Don had so many great original folksongs / singer-songwriter ballads that never got heard by anyone who wasn't effortful in deliberately exploring his music.
Such a fine song. I especially like the line 'oh God how I worked my youth away', and I love how Don sang this song in the studio recording, making himself sound like an old man. Only Don could write and sing a song like this so perfectly. Thank you, Don McLean, for this beauty!
Thank you homelessbrother for posting this GEM. When I first heard the song in the early 70's I considered it a paean or a tip of the hat to the "B" Western stars and T.V. Western stars who got royally shafted by the various Hollywood studios. It is that but it's sooooo much more. Please put me down in the category who thinks that Don Mc Lean is a genius....and I don't use that word lightly.
This is the song that got me into Dons music and started me on a journey that continues to this day.Fantastic writer,singer and musician.Thanks for uploading.
I still have the original sleeve with Hopalong Cassidy on it. And the album, of course. Don McLean was a songwriting genius with an uncanny and cynical sense of humor. Songs like 'Building My Body' and 'On the Amazon' shows an adverse, yet talented side of his genre styles. 'General Store' really made you think about old school vengeance. So different, compared to lyrics today. One of the most underrated singers of all time in my opinion.
On the Amazon is a song from the '20s but he did a great job singing it. General Store reminds me of the aftermath of a lynching: "We've got to teach these people how to stay where they belong."
I think many many of Dons songs were pure genius. Pride Parade, Mountains of Mourne, Dreidel, Homeless Brother, If we try, and many others. A far more prolific and prophetic writer than the American Pie song let on that he was. He seemed to write right into my soul and forced me to view myself in different terms than I ever had before.
Don was good friends with B-western star William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd in his (Bill's) latter years. This is a tribute to Mr. Boyd and his fellow B stars.
@ahitler1000...YES!....I agree with you ....Don Mc Lean was perfection especially when he was throwing high hard one in the 1970' s and 80. A brilliant talent.
@bobbranson The original American Pie inner sleeve featured a poem written by McLean about William Boyd aka Hop-Along Cassidy along with a picture of Boyd in full Hop-Along regalia. This sleeve was removed within a year of the album's release. The words to this poem appear on a plaque at the hospital where Boyd died.
Just an observation of mine. I thought that when Jewel first hit the music scene she had the makings of another Don McLean; her skill, voiice and songwriting talent seemed topnotch. Then she sold out and went pop and IMO lost that depth of soul she shared with Don through her first couple of albums. I'd still love to hear her do a cover album of Don's songs.
@bobbranson He was also good friends with Hop-Along Cassidy. so perhaps it's about him too. Hoppy didn't want photos of himself as an old man seen anywhere so he refused to have pictures taken as he got older. "this photograph was taken in my prime..."
Hoppy was also in an oater where he "sang" and played guitar. It's available here on YT but I can't remember the name of it (I've been binging on Hoppy movies the past few nights.) It's obvious someone else was singing. He swore to never do it again and AFAIK didn't. (Poor John Wayne actually... sang... in one his oaters.)
thanks, I always loved this song, and some of the others from that album--is it even available, I think I looked for it a while back. I also loved "O My, what a shame" and the one about the horse for sale. Overall, the album was kind of grim and a downer--that's always been my guess as to what made people lose interest. The next two albums were much happier, but didn't sell so well. Except he was a star in England, I guess.
It's interesting to see someone who is a natural born songwriter cause there are so many crappy ones churning out unmemorable junk now. I forgot how great this guy was/is.
i will keep myself a fan of his music only in his records. He seems he doesn't care much about the music he had made with good arrangements with the band. (kinda disappointed)
Love him, but the phrasing is just crap here, wouldn't have got on the album with this ...um phrasing ....I know live you want to change it, but this is ..hmmmm ...just a different song
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Don had so many great original folksongs / singer-songwriter ballads that never got heard by anyone who wasn't effortful in deliberately exploring his music.
I had always listened to DON MCLEAN since the mid-seventees! going Senior years now but he's as fresh and legendary as he could be!
Along with Harry Chapin, Steve Goodman, and Guy Clark, surely one of the great writers of Americana in the 20th century.
Everybody loves me baby , what’s the matter with you “ is another of Don’s songs that struck a chord with me !
This song takes on more resonance for me as I get older.
Don the best there is
VASTLY underrated!
NOT AT ALL!
Such a fine song. I especially like the line 'oh God how I worked my youth away', and I love how Don sang this song in the studio recording, making himself sound like an old man. Only Don could write and sing a song like this so perfectly. Thank you, Don McLean, for this beauty!
Thank you homelessbrother for posting this GEM. When I first heard the song in the early 70's I considered it a paean or a tip of the hat to the "B" Western stars and T.V. Western stars who got royally shafted by the various Hollywood studios. It is that but it's sooooo much more.
Please put me down in the category who thinks that Don Mc Lean is a genius....and I don't use that word lightly.
man, 10 years looking for this vid, i saw it on C-span. i've been a huge fan of Don's ever since...
"cowboy's life is the only life for me"
Don Is one of the best songwriters. Some of the best work never gained popularity. I have to agree with others here who say he is a genius.
some songs are just unforgetable; this one beats them all
This is the song that got me into Dons music and started me on a journey that continues to this day.Fantastic writer,singer and musician.Thanks for uploading.
This album is his strongest in my opinion. American Pie overshadows much of his other outstanding material.
Not a bad song on the album, and like you, I think this was his best. I'm still moved every time I hear "Pride Parade."
perfect in every sense.
I still have the original sleeve with Hopalong Cassidy on it. And the album, of course. Don McLean was a songwriting genius with an uncanny and cynical sense of humor. Songs like 'Building My Body' and 'On the Amazon' shows an adverse, yet talented side of his genre styles. 'General Store' really made you think about old school vengeance. So different, compared to lyrics today. One of the most underrated singers of all time in my opinion.
On the Amazon is a song from the '20s but he did a great job singing it. General Store reminds me of the aftermath of a lynching: "We've got to teach these people how to stay where they belong."
I think many many of Dons songs were pure genius. Pride Parade, Mountains of Mourne, Dreidel, Homeless Brother, If we try, and many others. A far more prolific and prophetic writer than the American Pie song let on that he was. He seemed to write right into my soul and forced me to view myself in different terms than I ever had before.
Don was good friends with B-western star William "Hopalong Cassidy" Boyd in his (Bill's) latter years. This is a tribute to Mr. Boyd and his fellow B stars.
a fave song by my favourite male artist thanks for posting this
I agree, he is underrated.
Another dumb comment.
So perfect and true
This is a great performance. His tribute to Hopalong Cassidy, I guess. It's wonderful.
i moved my lips to someone else's voice.....fuckin genious
@ahitler1000...YES!....I agree with you ....Don Mc Lean was perfection especially when he was throwing high hard one in the 1970' s and 80. A brilliant talent.
@bobbranson The original American Pie inner sleeve featured a poem written by McLean about William Boyd aka Hop-Along Cassidy along with a picture of Boyd in full Hop-Along regalia. This sleeve was removed within a year of the album's release. The words to this poem appear on a plaque at the hospital where Boyd died.
@lanetemple yes yes , yes, I think he, s a gift from God , myself, . . .perfection only comes once in a great while, and this man is just that, . . .
Vastly underrated
Just an observation of mine. I thought that when Jewel first hit the music scene she had the makings of another Don McLean; her skill, voiice and songwriting talent seemed topnotch. Then she sold out and went pop and IMO lost that depth of soul she shared with Don through her first couple of albums. I'd still love to hear her do a cover album of Don's songs.
@bobbranson He was also good friends with Hop-Along Cassidy. so perhaps it's about him too. Hoppy didn't want photos of himself as an old man seen anywhere so he refused to have pictures taken as he got older. "this photograph was taken in my prime..."
Hoppy was also in an oater where he "sang" and played guitar. It's available here on YT but I can't remember the name of it (I've been binging on Hoppy movies the past few nights.) It's obvious someone else was singing. He swore to never do it again and AFAIK didn't. (Poor John Wayne actually... sang... in one his oaters.)
thanks, I always loved this song, and some of the others from that album--is it even available, I think I looked for it a while back. I also loved "O My, what a shame" and the one about the horse for sale. Overall, the album was kind of grim and a downer--that's always been my guess as to what made people lose interest. The next two albums were much happier, but didn't sell so well. Except he was a star in England, I guess.
It's interesting to see someone who is a natural born songwriter cause there are so many crappy ones churning out unmemorable junk now. I forgot how great this guy was/is.
i will keep myself a fan of his music only in his records. He seems he doesn't care much about the music he had made with good arrangements with the band. (kinda disappointed)
1 person doesn't know country
Love him, but the phrasing is just crap here, wouldn't have got on the album with this ...um phrasing ....I know live you want to change it, but this is ..hmmmm ...just a different song
VASTLY underrated!
Just like you. Do you like being labeled an underrated woman? Didn’t think so.