastic.
One thing that from what I heard many years ago, the line when the king was looking down is misinterpreted. Many people say this refers to Elvis. At one point Jerry Lee Lewis was referred to the King of Rock n Roll. The looking down refers to him marrying his 14 year old cousin.
SO MANY band and song references in this song!! The "music died" when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson Jr. (aka, The Big Bopper). McLean references SO MUCH in this song - this is what I've been able to figure out, to the best of my ability: The Rolling Stones (referenced at first, and later in the song - referring to Jack in the lyrics - The Stones hit: Jumpin Jack Flash - and, I believe: another reference regarding their concert at Altamont, CA where the Hell's Angels were tasked with being security - and, concert goers were killed in the audience); Bob Dylan (The Jester - who LITERALLY sang for royalty - AND, he references Bob Dylan's songs "writing lyrics that were in all our voices" - ANOTHER master, here), Elvis (The King) AND, I believe, there's a reference to Martin Luther King, there, as well; John Lennon of The Beatles reading Marx (NOT Lennin, as the lyrics on the video say); The Beatles (referring to them as "The Quartet" and also references to their Sgt. Pepper days and their song: Helter Skelter), The Birds (Eight Miles High was one of their tunes)...and, he then says: we were "all in one place - a generation lost in space - with no time to start again"....meaning, all these new performers "took over" the music scene and the days of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & The Big Bopper AND innocence were LONG GONE. To me: the reference to stating Bye, Bye "MISS" American Pie meant the death of America's innocence and just good times, in general: because Buddy Holly was the VERY FIRST that really "hit the scene" as rock n roll. Janis Joplin is the "Girl who sang some blues"....the three men refer to the ones killed in the tragic crash, I believe - or, possibly John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy & Martin Luther King.... You TRULY cannot get any better than these lyrics, in my opinion. Have LOVED THIS SONG since it HIT THE AIRWAVES! I'm sure that some of MY conclusions may be wrong - but, those are the ones that I THOUGHT I caught!! ENJOY!!!
There’s a lot of speculation about what this song is about and who certain characters that are mentioned who they are such as the jester which has been rumored to be Bob Dylan but nobody really knows except of course for Don McLean
Oh, and while the King was looking down The jester stole his thorny crown A reference to Elvis's decline and Dylan's ascendance. (i.e. Presley is looking down from a height as Dylan takes his place.) The thorny crown a reference to the price of fame. Dylan has said that he wanted to be as famous as Elvis, one of his early idols. Alternatively, this could refer to Lennon's claim that the Beatles were bigger than God (with Lennon as the jester and Jesus with his thorny crown). Now the half-time air was sweet perfume This line and the next few refer to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The sweet perfume is tear gas. 'Cause the players tried to take the field, The marching band refused to yield. A reference to the dominance of the Beatles on the rock and roll scene. For instance, the Beach Boys released 'Pet Sounds' in 1966 -- an album which featured some of the same sort of studio and electronic experimentation as Sgt. Pepper (1967)-- but the album sold poorly. It's a comment about how the dominance of the Beatles in the rock world led to more pop art music, leading in turn to a dearth of traditional rock and roll.
I was 7 when this song came out, I remember this song and John Denvers "Take Me Home, Country Roads" as being my favorites and they got TONS of radio airplay! I had both on 45's. There will NEVER be a better time for great original music as 1965 to 1975
It's about the deaths of the musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Big Bopper in a 1959 plane crash. The name of the airplane they were on was "American Pie." Hence the lyrics "Bye, bye American Pie." But he packed a lot more meaning into the song. There are a lot of metaphors. I don't know what it all means, but American Pie is the gist of it. 1-) b_d0p
Please Please Please listen to "Vincent" by Don McLean. Personally, my favorite is the lyric video with a background of Vincent Van Gogh paintings - for the most part, the lyrics match the paintings being shown. When it comes to beautiful songs, this is one of the tops on my list.
The beginning of the song is about the news that hit us all so hard which was the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson (a.k.a, The Big Bopper). As you realized, there's a lot word play going on. For example, I think the lyric about Lennin reading Marx was a reference to John Lennon. The lyric about the Sergeants music I believe was a reference to the Beatle's game-changing album "Sergeant Pepper". The lyric about the quartet practicing in the park I think was a reference to the Beatles. There are so many subtle references peppered through the song it's crazy. Genius, really. An interesting side note to the plane crash is that before Waylon Jennings became a giant Country Music super star, he was the bass player for Buddy Holly. Waylon was supposed to be on that plane the night it crashed. But a twist of fate led to a conversation between Waylon and Buddy just before Buddy got on the plane. The twist of fate was a circumstance that gave Waylon the opportunity to generously give his seat on the plane to P.J. Richardson (the Big Bopper) who was sick with the flu. So Waylon decided to make the trip in a bus. In that conversation between Waylon and Buddy, Buddy joked sarcastically saying, "I hope you freeze to death on the bus!" To which Waylon replied, jokingly, "Yeah? Well, I hope your plane crashes!" That comment haunted Waylon for many years following the crash of the plane. • There was one more song that came out as a result of that plane crash. It was called "Three Stars in the Sky". It was a sad, heart-rending song about the singers who died in the crash. Get your tissue ready, it's a tear-jerker. Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/JSrfF79I1Rg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gw5htJpaNWwTzYTO
Don McLean never really shared the meanings of all of the metaphors in the song, but if you dig around on the internet there are some good interpretations out there that provide reasonable explanations for each line in the song. If you like this type of song, you should check out Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" and make sure you view the official video version if you want any chance at catching the metaphors....
When this song came out I was 19 and in my sophomore year of college. I don't know how many hours my friends and I spent talking about what the lyrics might mean. Now that I watch reactions to music of my era I realize how special that time was.
There is a documentary with Don, the day the music died is not a single day. He explained some of the lyrics and you can mostly find his head space to work out the others
He was a great troubadour, everyone will recommend the song Vincent and that is gorgeous, but for fun try Narcissisma or On The Amazon . The lyrics are so cool. This came out when I was a preteen, we would practice the song over and over until we could do it word for word 😊and of course debated all the references ☮️
"No angels born in hell could break that Satans spell." This is a reference to The Rolling Stones free concert at Altamont in December 1969. The Hells Angels had been hired as security for the concert but things went out of hand and one of the Hells Angels ended up killing a person in the audience. The references to Satan alludes to "Sympathy for the Devil" which was the one of the Rolling Stones big hits from the year before and was one of the songs they were singing on stage that concert. "I met a girl who sang the blues" is widely thought to be referring to Janis Joplin but Don McLean never really confirms who he is referring to which is why a lot of the meaning you'll see are speculations.
I was... First concert was Zeppelin in Tampa Fl 1973. No adult supervision. The world has gone to crap. Glad I'm 64. Won't have to deal with this a lot longer though my Pop is 90 so who knows. It's was awesome growing up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Then marriage and it was a different kind of fun. It all changed on 9/11/2001. Never been the same.
Pretty much what the theme of this song is. Things change. But if you think about it, mostly just details change whereas, on a larger scale, "history repeats itself." The further you zoom out of the time line, the more the cycles become clear and the details that we fuss over at the time fade.
Ritchie Valens. Buddy Holly. Big Bopper. All died in a plane crash in Feb 1959.
So February made him shiver! Wasn’t from cold, from the day the news was on his newspaper if date music died. Feb. 1959! 3 musicians died. About change in culture 60s-70s. American Pie saw sweet fun music.
As one who graduated in 1970, this is my view of some (not all) of the lyrics. The Day the Music Died refers to the plane crash of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Big Bopper in Clear Lake, IA, Feb 3, 1959. The 60's marked a change in the innocence of Americans. When we were in Junior High in the mid 60's scholls would hold "sock hops", with local bands playing Rock and Roll. It was held in the gym on the basketball floor so, you took of your shoes. King = Elvis; Jester = Dylan, Birds = The Byrds (Eight Mile High is one of their big songs), The Beatles "Marching Band" (Sgt Pepper), The Stones hired Hell's Angels as security in Altamont, CA and they ended up killing a number of concert goers, Girl Who sang the blues = Janis Joplin., The Three Men Admired most: John Kennedy, Robt Kennedy and Martin Luther King, all assasinated in the 60's. That's all I got for you Cliff, others may have more. btw, Sox need a house cleaning.
That was a perfect breakdown of that song Thank you very much
Helter Skelter referenced Charles Manson and his cult of followers.
The 'Quartet that practiced in the park' was also about the Beatles I believe.
@@anglosaxon5874 Paisley Park
I agree 100% with your breakdown, but let me add that it also is a reference to American music “died” with the invasion of the big British bands. There are so many tangents one could go down with this song.
Another great song of his is “Vincent” about Vincent Van Gogh. Amazing lyrics.
That song makes me emotional every time I hear it. I bought the CD in 2000 from Columbia House for American Pie, but Vincent instantly became my favorite!
Yep, amazing
yesssssssssssssssss 😢 😢
@@MaddyN999 I love Vincent - so tragic but so beautifully performed by Don ❤️💗
The name of the plane that crashed with those three rock stars was the American Pie. Jester aka Bob Dylan sidelined in a cast. Dylan broke his arm and couldn’t play guitar for awhile. Helper Skelter had to do with Charles Manson and Paul McCartney did a song about it of the same name. Miss grows fat on a rolling stone is about The Rolling Stones. Jack Flash one of the Stones songs. The Devil is Mick Jagger or maybe the whole group. They did a song called Sympathy for the Devil. Bad news on the doorstep was about the plane crash. Buddy Holly’s wife was with child when Holly died. There is a song called the Book of Love. Also pink carnation was a song. John Lennon did read about Marx and was interested in it. There was a tv show Lost In Space as well as our space program. The sacred store can be the local record store or the ones that were really big like Tower Records. Others may have more info on that. The things I didn’t mention were already mentioned in here. Or I’m not sure about them. I was 16 when this song came out. We all had a blast trying to figure out who or what was mentioned in here.
The lyric is spelled Lennin as in the Russian rebellion Lennin, not John Lennon BUT it does have a double entendre linking John Lennon and the Beatles > "the quartet practiced in the park" ?? Maybe even more entendres in the way that rappers put down "bars" having multiple threads....
You got the order backwards. "Helter Skelter" was a song by the Beatles. Charles Manson, liking the song, adopted the name as a plot to start race riots. Charles Manson's "family" broke into Sharon Tate's home and murdered her and others. Helter Skelter was written in blood on the walls of the house along with other slogans.
Going to the sacred store where he heard the music played before, with the stores where you could go buy music, but they had set up stations where you could listen to the music on the records in the store before you bought them, but by the time he wentlater, and the man said the music wouldn’t play, when the shops had changed and no longer allowed you to listen to the music.
There was a rock group in the '60's called The Byrds with a song "Eight Miles High". The "girl that sang the blues" was in reference to Janis Joplin. So much you need to dive into with the meaning of this song.
NOT hidden messages, we who grew up then understood the lyrics.
I was born in 74 and have listened to this my whole life slowly catching on to different parts. I was today years old when I finally got it’s The Levy bar that’s dry
Every sentence has a reference to something, the day the music died, refers to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens. My mother who was a teenager at the time used to talk about the devastating impact that event had on her generation all the way down here in New Zealand.. It is my understanding that the good ole boys drinking whiskey and rye singing this will be the day that I die are the ones who got their conscription letter for Vietnam, the Angel's born in hell references the Stones' concert in which Hells Angels provided securtiy and there was s a riot, the quartet playing in the park is the Beatles, the widow is Holly's wife, they were newly married etc.
Love looking at the responses. Knew about the event now understand the third new reference. Thank you
The Day that the Music Died was Feb. 3 1959 plane crash killing Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper.That was the bad news on the doorstep.
Unless you are older, you will not understand it..If explained, you still wont know..Every sentence has a meaning ..
You had to be there, to live through these times to fully understand it.
Born in 74 always loved this song and knew a lot before today. Actually looked up and learned about the Levy today. Learned a couple others. This song has always been amazing and the meaning shouldn’t be lost.
There is no way a child would get and understand all the references and history in this song, even if you were a kid in the 70s (which I was). I was 11 in 1971 when this song was all over the radio. I didn't get all the references at first, by high school I understood most of them.
Me too!
Three! 😅
I was 11 too. It was a great age to be introduced to such a masterpiece.
This is a prophetic song....for America
Cliff, others here have already mentioned in the comments quite a bit so I'll just add what I haven't seen mentioned yet. The lyrics had a typo which is easy not to catch, it's not Lennin read a book on Marx but Lennon read a book on Marx. It's speaking on John Lennon and immediately spoke on "the marching band/the quartet in the dark" who refused to yield. This speaks specifically on the challengers trying to knock the Beatles off the #1 Billboard slot that they kept winning back again and again anytime a new single was released. The King and Queen they mentioned, was as you already guessed Elvis ... and Aretha Franklin who ruled the blues charts. The Devil was Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones.
The basis of the song is Don watching the music scene change from childhood until the day he released American Pie, Like Don, my father was a major fan of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper so when they died in the plane crash it hit him hard. The weird part was finding out Waylon Jennings (who is best known for writing the theme to The Dukes of Hazzard was supposed to be on that plane that night. He swapped with The Big Bopper who wasn't originally supposed to be on the flight.
Now the song begins where young Don was working as a paperboy and looked at the front page getting floored at the headline "the day the music died". Don spoke on watching the music scene continue with bands stepping up and stepping down again and again and again until the days of Folk/Americana arrived where he'd actually take his shot at storytelling and getting noticed. It was then that Folk/Americana started taking a backstage to hard rock, which Don didn't like, putting the Rolling Stones at the fore-front which Don couldn't stand. We had another day the music died thanks to the Rolling Stones as well in California where numerous teens died and more were injured when the Stones stupidly decided to put The Hell's Angels in charge of event security at an outdoor event with a crowd of over 30,000 people..
There was originally one more verse to the song that Don cut:
"And there I stood alone and afraid
I dropped to my knees and there I prayed
And I promised Him everything I could give
If only He would make the music live
And He promised it would live once more
But this time one would equal four
And in five years four had come to mourn
And the music was reborn"
We have no idea what that cut verse meant, Don refused to answer when asked by the press. We don't know where the cut verse in the song or if it was replaced by one of the other verses we got but many of us think it was just one final verse to finish the story.
You hit nearly everything I was going to add.
It was also about young men going off to Vietnam. So many didn't come back. This will be the day that I die.....
And the verse, 'in the streets the children screamed' is about the students protesting the war.
Sounds like the Beatles breakup-one would equal four?
That mistake always bugs me in this unofficial lyric video. People will swear up and down it is Lenin because of this video, but Lenin was long dead by this time period (he died in 1924) and has nothing to do with the song. It is Lennon tinkering with communism in his lyrics which Don did not like.
I'm 71 years old and I was blessed to have grown up with this kind of music being the soundtrack of my life. I still listen to music from the 60s 70s and 80s on my ancient iPod! we were super lucky!
There's a lot of what people think are references, but Don himself only says, "The song means I never have to work again."
@TheRatsCast I saw the doc about this song, and while he says that now, I think that's kind of a "wink wink nudge nudge" to him really saying.
Where he sings "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 moonlight the sacrificial rite" he's referencing Jimi Hendrix burning his guitar on stage. Mclean was highly offended by that act, feeling that it was disrespectful to music.
That rings true.
Actually Jack Flash refers to the Rolling Stones and the concert they held at Candlestick Park where the Hell's Angels were security. Several people died that night and a fire broke out.
@@coreydean6540 I stand corrected!
Second new thing I had wondered about and learned today. Thank you
@@coreydean6540 The concert was at Altamont where Hell's Angels was in charge of security and a concert goer was killed by one of the Hell's Angels.
I'm 66 years old, graduated in 1976 and this song is embedded in our soul. I still know all the words 😂 we really did have the best music.
same
Same too!
This is some pretty awesome music. There may have not been the variety of today but the music was awesome and brought forth more awesome.
Still plays in jukeboxes in little bars around New York...and everyone knows all the words as we sing out loud!!!!
I was a teen in the early 70s. This song is just a sample. Yes. A great sample . Of the music we had then. Im soo glad i was there to hear it as NEW MUSIC. Now its called -oldies.well. True enuff. It is. But it is also still the best music ive heard yet.. and im now an ( OLD MAN) of 68. Another oldie😂 soo glad you get to enjoy it…50+ yrs ltr. … dan. North fl👍
When I was a teen I took over my cousin's paper route while he was out of town. I remember sitting on the porch folding papers, and there was the terrible headline that Jim Morrison had been found dead. This song reminds me of that. Plenty of others here will explain this song for you. I was 15 the year this came out, and had it memorized pretty quickly because it was all over the radio, and yes it was truly an amazing time for music! Growing up in that era is the best part of being old, and I wouldn't trade it for being young again for anything! I had the privilege of listening to rock go from Chuck Berry, Elvis, Buddy Holly, etc. and all thru the changes it went thru. It started so simple and morphed into the may sub-genres that it became. It's a shame that you will never know the excitement of waiting for the next Beatle album, or the next Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Doors etc. Every month it seemed like another killer album came out. I'm just very happy that you are on this journey of discovering it for yourself, and watching you hearing something for the first time is almost as good as hearing it for the first time myself. Definitely check out his song "Vincent" about Vincent Van Gogh. The live performance is really emotional. Wow, didn't know that he lives in Palm Desert, that's only about 40 miles from me!
Yes, growing up in this era is definitely the best part of being old!
People asked him what this song Meant to him and he said that I'll never have to work for a living again
I was 11 in 1972. Everyone loved this song. We knew it was special.
It’s one of those songs you hear and instantly know it’s a masterpiece
I was 10 when this came out, born in '61.
Yes you are right, the best times where the 60-90's.
Now is a dead time and the worst of times.
The music is certainly dead now compaired to what it used to be! Miss those days!
I was born in 1963, this is the anthem of our youth. So many memories.
I was 14 when this came out, I still remember where I was the first time I heard it.
I was lucky to be born in 1960! So I was 11 when this song came out on the radio. Was lucky to live through the best times of music ever! 60' 70's and 80's. I was truly blessed! I love reliving this great MUSIC through your eyes Cliff! Thank you hun! Im learning a lot I never knew while watching you grin here and there..its priceless! Thank you from the bottom of my heart! You are so humble and kind..like my only son Tyler.
This is going to be fun. Janice Joplin is the girl who sings the blues and a generation lost in space is the LSD Era. The Quartet singing in the park is the Beatles, there are so many cultural references if you didn't research it or live it or your parents it's hard to break down. You caught the Hells Angel's reference 😅Great reaction and Peace out Cliff ☮️ ✌️ 🙏
Lost in space-also refers to the space race (moon landing in 1969)
70's kid here. It wasn't til I got older that I understood the references!
I was in middle school when this came out. I remember the whole bus singing along to this once when somebody managed to play it on their portable radio. Even the bus driver sang. It is unbelievably catchy and the verses are so sophisticated. But everybody was singing “I took my Chevy to the levee!”
Yeah, the lyrics describe not only events that happened (the plane crash called "The Day The Music Died" in 1959 and other events over the next ten years), along with his own faith in God.
I was 19 when this song was released. The 60s until the early 80s was an innovative time for music, starting with groups like the Beatles and then others who revolutionized pop music and later rock music. This was a time when there was an explosion of new musical sounds by a multitude of new artists expressing anything what they wanted and that had not been heard before. This change in music was a natural outgrowth of the social and cultural changes that started in the 60s which were in response to social injustice, civil rights and unjust wars and more sexual freedom. It was not just in the USA but a worldwide phenomenon where seemingly all youth was united in common beliefs and music was the glue holding us together and where such ideas were expressed through music. We did not always succeed in breaking the cycle but so many now had the freedom to be different without social stigma which wasn’t tolerated before. The zeitgeist of these times had a sense of change for the positive and was also fueled with the enthusiasm youth when everything seems possible, but times and people change so sadly it didn’t last.
I was 11 when this song came out. I didn't pay it much attention, seemed like a fun song. Then, in 10th grade AP English, was spent a whole semester 'dissecting' rock songs and this was one of them. It was perhaps the most interesting class I ever had.
All the references in this song... Messages within messages within messages... Incredible writing and melody. RIP
John McClean is 79 and still alive.
American Pie is a brilliant anthology of 50s-60s America told through McLean’s love of music from that period. Many references to the culture, events and of course music of the day. History in a song done exceptionally well all round! It was HUGE in 1971 AND beyond. I was 20 yrs old and must have played it thousands of times - it was THE song in my car cassette every morning as I took my 5 yr old son to preschool!! My best memories of the song and those singalongs with my son! A blessing!! Thank you Don McLean!!😊❤❤❤
When asked what the song meant, he said it means that I never have to work again LOL. There are countless references to Americana in the late 60s when there was an upheaval socially happening in American youth.
The Quartet are The Beatles .................
It WAS an amazing time. This came out in 1971. I remember it all so clearly. I've always felt this song was an anthem to my coming to adulthood.
Cliff, man, I was 16 in 1971 when this came out. I was not too young to catch most of the hidden references in this tune. T'was a fantastic time to come of age.
This came out in 1971. I was 24. I danced my firstborn around the livingroom to it again & again.
I saw you dancing in the gym - before my time - but if you dig music you’ll find this and more
❤👍🏽👍☘️
Ehe King is Elvis , the Jester is Bob Dylan ..................
Jester in a cast was Bob after he got into a motorcycle accident and had a broken arm.
I was 15 when this was released; you are right, it was an incredible musical era to grow up in, especially with two older brothers guiding the way during the ‘60’s. So glad to see your generation discovering this material. Don McLain’s “ Vincent” is a must for a follow up.
I was a teenager when this song was released! It was a wonderful time to be alive. (Musically)
I don’t have to imagine, kiddo. It was a great time. Don McLean has always been cagey about interpreting his song, but there are a few videos on TH-cam that try to break it down. I think they identified Bob Dylan as the jester, and the “girl that sang the blues” as Janis Joplin, for example. I took a look at your back catalog and it doesn’t look like you’ve covered Don McLean’s “Vincent” which is beautiful.
There are references to other musicians that died in the late 60s/early 70s like Hendrix, Joplin. Also, to the Altamont free concert with the Rolling Stones where security was provided by the Hells Angels. Someone was stabbed and killed during the song, Sympathy for the Devil.
I was 14 years old when that song was released. I still love it. Every phrase refers to an individual, or event in history from the 1950's to 1970.
The song details the change in American music and culture over a 10 year period from when Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in February 1959. The lyrics are very cryptic and Don has always been secretive about all the hidden references in the lyrics. It is quite fun to work out the artists he mentions in the song. Elvis as the King and Bob Ylan as the jester stealing Elvis crown. John Lennon and the Beatles are in withe the marching band reference to Sgt Peppers band. Rolling stones referenced by Jack Flash and their album Sympathy for the Devil. Helter Skelter is another Beatles track. The play on words reference to the Byrds. Events such as Woodstock also mentioned in the lyrics everyone gathered in the same place. There is still much to work out but enjoy if you look further into the lyrics.
Helter Skelter in the summer selter refers to the Manson Murders in the summer of 1969 in LA. Others have said the day the music died refers to the plane crash in which the Big Bopper- JP Richardson, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly all died on route to Minnisota to play at a venue. Don McClean has said that he fers to their deaths as the Day that Music Died.
As a child of music lovers, born in 1969, I can definitely tell you we grew up with the best music, the most poetic lyrics and sheer musical brilliance.
All bets were off, musicians followed their hearts. 💜🙏
I was nine years old the day the music died. When I heard the news I was angry. I liked Marty Robbin’s , but to me Buddy Holly was the future of music. I went back to listening to classical music until 1963 and the Beatles reawakened my interest in popular music. I remember the references in the song because I lived it. It was a fun time, but it was tarnished by turmoil. That said, I would gladly ride that roller coaster again.
February made me shiver is in reference to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Same as the following references “with every paper I delivered” “bad news on the doorstep, I couldn’t take one more step. “Can’t remember if I cried. As I read about his widowed bride” talks of Holly’s only 6 month long marriage score he died.
Don McLean and Home Free did a music video to honor the 50th Anniversary of this song.
I’m 62 and can confirm it’s been amazing…Respect…
I was 17 when this came out. I was very fortunate to have been around for some of the best music of all time.
My brother and I saw Don Mclean in concert c.1981. The best concert I ever felt. He was one guy with a guitar, . . . and he held us in the palm of his hand.
I was 6 when I first heard this in 1972.
I do believe you just said I’m almost as old as your grandfather. Yikes. Yes, we remember this song from when we were teenagers, it’s rife with historical references-but they are veiled. Don’t feel bad for not instantly knowing what he’s referring to. I’m sure others will chime in with what has been deciphered
I was in High School in the early y seventies. My English teacher was about 26 or so. We spent a class listening to this song and disecting it. I am 67 now. There aren't many high school English classes I still recall, but that class, I will never forget.
Great song!
And while Lennon read a book on Marx,
Literally, John Lennon reading about Karl Marx; figuratively, the introduction of radical politics into the music of the Beatles. The Marx-Lennon wordplay has also been used by others, most notably the Firesign Theatre on the cover of their album 'How Can You Be In Two Places At Once When You're Not Anywhere At All?'
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
'Helter Skelter' is a Beatles song which appears on the White album. Charles Manson, claiming to have been inspired by the song (through which he thought God and/or the devil were talking to him) led his followers in the Tate-LaBianca murders. Summer swelter is a reference to the long hot summer of Watts.
So come on Jack be nimble Jack be quick
A reference to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones; 'Jumpin' Jack Flash' was released in May, 1968.
I met a girl who sang the blues
Janis Joplin.
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
Janis died of an accidental heroin overdose on October 4, 1970.
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
On July 29, 1966, Dylan crashed his Triumph motorcycle while riding near his home in Woodstock, New York. He spent the next nine months in seclusion.
We were spoiled with that great music!❤
But we didn't know we were spoiled as all the music that came out then, it just was.
@tomroome4118 I knew anyway!
To mark the 50th anniversary of this song Don McLean did a new version with the vocal group Home Free, which brought it back into the limelight for a whole new generation of listeners, although it never really had disappeared. In that video he shows he still has the voice to reach our souls, with the support of a group of very gifted singers. This year he did another remake of his beautiful song "Vincent", also with Home Free.
Don’t worry, even those of us who grew up in the middle of it and heard the radio play it every half hour still fuss over the lyrics.
I was 16 when this was released. It was played at least 10 times a day on every major station in the country. Everyone knew every word then and still do today!
Yes, it was an amazing time. Would I like to go back and relive it? No way!!!!
Another really reaction. I love that you dig deep.
There's a documentary called American Pie. Don McLean tells the story about the story.
and Bob Dylan is the Jester on the sidelines in a cast. He was reportedly in a serious motorcycle accident in 1966 in upstate NY. But it wasn't substantiated in any police report. Rumour or fact, McLean heard about it and it's been associated with that lyric.
Definitely a song that I can sing every word to even if it's been years since I heard it... some lyrics just stay with you forever ❤❤
American PIE was the name on the side of the plane that crashed. Performers in entertainment.
Thanks for sharing …. Did not know this tidbit.
I've read a lot of the comments prior to mine. McLean has said "over and over again," that he will NOT disclose what the Song means. The idea it's about Valens and Holly, etx.. is just conjecture. Nothing more...
I've even read that the explaination of the Song is hidden in its lyrics. To die with your most famous Song a mystery, interesting.
In one of Buddy Holly's classic hits is a repeating lyric that goes, "That'll be the day when I die." Hence the lyric in McLean's chorus: "Singin' this'll be the day that I die". So many references to unpack in this masterpiece. I grew up in the generation this song came from. I remember when that plane crashed. And still I'm not sure I've figured out every single reference. A lot of people miss the reference to the "pink carnation" because it seems to pass by unnoticed. But even those two words are a reference to Marty Robbin's romantic hit: A White Sport Coat (and a pink carnation). An entire book could be written about this song and it's pop-culture references and their historical, societal, and cultural significance.
One of the songs with THE MOST AMAZING LYRICS: EVER!!! Also should check-out Vincent by Don McLean!! This man was SO, SO TALENTED!! SO MANY MONIKERS in this song and SO MANY "references"....I'm sure that everyone will fill you in, in the comments. AMAZING PIECE OF WORK: RIGHT HERE, CLIFF!!!
You have no idea how much fun we had with all the great music back then.
Wasn’t there / but learnt Gregorian chant to classical, to Cab Calloway and more.
Music - tis the best.
The 1972 song is a masterpiece & Don McLean is legendary. The song is so deep, covering everything from the tragic plane crash to Kent State, the travesty of Altamont to Janis Joplin. On the 50th anniversary of the song, he re-issued it with a collaboration with Home Free - if you haven't seen it, he still sounds fantastic.
One thing that from what I heard many years ago, the line when the king was looking down is misinterpreted. Many people say this refers to Elvis. At one point Jerry Lee Lewis was referred to the King of Rock n Roll. The looking down refers to him marrying his 14 year old cousin.
SO MANY band and song references in this song!! The "music died" when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson Jr. (aka, The Big Bopper). McLean references SO MUCH in this song - this is what I've been able to figure out, to the best of my ability: The Rolling Stones (referenced at first, and later in the song - referring to Jack in the lyrics - The Stones hit: Jumpin Jack Flash - and, I believe: another reference regarding their concert at Altamont, CA where the Hell's Angels were tasked with being security - and, concert goers were killed in the audience); Bob Dylan (The Jester - who LITERALLY sang for royalty - AND, he references Bob Dylan's songs "writing lyrics that were in all our voices" - ANOTHER master, here), Elvis (The King) AND, I believe, there's a reference to Martin Luther King, there, as well; John Lennon of The Beatles reading Marx (NOT Lennin, as the lyrics on the video say); The Beatles (referring to them as "The Quartet" and also references to their Sgt. Pepper days and their song: Helter Skelter), The Birds (Eight Miles High was one of their tunes)...and, he then says: we were "all in one place - a generation lost in space - with no time to start again"....meaning, all these new performers "took over" the music scene and the days of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & The Big Bopper AND innocence were LONG GONE. To me: the reference to stating Bye, Bye "MISS" American Pie meant the death of America's innocence and just good times, in general: because Buddy Holly was the VERY FIRST that really "hit the scene" as rock n roll. Janis Joplin is the "Girl who sang some blues"....the three men refer to the ones killed in the tragic crash, I believe - or, possibly John F. Kennedy, Bobby Kennedy & Martin Luther King.... You TRULY cannot get any better than these lyrics, in my opinion. Have LOVED THIS SONG since it HIT THE AIRWAVES! I'm sure that some of MY conclusions may be wrong - but, those are the ones that I THOUGHT I caught!! ENJOY!!!
There’s a lot of speculation about what this song is about and who certain characters that are mentioned who they are such as the jester which has been rumored to be Bob Dylan but nobody really knows except of course for Don McLean
This song always brings a tear to my eyes. My memories singing this with my friends.
Oh, and while the King was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
A reference to Elvis's decline and Dylan's ascendance. (i.e. Presley is looking down from a height as Dylan takes his place.) The thorny crown a reference to the price of fame. Dylan has said that he wanted to be as famous as Elvis, one of his early idols. Alternatively, this could refer to Lennon's claim that the Beatles were bigger than God (with Lennon as the jester and Jesus with his thorny crown).
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
This line and the next few refer to the 1968 Democratic National Convention. The sweet perfume is tear gas.
'Cause the players tried to take the field,
The marching band refused to yield.
A reference to the dominance of the Beatles on the rock and roll scene. For instance, the Beach Boys released 'Pet Sounds' in 1966 -- an album which featured some of the same sort of studio and electronic experimentation as Sgt. Pepper (1967)-- but the album sold poorly. It's a comment about how the dominance of the Beatles in the rock world led to more pop art music, leading in turn to a dearth of traditional rock and roll.
I was 7 when this song came out, I remember this song and John Denvers "Take Me Home, Country Roads" as being my favorites and they got TONS of radio airplay! I had both on 45's.
There will NEVER be a better time for great original music as 1965 to 1975
When a reporter asked Don what the song meant, he replied " It means that I will never have to work again."
I was 20 when that song came out. I ran a record store. I would not have wanted to grow up at any other period of time.😊
You should watch the collaboration he did with Home Free to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the song.
It's about the deaths of the musicians Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and Big Bopper in a 1959 plane crash. The name of the airplane they were on was "American Pie." Hence the lyrics "Bye, bye American Pie." But he packed a lot more meaning into the song. There are a lot of metaphors. I don't know what it all means, but American Pie is the gist of it.
1-)
b_d0p
I was born in 1970 and I have always loved this song. It has never gotten old like some songs do.
Yea bro, every line has meaning in reference to what was going on at the time. All we knew at the time was it was a great song
Please Please Please listen to "Vincent" by Don McLean. Personally, my favorite is the lyric video with a background of Vincent Van Gogh paintings - for the most part, the lyrics match the paintings being shown. When it comes to beautiful songs, this is one of the tops on my list.
Another vote for the "Vincent" Lyric Video here...
The beginning of the song is about the news that hit us all so hard which was the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson (a.k.a, The Big Bopper). As you realized, there's a lot word play going on. For example, I think the lyric about Lennin reading Marx was a reference to John Lennon. The lyric about the Sergeants music I believe was a reference to the Beatle's game-changing album "Sergeant Pepper". The lyric about the quartet practicing in the park I think was a reference to the Beatles. There are so many subtle references peppered through the song it's crazy. Genius, really. An interesting side note to the plane crash is that before Waylon Jennings became a giant Country Music super star, he was the bass player for Buddy Holly. Waylon was supposed to be on that plane the night it crashed. But a twist of fate led to a conversation between Waylon and Buddy just before Buddy got on the plane. The twist of fate was a circumstance that gave Waylon the opportunity to generously give his seat on the plane to P.J. Richardson (the Big Bopper) who was sick with the flu. So Waylon decided to make the trip in a bus. In that conversation between Waylon and Buddy, Buddy joked sarcastically saying, "I hope you freeze to death on the bus!" To which Waylon replied, jokingly, "Yeah? Well, I hope your plane crashes!" That comment haunted Waylon for many years following the crash of the plane. • There was one more song that came out as a result of that plane crash. It was called "Three Stars in the Sky". It was a sad, heart-rending song about the singers who died in the crash. Get your tissue ready, it's a tear-jerker. Here's the link: th-cam.com/video/JSrfF79I1Rg/w-d-xo.htmlsi=gw5htJpaNWwTzYTO
For the 50th anniversary, Don made a new edition of the song with Home Free. Fantastic!
Don McLean never really shared the meanings of all of the metaphors in the song, but if you dig around on the internet there are some good interpretations out there that provide reasonable explanations for each line in the song. If you like this type of song, you should check out Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire" and make sure you view the official video version if you want any chance at catching the metaphors....
I was in Germany as a teen to visit family. The rock and roll from America was the best. That’s what everyone wanted to hear.
I remember in the late 60s early 70s preachers tring to band rock and roll on the news and they was playing this song
Jackie "O" widowed bride
No, he was referring to Buddy Holly's wife he had married just several months before.
@@edb6690 Yes she was pregnant and miscarried their child shortly after his death.
When this song came out I was 19 and in my sophomore year of college. I don't know how many hours my friends and I spent talking about what the lyrics might mean. Now that I watch reactions to music of my era I realize how special that time was.
There is a documentary with Don, the day the music died is not a single day. He explained some of the lyrics and you can mostly find his head space to work out the others
He was a great troubadour, everyone will recommend the song Vincent and that is gorgeous, but for fun try Narcissisma or On The Amazon . The lyrics are so cool. This came out when I was a preteen, we would practice the song over and over until we could do it word for word 😊and of course debated all the references ☮️
It's the transition from Rock and Roll, to Folk, then the British Invasion. Along with the progress of society at the time.
When this came out there were conversations for months trying to decipher it. One thing I remembet was the park referred to the song Palisades Park
The 70s and 80s were the two greatest decades for music since Mozart.
"No angels born in hell could break that Satans spell."
This is a reference to The Rolling Stones free concert at Altamont in December 1969. The Hells Angels had been hired as security for the concert but things went out of hand and one of the Hells Angels ended up killing a person in the audience. The references to Satan alludes to "Sympathy for the Devil" which was the one of the Rolling Stones big hits from the year before and was one of the songs they were singing on stage that concert.
"I met a girl who sang the blues" is widely thought to be referring to Janis Joplin but Don McLean never really confirms who he is referring to which is why a lot of the meaning you'll see are speculations.
This is a tribute to Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens…they all died in a plane crash and it devastated the music industry
I was... First concert was Zeppelin in Tampa Fl 1973. No adult supervision. The world has gone to crap. Glad I'm 64. Won't have to deal with this a lot longer though my Pop is 90 so who knows. It's was awesome growing up in the 60s, 70s, and 80s. Then marriage and it was a different kind of fun. It all changed on 9/11/2001. Never been the same.
Pretty much what the theme of this song is. Things change. But if you think about it, mostly just details change whereas, on a larger scale, "history repeats itself." The further you zoom out of the time line, the more the cycles become clear and the details that we fuss over at the time fade.