A lotta music references in this song. It's a very iconic piece of America. The song apparently is a tribute to Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash in 1959 along with the Big Bopper and Richie Valens.
@@markdulmage8906 it was Don McLean who popularized that expression through this remarkable song that traced his take on the loss of innocence in America and in its music over the course of just over a decade.
"The Day The Music Died" is February 3, 1959, when Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash after a concert. McLean wrote the song from his memories of the event ("Dedicated to Buddy Holly" was printed on the back of the album cover).
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
@@Dud513 You won't find any reference to "american pie" prior to the song, McLean made the term up. Before 1971, american pie was never a "thing", and therefore nobody would use it for the name of a plane.
There all died in 1959, America pie is dream of all things good for America people in 1971 when American pie was release the Vietnam War still going on and American boys being send to die in the war average age 19 and lot protest across American again war as words in sing (the day I die)
This was one of the most iconic songs from the 70s. Sad and catchy all at once. The lyrics read like a really well written poem and it is believed to be about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. Don Mclean never talks about what it means, and people still debate it. For years it would be included on most lists as one of the top songs ever.
It's not necessarily my favorite song of all-time, but setting aside my personal biases, American Pie really is probably the greatest American song ever written. It's certainly a national treasure.
Lyrically, one of the greatest songs ever written. If you want to hear another GREAT Don McLean song, please react to “Vincent” (Starry Starry Night). Such a beautiful composition, about the famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh.
@@Isleofskye Yes, yes, yes!! Not the one when Don McLean is older, at a concert mike just singing it. The recording/video is the must-see of "Vincent", please.
The day the music died happens twice in this song: 1959: Buddy Holly plane crash (lost innocence) 1969: Rolling Stones/Altamont Free Concert/Hells Angels tragedy (innocence is replaced by rage. “Oh, and as I watched him on the stage. My hands were clenched in fists of rage”) The song is about the events in between those two tragedies (aka…the 1960s). Brilliant really.
The song references many events. For example, "helter skelter in a summer swelter" referred to the Manson murders in August of 1969 just days before Woodstock.
While Jefferson Airplane were onstage at Altamont front man Marty Balin saw someone getting beaten by the Hell's Angels, he stopped mid-song to jump into the fray and help the victim out. He wasn't a big guy and got knocked out for his trouble but kudos for the effort. R.I.P. Marty and Paul Kantner.
This is a song that is finally worthy and deserving of Brad's constant attempt to understand the lyrics meaning. Started out being about the plane crash that Took Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens. A lot of references to music acts of the time as well. King = Elvis Jester = Bob Dylan Lennon, Helter Skelter, Quartet = Beatles Birds = The Byrds Moss grows fat on a Rolling Stone, and Jack Flash = Rolling stones Some say Satan on the stage was Mick Jagger at Altamonte tragedy Girl that sang the blues = Janis Joplin etc.
From the area that produced Bob Dylan. I've always had the understanding that when Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, etc... were touring together (don't remember date), a young Bob Dylan saw their concert in Duluth Minnesota. That inspired his career in music.
Yers, they have to look up the lyrics to get to, a lot of history, but she has a general good grasp and good soul! . (For others new to song - Day the music died when Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper does in plane crash, end of innocence- and the deiil from the Rolling Stones, and a more Godless, decadent era being ushered in...). Pope they did Starry Starry night.
A song about the loss of innocence. An amazing portrait of not only the musical scene in America but the political and social changes during the 60s. A true masterpiece.
The day the music died …the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper February 3rd 1959. The song reflects the loss of America’s innocence and the deep cultural changes as well as changes in rock music. According to McLean the song represents a shift from the naive 50’s to the darker decade of the 60’s.
The reason he said it was the day the music died was because there was no one else playing rock and roll. Elvis was in the army and they were still four years away from the Beatles
In two words: generational mourning. The song eulogizes the way one generation, and its heroes and its music - its cultural relevance - dies and passes on. It does not anticipate the coming trends or coming generations, but simply mourns its own.
@@jeremykothe2847 it goes way beyond that. it starts in 1959 then progresses through the entire 60s, using allegory to reference numerous people/events of that decade. elvis, dylan, the beatles, joplin, the assassination of jfk, the space race, etc are all in the song.
Such a legendary song; its one of those where you know it has deep meaning but you don't what that meaning is unless somebody explains it to you. Everything in here is a reference to something in Rock and Roll history, with the "the day the music died" referring to the plane crash in 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. The whole thing is incredibly catchy, but deeply bittersweet at the same time.
"Helter skelter" is mentioned also of course, referring to the Manson family homicidal rampage named for their obsession with the Beatles song by the same name.
You convey the feeling of the song perfectly! It has a sadness to it but an upbeat sound as well. The lyrics are so well written and takes you to a more innocent time in the minds of the younger American adult ways of thinking. It transports you to a different time! Great song!
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
It’s all about the evolution of rock music up to that point. The day the music died was the day that Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens all died in a plane crash. It has to do with the loss of innocence during the infancy of rock ‘n’ roll where the writer believed rock and roll had evolved to sex drugs and violence. All of the inferences are of musicians of the day. Elvis, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the Beatles, the Byrds, and Janice Joplin. Perhaps a few others. One of the great sets of lyrics. The marching band equals the Beatles. The jester was Bob Dylan, Elvis the king, Jack flash refers to Mick Jagger. The song runs very deep and there have literally been tons of essays about the meanings of the song. A fun and interesting study.
The lyrics to this song have been analyzed and dissected so much it's worthy of a college music theory class. The day the music died refers to the plane crash outside of Clear Lake Iowa that killed at the time music stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson aka The Big Bopper
@@swartwoodart2558 Waylon Jennings met with the Big Bopper's son. Afterwards, He felt better about, because the son told him that Jennings did nothing wrong.
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
I had to write a research paper in college about this song (pre internet) - 100 pages - it was hellish!! I got an interview with Don McLean (when I was WAY younger and pretty cute lol. He said he would only answer yes or no to any question, so I got lots of info. He said if you publish this, I will deny I ever met you. He gave me his mailing address so I could send him a copy with my grade - I got an A. He sent me back an autographed album - I still have it.
This whole song is a pretty deep dive into history references from the 50's through the 60's. The term "the day the music died" starts it off and refers to the deaths of American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson who were killed in a plane crash in February of 1959. The lyrics cover many other people and events of those times including the Vietnam war and the Charles Manson murders in California ("Helter Skelter in the summer swelter). The "Lenin" reference was to Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin who was influenced by Karl Marx and his book Communist Manifesto and the beginnings of Communism (which has killed more people than any other historical movement).
Compiled American Pie References *(all are open to interpretation):* A long, long time ago *(It took 10 years to write/complete the song)* 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 *(Inspired to be an artist)* And maybe they'd be happy for a while But February made me shiver *(When Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens died)* With every paper I'd deliver *(McLean was a newspaper delivery boy)* 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 *(Buddy Holly had only been married 6 months)* But something touched me deep inside The day the music died So bye-bye, Miss American Pie *(few can agree on this meaning, but possibly a symbol/metaphor for traditional American life as he knew it)* Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry; And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye *(Ths singer's home was New Rochelle, which did indeed feature a bar called "The Levee." Allegedly, this bar shut down or "went dry," causing patrons to drive across the river to Rye, New York.)* Singin' "This'll be the day that I die; This'll be the day that I die" *(Reference to Buddy Holly’s song ‘That’ll be the Day’)* Did you write the book of love, *(The Monotones sang a song ‘Book Of Love’ in 1958)* and do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? *(Children’s religious song, also a Don Cornell hit song)* Now do you believe in rock and roll, can music save your mortal soul; And can you teach me how to dance real slow? *(rock and roll music and dancing was considered to be sinful by many, couldn’t have faith in both God and rock and roll)* Well, I know that you're in love with him 'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym *(school dances mainly took place in high school gyms)* You both kicked off your shoes *(students would dance in their socks so that they wouldn’t damage the polished wood floors)* Man, I dig those rhythm and blues *(musical style popularity was shifting in a major way)* I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck *(A wild, driven teenager looking for love, meaning, and inspiration, and a desire to be free)* With a pink carnation and a pickup truck *(Marty Robbins song A White Sport Coat (with a Pink Carnation)* But I knew I was out of luck Now for ten years we've been on our own, and moss grows fat on a rollin' stone *(Buddy Holly’s lyrics, “Well you know, a rolling stone, don’t gather no moss,” from his hit Early in the Morning; could also be the band Rolling Stones; could also be Bob Dylan’s song ‘like a rolling stone)* But that's not how it used to be *(Shift from the wholesome 50’s to the changes brought about in the 60’S)* When the jester sang for the king and queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean *(Bob Dylan refers to jesters in his songs and wore James Dean’s coat on the cover of his 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan; The king and queen reference could allude to Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, folk music’s royal couple who took center stage, long before Dylan; could also be president Kennedy and the first lady; could also be Elvis and Priscilla)* And a voice that came from you and me *(Dylan is considered the voice of a generation)* Oh, and while the king was looking down The jester stole his thorny crown *(Dylan’s popularity grew and attn shifted away, his lyrics challenged idolized figures)* The courtroom was adjourned; No verdict was returned *(Suspicious circumstances surrounding JFK’s death; could also be reference to the judgment that Dylan received in the court of public opinion)* And while Lenin read a book on Marx *(Many believe this is a crafty way to introduce The Beatles and Lennon’s views on Marxism, while others take it very literally; Marx, associated with the Communist Revolution, can be linked to Lennon via the song Revolution)* A quartet practiced in the park *(The “park” is most likely related to the famous 1966 concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park when The Beatles began to create more “straightforward” music)* And we sang dirges in the dark *(Dirges are funeral songs, possibly an easy to make this a generic reference to mourning many iconic figures deaths; both singers, actors, and politicians)* Helter skelter in a summer swelter, *(Beatles song Helter Skelter, which is also associated with the Manson murders)* the birds flew off with a fallout shelter; Eight miles high and falling fast It landed foul on the grass *(The Byrds’ song Eight Miles High; fallout shelter was also known as rehab shelters i.e. the rise in drug use “grass”)* the players tried for a forward pass *( Youth culture made a “forward pass” against the government while trying to change and transform the country)* With the jester on the sidelines in a cast *(Dylan was in a motorcycle accident, took a break from music)* Now the halftime air was sweet perfume While the sergeants played a marching tune *(Beatles released the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and picked up where Dylan left off)* 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 *( Many say the marching band is the police blocking civil rights protesters. Others say it’s The Beatles preaching non-violence with their 1967 hit All You Need Is Love.)* Do you recall what was revealed *(Possibly that police brutally cracked down on demonstrators)* Oh, and there we were all in one place, a generation lost in space *(Rolling Stones’ bloody concert held in 1969 at the Altamont Motor Speedway, approximately 300,000 people in attendance; Lost in Space was a popular TV show and could also be referring to heavy drug use)* With no time left to start again So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick *(Rolling Stones has a song Jumping Jack Flash; it could also be referencing the quickly enacted policies and changes brought by JFK that helped light a political fire)* '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 *(Jagger incited people; could also be many of the other revolutionary figures of the time)* No angel born in Hell *(The Rolling Stones hired the Hell’s Angels for security, but they started to defend the stage violently)* Could break that Satan's spell *(literal, or figuratively the Hells Angel's intent; some believe that Jagger’s is being referred to as Satan for setting things in motion)* And as the flames climbed high into the night *(flames could be the bonfires around where the concert was)* To light the sacrificial rite *(The stabbing of a black teenager by a member of the Hells Angels)* I saw Satan laughing with delight *(literal or members of Hells Angels)* I met a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news, But she just smiled and turned away *(Janis Joplin)* I went down to the sacred store where I'd heard the music years before *(Record Store, which lines up with the theme of music as a religious experience)* But the man there said the music wouldn't play *(Record stores used to be listening booths for customers, but they stopped doing this in the late 60’s)* And in the streets, the children screamed; The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed *(the death of Joplin and other inspirational artists and political figures)* But not a word was spoken The church bells all were broken *(Nothing is the same anymore - a once vibrant culture is now dead; again continuing with the theme in the shift of religious beliefs i.e. literally or figuratively 'music')* And the three men I admire most; The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost *(Multiple references; literal religious meaning; The 3 musicians that died in the plane crash; The political assassinations of JFK, MLK, and Robert Kennedy)* They caught the last train for the coast The day the music died
Just one comment: Rye, NY is a couple of towns away from New Rochelle, and there's no major river between them. Other than that, these are pretty much what I've read before.
This is a musical masterpiece with so many references to turbulent events. The "day the music died" is a reference to a specific historical event as much of the references are, either an event or artist.
This has to be one of the greatest songs ever written and could actually be considered a rock anthem in it's own right. I'm sure many will explain the who's who references in the song. The main idea "American Pie" is the sweetness and innocents of the country from McLean's perspective during the 50's. Starting with the plane crash that killed 3 of the early rock stars, McLean felt the country was moving away from the idea of America. Helter Skelter most likely refers to the Charles Manson cult that murdered Sharon Tate in the late 60's. Manson believed there was going to be a race war in America. Moving forward in time to today, America is no where near McLean's perception of 50's America.
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
This comment is absolutely correct. It is about the loss of innocence in America. All of the incidents he mentions contribute to the ultimate loss of innocence and a change in culture. Good job!
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
@@AlBarzUK pretty sure it's whiskey and rye. After prohibition, there has been a distinction between 'American whiskey' (aka bourbon) and rye whiskey. Both styles have been made in America since approximately the same time but bourbon survived prohibition better. Either way, you wouldn't mix them.
@@karateman302rye whiskey is whiskey, so it doesn't make sense to say whiskey and rye. And I can't unhear "in" in the song, especially during the slower final chorus. Also, I found this explanation... McLean is actually singing "drinking whiskey in rye." Ths singer's home was New Rochelle, which did indeed feature a bar called "The Levee." Allegedly, this bar shut down or "went dry," causing patrons to drive across the river to Rye, New York. Of course I could be wrong but as I said, I can't unhear it. 🤗
February 3, 1959 is known as The Day The Music Died, when Buddy Holly ("Peggy Sue"), Richie Valens ("La Bomba") and The Big Bopper ("Peggy Sue") died in a plane crash. Country singer Waylon Jennings ("Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys") and Tommy Allsup (guitarist who worked with them all, and the one who supposedly lost a coin toss to Valens for a spot on that plane) were the other two musicians touring together who did NOT get on the plane.
There are so many cultural references in this song. This is truly a "coming of age" or loss of youth for those of us of the Boomer generation (46-64). We lived so many of the events that are explicitly as well inferred to in the song subtly. It was both exciting and sad to see the world changing. We walked a fine line between optimism and cynicism. The song represents both the exuberance of youth as well as the process growing older. Now that we are the older generation, we are still frustrated by those who don't understand. But now days, "the man" has become our children and grandchildren. Jack, you need to revisit your maxim, from "never trust anyone over 30" to "NEVER, ever trust or listen to anyone under 50!"
I dont know, these young folks never heard of it...live forever? maybe.I know all the words still to this song. I was in my teens in the 70s and 80s and I knew all the songs from my parents era, I wonder why that is not passed down to the next generation anymore. I hope Brad and Lex do some historical work after their first exposure to these songs they listen to.
"This'll be the day that I die" is a call back to Buddy Holly's song "That'll be the Day" which in itself is a call back to John Wayne's character, Ethan Edwards, repeats numerous times in the movie "The Searchers".
According to McLean, "American Pie" was originally inspired by the death of Buddy Holly. "I loved his music," he told Songfacts. "When that whole crash happened, it was a real ache in my heart. So, I ended up bringing back all those memories of 1959 and the things that happened later." "The Day The Music Died" is February 3, 1959, when Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash after a concert. McLean wrote the song from his memories of the event ("Dedicated to Buddy Holly" was printed on the back of the album cover). The Beatles Sgt. Pepper album was also a huge influence, and McLean has said in numerous interviews that the song represented the turn from innocence of the '50s to the darker, more volatile times of the '60s - both in music and politics. McLean was a 13-year-old paperboy in New Rochelle, New York when Holly died. He learned about the plane crash when he cut into his stack of papers and saw the lead story.
"The sense of disillusion and loss that the song transmits isn’t just about deaths in the world of music, but also about a generation that could no longer believe in the utopian dreams of the 1950s ... According to McLean, the song represents a shift from the naïve and innocent ‘50s to the darker decade of the ‘60s" -- Alva Yaffe, Musicholics
what must he think of the world as it is today? things become darker as the decades go by. How will we survive on our current course when some sort of perceived "fairness" trumps reality?...Man plus Woman equals child is the most basic reality in the world...all the rest is BS Carlito of Brooklyn, and nothing matters more
On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane crash in Iowa, an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was 17 at the time of his death. In 2001, Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.(young people at the time took the plane crash killing their favorite rock stars hard this song is about that and Americana in general)
It's basically a song about what happened in the 50s and 60s..bands, music, assassination of Kennedy death of Buddy Holly big bopper, television shows the Cuban missile crisis and the cold War etc...
The song has nostalgic themes, stretching from the late 1950s until late 1969 or 1970. Except to acknowledge that he first learned about Buddy Holly's death on February 3, 1959 - McLean was age 13 - when he was folding newspapers for his paper route on the morning of February 4, 1959 (hence the line "February made me shiver/with every paper I'd deliver"), McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song's lyrics; he has said: "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry." He also stated in an editorial published in 2009, on the 50th anniversary of the crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson (who are alluded to in the final verse in a comparison with the Christian Holy Trinity), that writing the first verse of the song exorcised his long-running grief over Holly's death and that he considers the song to be "a big song ... that summed up the world known as America". McLean dedicated the album to Holly.
I guess I was too young to remember Buddy Holly's death, so for years it made me think of the Kennedy assassination, until I read an article about the plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson crashing. I always think of Black Sabbath when ten years later Satan takes the stage.
IMO there is obviously an apocalyptic theme. God vs Devil. (Vladimir) Lenin read the book of (Karl) Marx. Fallout shelters. Helter Skelter. (Something) Eight miles high and falling fast. Fires burning through the night. Children screaming.
There's a lot of references from contemporary pop culture of the time (late 60's). The Jester refers to Bob Dylan -- he often refers to himself that way in his own songs. Check out "All Along the Watchtower" for that first-hand. Do the Dylan version for lyrics, the Jimi Hendrix version for big guitar. The "Helter Skelter in the summer swelter" references the summer the Beatles song came out, and the Manson murders. "Eight Miles High and falling fast" refers to The Byrds song "Eight Miles High" -- you should react to that, it's really good.
It's not just Hendrix's guitar alone that sets his cover of AATWT apart from Dylan's original - it's the production which was much more layered with multi track mixing techniques.
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
This is one amazing song. It conjures up all kinds of feelings from the 50's and the 60's. Young people have no idea. Boomers grew up in the late 50's and 60's. We actually practiced diving under our school desks in the event of nuclear attack from the soviet block. The music , that is "American music" died on a plane with Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. It was replaced by the "British Invasion", the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Zombies, Kinks, Peter and Gordon, Herman's Hermits, and on and on. Aside from a few artists, here and there (The Jester the blues girl - Janis Joplin), it wasn't until the 70's for a resurgence of American music. If it weren't for "Motown" there wouldn't have been any American music in the 60's - thank God!
Huge hit!! Took him 6 years to get it on the air. Recording labels kept telling him it was too long and that nobody would want to listen to it on the radio.
DJ's referred to this as a bathroom song because it was long enough for them to go use the can and get back to the studio in time. Tough to do that on a 3 minute song.
How exactly did it take him 6 years when it was released in 1971, hit #1 in 1972 and the Altamont Free concert which is referenced in the song occurred in 1969 capping the 1959-1969 focus of the song?
At the last verse, very important to understand: "The three men I admire the most...the father, son and holy ghost," refer to the late President John F. Kennedy, his brother Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, all assassinated in the 1960's. The song is deep and full of metaphors or references. "Sergeants played a Marching Tune" is the Beatles and their Sergeant Pepper's album. the King was Elvis, the Jester was Bob Dylan, the quartet was the Beatles, the Day the Music died was Feb 3 1959, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash, with "the Big Bopper" and Ritchie Valens. Lex nailed it for Elvis being the King. Lots of stuff to digest. The girl who sang the blues...Janis Joplin...Jack Flash probably Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones...Satan and flames climbed into the night...Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire..."the music" Buddy Holly's music...this is a song about the death of innocence of the 1950's and the change and chaos of the 1960's. To me the death of innocence started when John F. Kennedy was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963. 9/11 was just a continuance of the world's BS since that day to me. This is far more than a bar room singalong...and the song has been extremely misused in movies and commercials. the song's title even used for a stupid movie title. This is a masterpiece of poetry and art of real times my generation lived in....Don Mclean is a talented folk musician/lyricist, and those who would consider him a pop singer are sadly misinformed, probably because of this one long song..
The Hendrix reference is not correct it all refers to the stones and the concert in Altamont California. The hells angels provided security. It’s considered the darkest day in music. The father son and the Holy Ghost do not refer to any people they are the father son and the Holy Ghost as he was raised a Catholic.
I'm so proud of you guys for not pausing through that whole ending part. I'm not one of those "pause complainers", but I was so afraid you were going to spoil the flow by doing it. LOL. Great reaction.
"What's a Chevy on a levee?" was the question I asked my mom the the first time I heard this song when I was four or five years old way back in 1972 or thereabouts. I bet she was glad I didn't ask her about whiskey and rye! The day the music died is the day Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in 1959. One of his biggest hits was "That'll Be The Day", with a chorus that ends with the line "Because that'll be the day when I die". So the good old boys drinking whiskey and rye were singing an ode to the late Buddy Holly. If you're not familiar with the songs of Buddy Holly and want a taste of their inspiration, start with "That'll Be the Day" because this song points back to it directly. After that, check out "Words of Love", "Not Fade Away", "Maybe Baby", "Everyday", "Peggy Sue", "Oh Boy", and "Rave On" among many others.
this is a great tune about American music legends. This song and the song City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie are pure American music royalty. Speaks about the people and the country. 2 of my fave songs. Piece from Canada.
@@deeberwill51 Sorry, Dude. Steve Goodwin wrote City of New Orleans. Grew up in Chicago and was lucky to see both of them perform live many times. Stevie wrote the song.
@@olathestanwalker6717 No, I'm the sorry one. I KNOW that Steve Goodman wrote it too. Must be some kind of Immediate Need to Reply Overreaction Syndrome.
The song is a story of two tales and the expression of the time when the three big music stars died in 1959.. He is reflecting on the prosperity from the early 50's to the 70's; the space race, the impact of TV vs. Radio and in general growth of the life in America and the change of music to come. The simple life was changing.
The day Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash, and the subsequent history of rock and roll. References to the beatles, the stones, the byrds, joplin, hendrix, morrison, dylan & many others.
Thanks for doing this song! As James Harper pointed out, there are a lot of musical references in this song. Bob Dylan is "The Jester" "Buddy Holly had a song called "That'll Be The Day" and the line was "That'll Be the Day That I Die" and he died on a plane crash with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper back in the 60's. The Beatles are mentioned in it too. Not that this song is anywhere near the level of American Pie but back in the 70's and 80's on Thanksgiving at 3PM most radio stations would play "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie and it's just a guy with his guitar telling a funny story that you guys would get a kick out of if you ever get a chance!
This song is full of musical references, but a lot of them are very subtle, most people are only familiar with the one referring to the plane crash. Another example, the girl who "sang the Blues" is referring to Janis Joplin. You could almost pick out a new reference each time you listen to the song if you are familiar with the music from that time.
The music died when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and several others died in an airplane accident. Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on the plane too, but he gave his seat up. Speaking of the Big Bopper, try his song “Chantelle Lace.” I play it when I pick my wife up sometimes. By the way, when asked what the song was about, Don McLean said, “It means I will never have to work again.”
This song is about the tragic death of three well known musicians who died in a plane accident. They were all flying to the same performance when their plane went down. When he says the part about not remembering if he cried when he read about his widowed bride it refers to all their wives. Loosing all the performers at one time was like the music dying.
Several songs in one was a good summation because it referenced so many points in both musical and cultural history. Kennedy's widow, maybe Russia's Lennon reading Carl Marx, Maybe Helter Skelter referring to Manson. So many possibilities.
To understand the story of Ritchie Valens who died in the plane crash along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, watch the 1987 movie La Bamba starring Lou Diamond Phillips.
Yes about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, big bopper, the LA Bamba singer Richie valens. But it also talks about the rock culture of the 60s into the 70s and R&B coming into prominence. You have to take all the clues he gives you. Even the the part that mentions the hells angel killing of the black man at the rolling Stones concert.
I appreciate all the music y’all react to because I grew up on all these old tunes. Do y’all think you’ll ever do a playlist on all the music y’all grew up on? I would love to hear that playlist to see how many of those songs I remember growing up on. ✌️❤️🤘
the loss of innocence...the song is designed to set your perspective wandering over lifes meaning...you fill in your own wants, needs, failures and achievements.That is why this song has such longevity and always will. It sets loose the philosopher in us.
Even without knowing the events referenced the tone emerges regardless. The only thing that changed for me with age and knowledge is an understanding of the context. Truly a classic song.
Don has said in interviews that this is a tribute to buddy holly who died in a plane crash with a couple other artists. He said he cried for two years after buddy holly died.
Cool, I used to sing this song at karaoke, it's the longest one in the catalog. I went to the record store and bought this 45rpm single in 1972. It's about when Buddy Holly died, Elvis is the King, Bob Dylan is the jester, Janis Joplin is the girl who sang the blues , Mick Jagger is Jack flash. In 1980 when John Lennon died I felt like that. Keep rocking brothers and sisters ✌️🤘 Brother Gary
I've read/heard/googled that the king was actually Peter Seger and the queen is Joan Baez. These were the two big names in folk at the time early '60's. During the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, Dylan was honored to play his own set and then combine with these two legends to sing his song "Blowin' in the Wind. And he "stole the crown", meaning he took over as the biggest name in folk music from that point on.
@@marcmarc1967 - also Dylan was in a very bad motorcycle wreck in the late 60s, which might be a clue to why the jester was "on the sidelines in a cast".
During 6th grade we had a guitar class and after we finished the basics and played mary had a little lamb, we immediately jumped to this song. We were constantly shown the history of the song and Don Mclean himself and always listened to it as we played. It made learning this beautiful song a breeze and I adore hearing it whenever it rarely comes on the radio.
"Like being in a pub...." BOOM! lol, do you know for how long this has been a party and pub song? About 40 years we've been singing this one - even at weddings! Nailed it Lex.
The song takes us from the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in February 1959 through the tumultuous 1960's decade. Occasionally, Mclean has given some insight - The "Jester" refers to Bob Dylan. "While the King was looking down, the Jester stole his thorny crown" - when Elvis went into the service and Buddy Holly had died, Bob Dylan became a huge star/influence. The Sergeants/Marching Band - The Beatles and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album that moved pop/rock music away of ritual dance music and made it "something to be listened to". Jack Flash references the Rolling Stones and Altamont, Helter Skelter - the Manson Family murders, two of the nails in the coffin of the hippie movement. The Girl who sang the Blues - Janis Joplin. The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost references Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy and the loss of America's innocence.
There's nothing like being in a small bar or pub when the band on stage covers this song. Absolutely everyone sings along, loudly, waving their beers (whiskey n' rye) in the air to the music.
Check out Buddy Holly “That’ll Be the Day” and you’ll some of the symmetry McLean uses. Also the song “Killing Me Softly” is about watching Don McLean live
Good reaction video!!! I had the opportunity to visit the crash site where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died. It is a small shrine in the middle of a corn field. People are allowed by the land owners to visit the site, but it is about a 1/2 walk on a well-maintained trail. Also, where you park, there is a rather LARGE set of iconic Buddy Holly glasses. I have a friend whose wife grew up about a 1/2 mile east of the parking area. he tells me that she was about 8 years old when Buddy Holly's plane crashed. She also goes on to say that where she lived, there was a pole in her yard with a light on it that her father would keep on at night until bed time and that her father would turn off religiously because electricity was so expensive back then. She says for whatever reason her father forgot to tun off that light that night and that it was snowing hard. She says that later that night they heard the sound of an approaching aircraft that sounded to be too low, then the tone of the engine suddenly changed as it got over her house then disappeared. In the morning, the news of the plane crash spread and her father was one of the first people to arrive at the crash site. Investigators think that when the family heard the noise of the approaching plane and then the sudden change in engine tone, that the pilot was aware of some type of malfunction and was looking for a place to crash land when suddenly, the snow storm cleared just enough for the pilot to notice that light on and her house and tried his best to regain control of that plane. They think had the light been turned off as usual that the plane most likely would have crashed into her house, thus causing more casualties. Whenever I hear his song anymore, I always think of her story.
U have to know alot of music history to understand this song. To start of with this is talking about the death of the Big Bopper, Richie Valenz and Buddy Holly in a plane crash. However its talking about several things that were happening in those days. Things like the Space Race, The Beatles, Karl Marx, Kennedy, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Rolling Stones, the Jester (Bob Dylan had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident), Charlie Manson and several more references. But it was also a commentary on the changing cultural landscape (the girl that smiled and turned away)
Don McLean also wrote "Vincent" about artist Vincent Van Gogh. It is hauntingly beautiful. Watch a live video version if you can. I like it at least as much as American Pie. Thanks for all of your reactions.
Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson Jr. (The Big Bopper) all died in a plane crash February 3, 1959. Known as 'the day the music died'. Don McLean's classic song "American Pie" is partially about how that day affected him.
There was an open air bar in Vail, CO where the house band would play this pretty much once every night on the weekends. The bar would be packed, and there would be people crowded around it outside with everyone singing along.
The song is about the 10 years between Buddy Holly's death (February 1959) and when he started writing the song (1969). Each verse is more or less set in a different year.
I always find it kind of funny when reactors are like "but where could we have heard this before?" when they're listening to extremely famous songs. This is the kind of song that you could easily have heard, like, in a grocery store while shopping. You may have even heard it many times and just never paid attention before because it was basically background music. Songs as famous and family friendly as this one get played everywhere. Stores, dentist offices, office buildings, movies, TV shows. You could have heard this literally anywhere.
This song is a chronicle of the '60s music, from the death of Buddy Holly/Frankie Valens/ The Big Bopper in a plane crash, to references of Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, and growing up with the Cold War.
I think when he said, "We all got up to dance, buy we never had the chance" refers to VietNam. As in this generation never had a chance to enjoy youth and instead got called in to that goddamn war. Some of those veterans came back as 20 year old middle agers that carried those memories forever. God bless them.
Absolutely love this song! My mother passed on the 50th anniversary of the the plane crash that took Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper from us. Which now tha I look is kind of fitting since she was a big fan of 50's music. Y'all need to check out Buddy Holly and Richie Valens they are some of the grandfathers of Rock N Roll.
I remember listening to Modonna's version of American pie and my dad heard it and said the original is better. I didn't even know it was a cover until he told me. So then I got on limewire and downloaded this version and have loved it ever since.
"The Day the Music Died" was referring to the Day an Airplane Crashed Carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Others. They were the Biggest Names in Rock and Roll at the time . They all Perished.
@@PHILPOP2 No one of today are Icons like Holly, Bopper and Valens, they were completely transforming music. There has been no new transforming since The Sex Pistols(punk), although Los Saicos from Peru were the first true Punk Band, by a Decade, and hip hop with Bill Curtis and the Fatback Band's "King Tim III", which predated Sugarhill's Gang "Rappers Delight", although Sugarhill did create the bigger buzz. Since then music has been a wasteland for new music Icons. In only my humble opinion.
@@PHILPOP2 Very true I am sure, that is why most younger reactors are at times amazed, confused, clueless, as they just never get to hear/see the incredibleness of my era anyway, when I was a teenager, young adult.
This one is hard-core sentimental. Used to sing myself to sleep as a toddler with this song. According to my parents it's the first song I learned the lyrics to a tee. I couldn't even sing "Twinkle Twinkle" or "ABC's" correctly, but this song I have know the lyrics forever it seems. I still shed tears every time I hear it. Hence the biography comment prior to watching your reaction.
In the early morning hours of February 3, 1959, three performers - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson - joined their pilot Roger Peterson for what was supposed to be a flight to their next tour stop. But the passengers and their pilot never made it to their destination. Instead, the four were involved in a deadly crash that took the lives of all aboard. This tragedy has been remembered as “The Day the Music Died.”
ok I'm going three deep... but this song means alot to me - It also eludes to the way music can inspire nostalgia, sound and smell are actually the most powerful senses when we're trying to recall the feeling associated with a memory (it's one of the best ways to discern a false memory from a real one). Fun fact, my girlfriend in university was chinese (should say we were studying psychology), she was 1 year ahead of me and had to go back to China when her studies finished and we were both fairly heartbroken. This song inspired me to craft a plan for the last three weeks we had together: I played it low key wherever I could, in the car, in the shower.. especially tried to work it in whenever I could tell she was having a particularly good time with me, not loud enough to become annoying but not quite quiet enough to be entirely ignored, I even learned it on guitar and had her sing along when she'd had one too many glasses of Guinness. She loved the smell of lavender, so I had a lavender air freshener in the car, I had lavender candles knocking about, basically ingrained the song and smell into her head as often as I could but without it being obvious. Then when she went away and we knew we'd never see each other again I got her a music box which had lavender scented pauperize and played this song in monotone with a little Asian cat dancing around a scratching post (if you're not already feeling sick, I often called her Xiao Mao Mi which is 'kitten' in Chinese), told her not to open it until her birthday which was two months away at the time. Anyway, it had the desired effect, couldn't think of a more perfect song to inspire feelings of nostalgia... can't help but think she's probably going to either have to throw it away at some point or have some awkward conversations with any future boyfriends she has though xDD
This is one of the few songs I can pinpoint exactly what I was doing when I first heard it. I was in seventh grade laying in bed listening to my am radio. Back then the disc jockeys were big time and I remember the guy saying try this song on and let me know what you think. It later became a huge hit.
There’s a great video on this song that explains things, pretty much lyric for lyric. This song is essentially about America losing its innocence in the 15 or so years from the late 50’s to the early 70’s, using the songs, musicians, political leaders & icons of the age as metaphor. It looks back at the country during this era, while simultaneously celebrating & mourning the passing of a very particular place & time in American history.
Bit of trivia……. The guy who wrote the song “Killing Me Softly With His Song” wrote it after he had seen Don MacLean in concert in London, especially the song “Empty Chairs.” McLean is one of the great story tellers, along with Dylan, Harry Chaplin and Cat Stevens……..
The line in the chorus, " This'll be the day that I die", is in reference to Buddy Holly's song, " That'll be the day". The whole song is a masterpiece of musical references, as many have pointed out here. There are probably college courses dedicated to this song alone.
“Father, Son, Holy Ghost”: JFK, RFK, MLK “We sang dirges in the dark”: Dirges are funeral songs. “And a voice that came from you and me” 1960s civil rights protest song
The three men reference could also be to the Jesus movement that took the West Coast during that Era and became the roots for Christian rock and Contemporary.
I long heard this song was about the death of Buddy Holly and some other musicians who I can't remember the name of, they died in a plane crash, but I'm almost certain the song was written before the crash... I think it's just an ode to nostalgia and how music moves us as human beings. Hey you should check out some Buddy Holly though Peggy Sue is my favorite, Heartbeat is up there, but he's got plenty of bumpers.
When I told my children that my Dad allowed us to stay up and watch The Beatles first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in America singing "She Loves you, Yeah, Yeah Yeah", in 1964, and then just 5 years later...after the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK...we had Woodstock, they were blown away! It was a fast paced, tragic moving from American values and such, to a push for Socialism and Cancel culture, now. But, it happened so fast! We were trying so hard to all come together, and now .... Good is bad and Bad is good, and everything is upside down. Bye bye Miss American Pie.
One of the US's national anthems, - a magnificent piece of writing, playing, and singing (better than that fawning-over-a-banner song, by ten thousand country miles)! ✌️😄 I never looked deeply into its meaning. I thought it simply was about a bloke missing out on a girl whilst a young man, & life was a little disappointing after that, and that the song was nostalgic. Magical realism, not allegory.
This is a VERY Heavy Song. For example, "Helter Skelter in a Summer Swelter" refers to The Manson Murders in 1969 "Eight Miles High and Falling Fast" refers how Drug Culture helped to kill The Hippie Dream. This thing is packed with references to numerous things - all cloaked in Poetic Imagery. It's A Classic 😉👍
Loved the reaction! Now that you've listened to the original, you should check out Home Free's a cappella cover from earlier this year featuring Don Mclean himself. Sooooo good. The video is awesome, too.
Wow!! Thanks to all the other commenters! I had no idea what this song was about but I loved loved loved it as a preteen when it came out! Thank you peoples!! 💜🔥✌🏼
8 minutes, OMG, too late now. Was very well worth listening to. This is almost a one hit wonder, McLeans others known mostly by his FANS, but this one actually was one of the most requested songs of all times. As everyone said this is full of references to what was happening in music at the time, "the birds were eight miles high and falling fast," The Byrds had a song called, "Eight Miles High." The song has a ton of meaning to us old school, and when you are old school yourself, you will have little meaningless things that mean a lot to you and you will get it.
What better way to celebrate this song than to do reactions to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper ? Someday, I hope you have the time. Thank you for your reactions.
A lot of pop culture references in this one. Lex hit on some of them. I would suggest a little research if interested. I know the Jester references Bob Dylan, the girl who sang the blues is Janis Joplin. The day the music died is a common reference to the day Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens died in a plane crash.
A lotta music references in this song. It's a very iconic piece of America. The song apparently is a tribute to Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash in 1959 along with the Big Bopper and Richie Valens.
Yes it’s referred to as the day the music died
Ya, not just Buddy Holly, but all three were very popular. And in one unfortunate crash,......they were all gone. The day the music died.
@@BST-lm4po Exactly. Hence the stanza "The three men I admired the most.....caught the last train for the coast, the day the music died".
Yea it was a rough one, they where all starts respectfully all so young
@@markdulmage8906 it was Don McLean who popularized that expression through this remarkable song that traced his take on the loss of innocence in America and in its music over the course of just over a decade.
"The Day The Music Died" is February 3, 1959, when Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash after a concert. McLean wrote the song from his memories of the event ("Dedicated to Buddy Holly" was printed on the back of the album cover).
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
Came here to comment this. Thank you!
"the day the music died" signifying the start of Disco in the 70's 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I believe American pie was the name of the plane. could be wrong. probably should have confirmed before posting.
@@Dud513 You won't find any reference to "american pie" prior to the song, McLean made the term up. Before 1971, american pie was never a "thing", and therefore nobody would use it for the name of a plane.
"The day the music died" is what they call the airplane crash that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.
Is the big bopper J.p Richards?
There all died in 1959, America pie is dream of all things good for America people in 1971 when American pie was release the Vietnam War still going on and American boys being send to die in the war average age 19 and lot protest across American again war as words in sing (the day I die)
Feb 3rd
This was one of the most iconic songs from the 70s. Sad and catchy all at once. The lyrics read like a really well written poem and it is believed to be about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. Don Mclean never talks about what it means, and people still debate it. For years it would be included on most lists as one of the top songs ever.
The Day the Music Died is a recent documentary about this song with Don McLean. Highly recommended.
Don't forget the Beatles references
Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Elvis, Lennon and The Beatles, Mick Jagger, Janis Joplin, etc.
I'll give you one clue and if you want more I'll give you more. The Rolling Stones were the jester
@@katherinedinwiddie4526Rolling Stones reference. Elvis reference. Janis Joplin reference It’s about the music through the yrs
It's not necessarily my favorite song of all-time, but setting aside my personal biases, American Pie really is probably the greatest American song ever written.
It's certainly a national treasure.
Lyrically, one of the greatest songs ever written.
If you want to hear another GREAT Don McLean song, please react to “Vincent” (Starry Starry Night).
Such a beautiful composition, about the famous painter, Vincent Van Gogh.
TRUE but MUST be watched with the Video depicting and showing many of Van Gogh's artwork :)
I agree
Vincent was supposedly Tupac's favorite song. If that's true, he had great taste.
Also, a film reaction to Loving Vincent, an animated film done entirely in individual oil paintings.
@@Isleofskye Yes, yes, yes!! Not the one when Don McLean is older, at a concert mike just singing it.
The recording/video is the must-see of "Vincent", please.
The day the music died happens twice in this song:
1959: Buddy Holly plane crash (lost innocence)
1969: Rolling Stones/Altamont Free Concert/Hells Angels tragedy (innocence is replaced by rage. “Oh, and as I watched him on the stage. My hands were clenched in fists of rage”)
The song is about the events in between those two tragedies (aka…the 1960s).
Brilliant really.
Sadly, Woodstock Nation lasted less than 4 months when Meredith Hunter was murdered by Hell's Angels.
@@EastPeakSlim “No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell”
The song references many events. For example, "helter skelter in a summer swelter" referred to the Manson murders in August of 1969 just days before Woodstock.
The BuddyHolly plane crash happened 60 miles from my home town in clear lake Iowa
While Jefferson Airplane were onstage at Altamont front man Marty Balin saw someone getting beaten by the Hell's Angels, he stopped mid-song to jump into the fray and help the victim out. He wasn't a big guy and got knocked out for his trouble but kudos for the effort. R.I.P. Marty and Paul Kantner.
This is a song that is finally worthy and deserving of Brad's constant attempt to understand the lyrics meaning.
Started out being about the plane crash that Took Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens.
A lot of references to music acts of the time as well.
King = Elvis
Jester = Bob Dylan
Lennon, Helter Skelter, Quartet = Beatles
Birds = The Byrds
Moss grows fat on a Rolling Stone, and Jack Flash = Rolling stones
Some say Satan on the stage was Mick Jagger at Altamonte tragedy
Girl that sang the blues = Janis Joplin
etc.
Spot on.
The pink carnation is a reference to Marty Robbins song A White Sports Coat
“Helter Skelter in a summer swelter” is also a reference to the Manson murders in the summer of 1969.
From the area that produced Bob Dylan. I've always had the understanding that when Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, etc... were touring together (don't remember date), a young Bob Dylan saw their concert in Duluth Minnesota. That inspired his career in music.
Father, son and holy ghost?
I love Lex’s soul. She knows great music. Keep smiling!!
I subscribed because of Lex. I love her enthusiasm, plus she's nice to look at.
Truth
Doesn't Lex's smile just melt you ? Just gorgeoues !
Brad is a good guy! We all fancy Lex but Brad makes the team! :)
Yers, they have to look up the lyrics to get to, a lot of history, but she has a general good grasp and good soul! . (For others new to song - Day the music died when Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper does in plane crash, end of innocence- and the deiil from the Rolling Stones, and a more Godless, decadent era being ushered in...). Pope they did Starry Starry night.
A song about the loss of innocence. An amazing portrait of not only the musical scene in America but the political and social changes during the 60s. A true masterpiece.
It’s about the plane crash that killed buddy holly the big bopper and Richie valens. Pretty common knowledge if you take the time to look
@@mikeclark7519 That is the starting point, yes.
@@JPVLDRodrigues correct
The day the music died …the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper February 3rd 1959. The song reflects the loss of America’s innocence and the deep cultural changes as well as changes in rock music. According to McLean the song represents a shift from the naive 50’s to the darker decade of the 60’s.
Amen brother
100%
The reason he said it was the day the music died was because there was no one else playing rock and roll. Elvis was in the army and they were still four years away from the Beatles
They were headed to Moorhead, MN. My chemistry teacher in high school was going to attend the show.
60s was a better time for everyone
In two words: generational mourning. The song eulogizes the way one generation, and its heroes and its music - its cultural relevance - dies and passes on. It does not anticipate the coming trends or coming generations, but simply mourns its own.
Best, most succinct and easily understandable explanation I've ever heard of this song, right to the point, yet gives great context. Bravo sir!!
Yes! Perfect description. Gave me chills reading it :)
Nope :) A plane crash. A literal day when "the music" died. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Pie_(song)
@@jeremykothe2847 Sure, yes. That's one of the things mourned in the song. But it isn't the only thing.
@@jeremykothe2847 it goes way beyond that. it starts in 1959 then progresses through the entire 60s, using allegory to reference numerous people/events of that decade. elvis, dylan, the beatles, joplin, the assassination of jfk, the space race, etc are all in the song.
Such a legendary song; its one of those where you know it has deep meaning but you don't what that meaning is unless somebody explains it to you. Everything in here is a reference to something in Rock and Roll history, with the "the day the music died" referring to the plane crash in 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. The whole thing is incredibly catchy, but deeply bittersweet at the same time.
"Helter skelter" is mentioned also of course, referring to the Manson family homicidal rampage named for their obsession with the Beatles song by the same name.
You convey the feeling of the song perfectly! It has a sadness to it but an upbeat sound as well. The lyrics are so well written and takes you to a more innocent time in the minds of the younger American adult ways of thinking. It transports you to a different time! Great song!
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
@@scapito I definitely will check that out.Thanks!
The music did die that day and the world turned. We lost our innocence and marched down the path that led us to where we are today . . .
Rock History from the 50s to the 70s. All in "code". Brilliant lyrics combined with memorable music.
GREAT explanation!!!!!!!
It’s all about the evolution of rock music up to that point. The day the music died was the day that Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens all died in a plane crash. It has to do with the loss of innocence during the infancy of rock ‘n’ roll where the writer believed rock and roll had evolved to sex drugs and violence. All of the inferences are of musicians of the day. Elvis, Bob Dylan, Mick Jagger, the Beatles, the Byrds, and Janice Joplin. Perhaps a few others. One of the great sets of lyrics. The marching band equals the Beatles. The jester was Bob Dylan, Elvis the king, Jack flash refers to Mick Jagger. The song runs very deep and there have literally been tons of essays about the meanings of the song. A fun and interesting study.
The lyrics to this song have been analyzed and dissected so much it's worthy of a college music theory class. The day the music died refers to the plane crash outside of Clear Lake Iowa that killed at the time music stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson aka The Big Bopper
Side note, Waylon Jennings gave up his seat on the plane for, I believe, the Big Bopper.
@@swartwoodart2558 Waylon Jennings met with the Big Bopper's son. Afterwards, He felt better about, because the son told him that Jennings did nothing wrong.
th-cam.com/video/_U2AwooLEBA/w-d-xo.html
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
I had to write a research paper in college about this song (pre internet) - 100 pages - it was hellish!! I got an interview with Don McLean (when I was WAY younger and pretty cute lol. He said he would only answer yes or no to any question, so I got lots of info. He said if you publish this, I will deny I ever met you. He gave me his mailing address so I could send him a copy with my grade - I got an A. He sent me back an autographed album - I still have it.
This whole song is a pretty deep dive into history references from the 50's through the 60's. The term "the day the music died" starts it off and refers to the deaths of American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson who were killed in a plane crash in February of 1959. The lyrics cover many other people and events of those times including the Vietnam war and the Charles Manson murders in California ("Helter Skelter in the summer swelter). The "Lenin" reference was to Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin who was influenced by Karl Marx and his book Communist Manifesto and the beginnings of Communism (which has killed more people than any other historical movement).
"( which has killed more people than any other movement in history, except religion )
Fixed.
Lenin is Lennon - John Lennon of the Beatles......Helter Skelter is also a Beatles song.
The Lennon (not Lenin) reference is about John Lennon reading a book on Marx.
@@AgunziLFC
Which has kill more people than any movement...period!
Like an idiot I basically kinda said the same thing, before reading the comments 🤦♂️. With that said. 💯 correct. This is a deep dive song.
Compiled American Pie References *(all are open to interpretation):*
A long, long time ago *(It took 10 years to write/complete the song)*
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 *(Inspired to be an artist)*
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver *(When Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Richie Valens died)*
With every paper I'd deliver *(McLean was a newspaper delivery boy)*
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 *(Buddy Holly had only been married 6 months)*
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died
So bye-bye, Miss American Pie *(few can agree on this meaning, but possibly a symbol/metaphor for traditional American life as he knew it)*
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry; And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye *(Ths singer's home was New Rochelle, which did indeed feature a bar called "The Levee." Allegedly, this bar shut down or "went dry," causing patrons to drive across the river to Rye, New York.)*
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die; This'll be the day that I die" *(Reference to Buddy Holly’s song ‘That’ll be the Day’)*
Did you write the book of love, *(The Monotones sang a song ‘Book Of Love’ in 1958)*
and do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? *(Children’s religious song, also a Don Cornell hit song)*
Now do you believe in rock and roll, can music save your mortal soul; And can you teach me how to dance real slow? *(rock and roll music and dancing was considered to be sinful by many, couldn’t have faith in both God and rock and roll)*
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym *(school dances mainly took place in high school gyms)*
You both kicked off your shoes *(students would dance in their socks so that they wouldn’t damage the polished wood floors)*
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues *(musical style popularity was shifting in a major way)*
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck *(A wild, driven teenager looking for love, meaning, and inspiration, and a desire to be free)*
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck *(Marty Robbins song A White Sport Coat (with a Pink Carnation)*
But I knew I was out of luck
Now for ten years we've been on our own, and moss grows fat on a rollin' stone *(Buddy Holly’s lyrics, “Well you know, a rolling stone, don’t gather no moss,” from his hit Early in the Morning; could also be the band Rolling Stones; could also be Bob Dylan’s song ‘like a rolling stone)*
But that's not how it used to be *(Shift from the wholesome 50’s to the changes brought about in the 60’S)*
When the jester sang for the king and queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean *(Bob Dylan refers to jesters in his songs and wore James Dean’s coat on the cover of his 1963 album The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan; The king and queen reference could allude to Pete Seeger and Joan Baez, folk music’s royal couple who took center stage, long before Dylan; could also be president Kennedy and the first lady; could also be Elvis and Priscilla)*
And a voice that came from you and me *(Dylan is considered the voice of a generation)*
Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown *(Dylan’s popularity grew and attn shifted away, his lyrics challenged idolized figures)*
The courtroom was adjourned; No verdict was returned *(Suspicious circumstances surrounding JFK’s death; could also be reference to the judgment that Dylan received in the court of public opinion)*
And while Lenin read a book on Marx *(Many believe this is a crafty way to introduce The Beatles and Lennon’s views on Marxism, while others take it very literally; Marx, associated with the Communist Revolution, can be linked to Lennon via the song Revolution)*
A quartet practiced in the park *(The “park” is most likely related to the famous 1966 concert at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park when The Beatles began to create more “straightforward” music)*
And we sang dirges in the dark *(Dirges are funeral songs, possibly an easy to make this a generic reference to mourning many iconic figures deaths; both singers, actors, and politicians)*
Helter skelter in a summer swelter, *(Beatles song Helter Skelter, which is also associated with the Manson murders)*
the birds flew off with a fallout shelter; Eight miles high and falling fast It landed foul on the grass *(The Byrds’ song Eight Miles High; fallout shelter was also known as rehab shelters i.e. the rise in drug use “grass”)*
the players tried for a forward pass *( Youth culture made a “forward pass” against the government while trying to change and transform the country)*
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast *(Dylan was in a motorcycle accident, took a break from music)*
Now the halftime air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune *(Beatles released the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and picked up where Dylan left off)*
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 *( Many say the marching band is the police blocking civil rights protesters. Others say it’s The Beatles preaching non-violence with their 1967 hit All You Need Is Love.)*
Do you recall what was revealed *(Possibly that police brutally cracked down on demonstrators)*
Oh, and there we were all in one place, a generation lost in space *(Rolling Stones’ bloody concert held in 1969 at the Altamont Motor Speedway, approximately 300,000 people in attendance; Lost in Space was a popular TV show and could also be referring to heavy drug use)*
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick *(Rolling Stones has a song Jumping Jack Flash; it could also be referencing the quickly enacted policies and changes brought by JFK that helped light a political fire)*
'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 *(Jagger incited people; could also be many of the other revolutionary figures of the time)*
No angel born in Hell *(The Rolling Stones hired the Hell’s Angels for security, but they started to defend the stage violently)*
Could break that Satan's spell *(literal, or figuratively the Hells Angel's intent; some believe that Jagger’s is being referred to as Satan for setting things in motion)*
And as the flames climbed high into the night *(flames could be the bonfires around where the concert was)*
To light the sacrificial rite *(The stabbing of a black teenager by a member of the Hells Angels)*
I saw Satan laughing with delight *(literal or members of Hells Angels)*
I met a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news, But she just smiled and turned away *(Janis Joplin)*
I went down to the sacred store where I'd heard the music years before *(Record Store, which lines up with the theme of music as a religious experience)*
But the man there said the music wouldn't play *(Record stores used to be listening booths for customers, but they stopped doing this in the late 60’s)*
And in the streets, the children screamed; The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed *(the death of Joplin and other inspirational artists and political figures)*
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken *(Nothing is the same anymore - a once vibrant culture is now dead; again continuing with the theme in the shift of religious beliefs i.e. literally or figuratively 'music')*
And the three men I admire most; The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost *(Multiple references; literal religious meaning; The 3 musicians that died in the plane crash; The political assassinations of JFK, MLK, and Robert Kennedy)*
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
Just one comment: Rye, NY is a couple of towns away from New Rochelle, and there's no major river between them. Other than that, these are pretty much what I've read before.
You got most of it right Don McLean was also dating a miss American pagent,buddy Holly's wife was pregnant when he died
One of the reasons this song is timeless is because it is so open to interpretation, like all great art.
This is a musical masterpiece with so many references to turbulent events. The "day the music died" is a reference to a specific historical event as much of the references are, either an event or artist.
This has to be one of the greatest songs ever written and could actually be considered a rock anthem in it's own right. I'm sure many will explain the who's who references in the song. The main idea "American Pie" is the sweetness and innocents of the country from McLean's perspective during the 50's. Starting with the plane crash that killed 3 of the early rock stars, McLean felt the country was moving away from the idea of America. Helter Skelter most likely refers to the Charles Manson cult that murdered Sharon Tate in the late 60's. Manson believed there was going to be a race war in America. Moving forward in time to today, America is no where near McLean's perception of 50's America.
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
Unfortunately he almost always stops the music in the worst possible place. Sad really
This comment is absolutely correct. It is about the loss of innocence in America. All of the incidents he mentions contribute to the ultimate loss of innocence and a change in culture. Good job!
"America is no where near McLean's perception of 50's America."
I don't think it was in the 50's either.
Lyrically, this is one of the most brilliant and interesting songs ever written, IMO.
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
Pity for the mistakes in the screen text. “The Levee” and “Whiskey in Rye”.
@@AlBarzUK pretty sure it's whiskey and rye. After prohibition, there has been a distinction between 'American whiskey' (aka bourbon) and rye whiskey. Both styles have been made in America since approximately the same time but bourbon survived prohibition better. Either way, you wouldn't mix them.
@@karateman302rye whiskey is whiskey, so it doesn't make sense to say whiskey and rye. And I can't unhear "in" in the song, especially during the slower final chorus. Also, I found this explanation...
McLean is actually singing "drinking whiskey in rye." Ths singer's home was New Rochelle, which did indeed feature a bar called "The Levee." Allegedly, this bar shut down or "went dry," causing patrons to drive across the river to Rye, New York.
Of course I could be wrong but as I said, I can't unhear it. 🤗
February 3, 1959 is known as The Day The Music Died, when Buddy Holly ("Peggy Sue"), Richie Valens ("La Bomba") and The Big Bopper ("Peggy Sue") died in a plane crash.
Country singer Waylon Jennings ("Mama Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys") and Tommy Allsup (guitarist who worked with them all, and the one who supposedly lost a coin toss to Valens for a spot on that plane) were the other two musicians touring together who did NOT get on the plane.
There are so many cultural references in this song. This is truly a "coming of age" or loss of youth for those of us of the Boomer generation (46-64). We lived so many of the events that are explicitly as well inferred to in the song subtly. It was both exciting and sad to see the world changing. We walked a fine line between optimism and cynicism. The song represents both the exuberance of youth as well as the process growing older. Now that we are the older generation, we are still frustrated by those who don't understand. But now days, "the man" has become our children and grandchildren. Jack, you need to revisit your maxim, from "never trust anyone over 30" to "NEVER, ever trust or listen to anyone under 50!"
Classic that will live on forever. Song writers today cannot write songs like this. Pure talent...
Yes, songwriters of today do write songs like this, you just can't get any traction with them.
I dont know, these young folks never heard of it...live forever? maybe.I know all the words still to this song. I was in my teens in the 70s and 80s and I knew all the songs from my parents era, I wonder why that is not passed down to the next generation anymore. I hope Brad and Lex do some historical work after their first exposure to these songs they listen to.
@@slickwillie9526 Care to share some examples? Rock died after the 2000--2010 rebirth of alternative/emo/hardcore
"This'll be the day that I die" is a call back to Buddy Holly's song "That'll be the Day" which in itself is a call back to John Wayne's character, Ethan Edwards, repeats numerous times in the movie "The Searchers".
Yep. You nailed it.
I don't know how I never caught on to the callback to "That'll be the Day" and I love that song haha
According to McLean, "American Pie" was originally inspired by the death of Buddy Holly. "I loved his music," he told Songfacts. "When that whole crash happened, it was a real ache in my heart. So, I ended up bringing back all those memories of 1959 and the things that happened later."
"The Day The Music Died" is February 3, 1959, when Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper were killed in a plane crash after a concert. McLean wrote the song from his memories of the event ("Dedicated to Buddy Holly" was printed on the back of the album cover).
The Beatles Sgt. Pepper album was also a huge influence, and McLean has said in numerous interviews that the song represented the turn from innocence of the '50s to the darker, more volatile times of the '60s - both in music and politics.
McLean was a 13-year-old paperboy in New Rochelle, New York when Holly died. He learned about the plane crash when he cut into his stack of papers and saw the lead story.
"The sense of disillusion and loss that the song transmits isn’t just about deaths in the world of music, but also about a generation that could no longer believe in the utopian dreams of the 1950s ... According to McLean, the song represents a shift from the naïve and innocent ‘50s to the darker decade of the ‘60s" -- Alva Yaffe, Musicholics
what must he think of the world as it is today? things become darker as the decades go by. How will we survive on our current course when some sort of perceived "fairness" trumps reality?...Man plus Woman equals child is the most basic reality in the world...all the rest is BS Carlito of Brooklyn, and nothing matters more
And "4 Dead in Ohio", was the pinnacle of his point, in the song, America losing it's innocence.
On February 3, 1959, on what has become known as "The Day the Music Died", Valens died in a plane crash in Iowa, an accident that also claimed the lives of fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as pilot Roger Peterson. Valens was 17 at the time of his death. In 2001, Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.(young people at the time took the plane crash killing their favorite rock stars hard this song is about that and Americana in general)
It's basically a song about what happened in the 50s and 60s..bands, music, assassination of Kennedy death of Buddy Holly big bopper, television shows the Cuban missile crisis and the cold War etc...
His Tribute To The Legendary Artist Vincent Van Gogh,,
DON MCLEAN "VINCENT"...A MUST HEAR CLASSIC..R.I.P. Vincent 🙏 ❤
The song has nostalgic themes, stretching from the late 1950s until late 1969 or 1970. Except to acknowledge that he first learned about Buddy Holly's death on February 3, 1959 - McLean was age 13 - when he was folding newspapers for his paper route on the morning of February 4, 1959 (hence the line "February made me shiver/with every paper I'd deliver"), McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song's lyrics; he has said: "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry." He also stated in an editorial published in 2009, on the 50th anniversary of the crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson (who are alluded to in the final verse in a comparison with the Christian Holy Trinity), that writing the first verse of the song exorcised his long-running grief over Holly's death and that he considers the song to be "a big song ... that summed up the world known as America". McLean dedicated the album to Holly.
I guess I was too young to remember Buddy Holly's death, so for years it made me think of the Kennedy assassination, until I read an article about the plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson crashing. I always think of Black Sabbath when ten years later Satan takes the stage.
IMO there is obviously an apocalyptic theme. God vs Devil. (Vladimir) Lenin read the book of (Karl) Marx. Fallout shelters. Helter Skelter. (Something) Eight miles high and falling fast. Fires burning through the night. Children screaming.
There's a lot of references from contemporary pop culture of the time (late 60's). The Jester refers to Bob Dylan -- he often refers to himself that way in his own songs. Check out "All Along the Watchtower" for that first-hand. Do the Dylan version for lyrics, the Jimi Hendrix version for big guitar.
The "Helter Skelter in the summer swelter" references the summer the Beatles song came out, and the Manson murders.
"Eight Miles High and falling fast" refers to The Byrds song "Eight Miles High" -- you should react to that, it's really good.
It's not just Hendrix's guitar alone that sets his cover of AATWT apart from Dylan's original - it's the production which was much more layered with multi track mixing techniques.
I posted a list of all of the references that I could find for American Pie, for those who are interested. Please feel free to comment on any that I may have missed or your own interpretation.
I thought I knew all the references in this song but I didn't know the "Helter Skelter' one. Thanks Anthony !
This is one amazing song. It conjures up all kinds of feelings from the 50's and the 60's. Young people have no idea. Boomers grew up in the late 50's and 60's. We actually practiced diving under our school desks in the event of nuclear attack from the soviet block. The music , that is "American music" died on a plane with Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. It was replaced by the "British Invasion", the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Dave Clark Five, Zombies, Kinks, Peter and Gordon, Herman's Hermits, and on and on. Aside from a few artists, here and there (The Jester the blues girl - Janis Joplin), it wasn't until the 70's for a resurgence of American music. If it weren't for "Motown" there wouldn't have been any American music in the 60's - thank God!
You guys are so fun to watch. That song was all over the radio for decades one of the most long enduring hit songs originating from the 70's
The day the music died was in February of 1959, when Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash, along with Ritchie Valens & The Big Bopper.
Huge hit!! Took him 6 years to get it on the air. Recording labels kept telling him it was too long and that nobody would want to listen to it on the radio.
DJ's referred to this as a bathroom song because it was long enough for them to go use the can and get back to the studio in time. Tough to do that on a 3 minute song.
How exactly did it take him 6 years when it was released in 1971, hit #1 in 1972 and the Altamont Free concert which is referenced in the song occurred in 1969 capping the 1959-1969 focus of the song?
At the last verse, very important to understand: "The three men I admire the most...the father, son and holy ghost," refer to the late President John F. Kennedy, his brother Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and Dr. Martin Luther King, all assassinated in the 1960's. The song is deep and full of metaphors or references. "Sergeants played a Marching Tune" is the Beatles and their Sergeant Pepper's album. the King was Elvis, the Jester was Bob Dylan, the quartet was the Beatles, the Day the Music died was Feb 3 1959, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash, with "the Big Bopper" and Ritchie Valens. Lex nailed it for Elvis being the King. Lots of stuff to digest. The girl who sang the blues...Janis Joplin...Jack Flash probably Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones...Satan and flames climbed into the night...Jimi Hendrix lighting his guitar on fire..."the music" Buddy Holly's music...this is a song about the death of innocence of the 1950's and the change and chaos of the 1960's. To me the death of innocence started when John F. Kennedy was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963. 9/11 was just a continuance of the world's BS since that day to me. This is far more than a bar room singalong...and the song has been extremely misused in movies and commercials. the song's title even used for a stupid movie title. This is a masterpiece of poetry and art of real times my generation lived in....Don Mclean is a talented folk musician/lyricist, and those who would consider him a pop singer are sadly misinformed, probably because of this one long song..
Jumping Jack Flash was a song by the Rolling Stones and DON MCLEAN is probably revering to the Altamont Free Concert
The Hendrix reference is not correct it all refers to the stones and the concert in Altamont California. The hells angels provided security. It’s considered the darkest day in music. The father son and the Holy Ghost do not refer to any people they are the father son and the Holy Ghost as he was raised a Catholic.
I'm so proud of you guys for not pausing through that whole ending part. I'm not one of those "pause complainers", but I was so afraid you were going to spoil the flow by doing it. LOL. Great reaction.
Thanks y'all for bringing back a good memory.
"What's a Chevy on a levee?" was the question I asked my mom the the first time I heard this song when I was four or five years old way back in 1972 or thereabouts. I bet she was glad I didn't ask her about whiskey and rye! The day the music died is the day Buddy Holly died in a plane crash in 1959. One of his biggest hits was "That'll Be The Day", with a chorus that ends with the line "Because that'll be the day when I die". So the good old boys drinking whiskey and rye were singing an ode to the late Buddy Holly. If you're not familiar with the songs of Buddy Holly and want a taste of their inspiration, start with "That'll Be the Day" because this song points back to it directly. After that, check out "Words of Love", "Not Fade Away", "Maybe Baby", "Everyday", "Peggy Sue", "Oh Boy", and "Rave On" among many others.
this is a great tune about American music legends. This song and the song City of New Orleans by Arlo Guthrie are pure American music royalty. Speaks about the people and the country. 2 of my fave songs. Piece from Canada.
Arlo Guthrie and Woody Guthrie too were fantastic. I saw Arlo at the Philadelphia Folk Festival years ago.
@@3DJapan Steve Goodman actually wrote City of New Orleans and Arlo being a good friend, turned it into the hit it is.
"The City of New Orleans" by John Prine, sir.
@@deeberwill51 Sorry, Dude. Steve Goodwin wrote City of New Orleans. Grew up in Chicago and was lucky to see both of them perform live many times. Stevie wrote the song.
@@olathestanwalker6717 No, I'm the sorry one. I KNOW that Steve Goodman wrote it too. Must be some kind of Immediate Need to Reply Overreaction Syndrome.
The song is a story of two tales and the expression of the time when the three big music stars died in 1959.. He is reflecting on the prosperity from the early 50's to the 70's; the space race, the impact of TV vs. Radio and in general growth of the life in America and the change of music to come. The simple life was changing.
Arguably the greatest piece of music ever written lyrically. Pure poetry.
Love this song. Still have
my vinyl LP here in Australia. I still remember, like most, every single word. Brilliant song - and Album.
The day Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash,
and the subsequent history of rock and roll.
References to the beatles, the stones, the byrds, joplin, hendrix, morrison, dylan & many others.
Thanks for doing this song! As James Harper pointed out, there are a lot of musical references in this song. Bob Dylan is "The Jester" "Buddy Holly had a song called "That'll Be The Day" and the line was "That'll Be the Day That I Die" and he died on a plane crash with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper back in the 60's. The Beatles are mentioned in it too. Not that this song is anywhere near the level of American Pie but back in the 70's and 80's on Thanksgiving at 3PM most radio stations would play "Alice's Restaurant" by Arlo Guthrie and it's just a guy with his guitar telling a funny story that you guys would get a kick out of if you ever get a chance!
This song is full of musical references, but a lot of them are very subtle, most people are only familiar with the one referring to the plane crash. Another example, the girl who "sang the Blues" is referring to Janis Joplin. You could almost pick out a new reference each time you listen to the song if you are familiar with the music from that time.
The music died when Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and several others died in an airplane accident.
Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on the plane too, but he gave his seat up.
Speaking of the Big Bopper, try his song “Chantelle Lace.” I play it when I pick my wife up sometimes.
By the way, when asked what the song was about, Don McLean said, “It means I will never have to work again.”
Waylon Jennings played bass for Buddy Holly.
This song is about the tragic death of three well known musicians who died in a plane accident. They were all flying to the same performance when their plane went down. When he says the part about not remembering if he cried when he read about his widowed bride it refers to all their wives. Loosing all the performers at one time was like the music dying.
Several songs in one was a good summation because it referenced so many points in both musical and cultural history. Kennedy's widow, maybe Russia's Lennon reading Carl Marx, Maybe Helter Skelter referring to Manson. So many possibilities.
One of the all time great songs. This is one of those songs that had an immediate impact on me the first time I heard it.
To understand the story of Ritchie Valens who died in the plane crash along with Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper, watch the 1987 movie La Bamba starring Lou Diamond Phillips.
I would absolutely love it when you guys reacted on "Vincent"!!!
Yes "Vincent" is a must hear.
@@philmiller5401 indeed!
Yes about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, big bopper, the LA Bamba singer Richie valens. But it also talks about the rock culture of the 60s into the 70s and R&B coming into prominence. You have to take all the clues he gives you. Even the the part that mentions the hells angel killing of the black man at the rolling Stones concert.
I appreciate all the music y’all react to because I grew up on all these old tunes.
Do y’all think you’ll ever do a playlist on all the music y’all grew up on?
I would love to hear that playlist to see how many of those songs I remember growing up on. ✌️❤️🤘
the loss of innocence...the song is designed to set your perspective wandering over lifes meaning...you fill in your own wants, needs, failures and achievements.That is why this song has such longevity and always will. It sets loose the philosopher in us.
Even without knowing the events referenced the tone emerges regardless.
The only thing that changed for me with age and knowledge is an understanding of the context.
Truly a classic song.
Don has said in interviews that this is a tribute to buddy holly who died in a plane crash with a couple other artists. He said he cried for two years after buddy holly died.
Cool, I used to sing this song at karaoke, it's the longest one in the catalog. I went to the record store and bought this 45rpm single in 1972. It's about when Buddy Holly died, Elvis is the King, Bob Dylan is the jester, Janis Joplin is the girl who sang the blues , Mick Jagger is Jack flash. In 1980 when John Lennon died I felt like that. Keep rocking brothers and sisters ✌️🤘
Brother Gary
I've read/heard/googled that the king was actually Peter Seger and the queen is Joan Baez. These were the two big names in folk at the time early '60's. During the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, Dylan was honored to play his own set and then combine with these two legends to sing his song "Blowin' in the Wind. And he "stole the crown", meaning he took over as the biggest name in folk music from that point on.
@@marcmarc1967 - also Dylan was in a very bad motorcycle wreck in the late 60s, which might be a clue to why the jester was "on the sidelines in a cast".
During 6th grade we had a guitar class and after we finished the basics and played mary had a little lamb, we immediately jumped to this song. We were constantly shown the history of the song and Don Mclean himself and always listened to it as we played. It made learning this beautiful song a breeze and I adore hearing it whenever it rarely comes on the radio.
"Like being in a pub...." BOOM! lol, do you know for how long this has been a party and pub song? About 40 years we've been singing this one - even at weddings! Nailed it Lex.
The song takes us from the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in February 1959 through the tumultuous 1960's decade. Occasionally, Mclean has given some insight - The "Jester" refers to Bob Dylan. "While the King was looking down, the Jester stole his thorny crown" - when Elvis went into the service and Buddy Holly had died, Bob Dylan became a huge star/influence. The Sergeants/Marching Band - The Beatles and Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album that moved pop/rock music away of ritual dance music and made it "something to be listened to". Jack Flash references the Rolling Stones and Altamont, Helter Skelter - the Manson Family murders, two of the nails in the coffin of the hippie movement. The Girl who sang the Blues - Janis Joplin. The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost references Martin Luther King Jr., John F. Kennedy and Bobby Kennedy and the loss of America's innocence.
There's nothing like being in a small bar or pub when the band on stage covers this song. Absolutely everyone sings along, loudly, waving their beers (whiskey n' rye) in the air to the music.
Check out Buddy Holly “That’ll Be the Day” and you’ll some of the symmetry McLean uses. Also the song “Killing Me Softly” is about watching Don McLean live
Good reaction video!!! I had the opportunity to visit the crash site where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper died. It is a small shrine in the middle of a corn field. People are allowed by the land owners to visit the site, but it is about a 1/2 walk on a well-maintained trail. Also, where you park, there is a rather LARGE set of iconic Buddy Holly glasses. I have a friend whose wife grew up about a 1/2 mile east of the parking area. he tells me that she was about 8 years old when Buddy Holly's plane crashed. She also goes on to say that where she lived, there was a pole in her yard with a light on it that her father would keep on at night until bed time and that her father would turn off religiously because electricity was so expensive back then. She says for whatever reason her father forgot to tun off that light that night and that it was snowing hard. She says that later that night they heard the sound of an approaching aircraft that sounded to be too low, then the tone of the engine suddenly changed as it got over her house then disappeared. In the morning, the news of the plane crash spread and her father was one of the first people to arrive at the crash site. Investigators think that when the family heard the noise of the approaching plane and then the sudden change in engine tone, that the pilot was aware of some type of malfunction and was looking for a place to crash land when suddenly, the snow storm cleared just enough for the pilot to notice that light on and her house and tried his best to regain control of that plane. They think had the light been turned off as usual that the plane most likely would have crashed into her house, thus causing more casualties. Whenever I hear his song anymore, I always think of her story.
My understanding is that the pilot was not instrument rated and had no business flying in that weather.
U have to know alot of music history to understand this song. To start of with this is talking about the death of the Big Bopper, Richie Valenz and Buddy Holly in a plane crash. However its talking about several things that were happening in those days. Things like the Space Race, The Beatles, Karl Marx, Kennedy, Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band, Rolling Stones, the Jester (Bob Dylan had broken his leg in a motorcycle accident), Charlie Manson and several more references. But it was also a commentary on the changing cultural landscape (the girl that smiled and turned away)
Don McLean also wrote "Vincent" about artist Vincent Van Gogh. It is hauntingly beautiful. Watch a live video version if you can. I like it at least as much as American Pie. Thanks for all of your reactions.
Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson Jr. (The Big Bopper) all died in a plane crash February 3, 1959. Known as 'the day the music died'. Don McLean's classic song "American Pie" is partially about how that day affected him.
Now ya need to dig down into the explanation of the lyrics of this song . . . . . it's a history lesson.
This song is an impressionistic tribute to the times Don Mclean grew up in. The same times I grew up. It's an anthem of the age, a great song.
There was an open air bar in Vail, CO where the house band would play this pretty much once every night on the weekends. The bar would be packed, and there would be people crowded around it outside with everyone singing along.
The song is about the 10 years between Buddy Holly's death (February 1959) and when he started writing the song (1969). Each verse is more or less set in a different year.
I always find it kind of funny when reactors are like "but where could we have heard this before?" when they're listening to extremely famous songs. This is the kind of song that you could easily have heard, like, in a grocery store while shopping. You may have even heard it many times and just never paid attention before because it was basically background music. Songs as famous and family friendly as this one get played everywhere. Stores, dentist offices, office buildings, movies, TV shows. You could have heard this literally anywhere.
I always thought it was about the Kennedy assassinations as well. The rest of the references make sense
This song is a chronicle of the '60s music, from the death of Buddy Holly/Frankie Valens/ The Big Bopper in a plane crash, to references of Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Beatles, Mick Jagger, and growing up with the Cold War.
Ritchie
I think when he said, "We all got up to dance, buy we never had the chance" refers to VietNam. As in this generation never had a chance to enjoy youth and instead got called in to that goddamn war. Some of those veterans came back as 20 year old middle agers that carried those memories forever. God bless them.
Absolutely love this song! My mother passed on the 50th anniversary of the the plane crash that took Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper from us. Which now tha I look is kind of fitting since she was a big fan of 50's music. Y'all need to check out Buddy Holly and Richie Valens they are some of the grandfathers of Rock N Roll.
You guys are so young. Don was singing about the loss of The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly.
I remember listening to Modonna's version of American pie and my dad heard it and said the original is better. I didn't even know it was a cover until he told me. So then I got on limewire and downloaded this version and have loved it ever since.
Nice
Oh shit😆. You found it on limewire and now I’m a dusty old fart.
Madonna's version is pure trash. Weird Al's parody was better.
"The Day the Music Died" was referring to the Day an Airplane Crashed Carrying Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Others. They were the Biggest Names in Rock and Roll at the time . They all Perished.
What would today equivalent be? If 3 modern artists perished in a plane crash.
@@PHILPOP2 No one of today are Icons like Holly, Bopper and Valens, they were completely transforming music. There has been no new transforming since The Sex Pistols(punk), although Los Saicos from Peru were the first true Punk Band, by a Decade, and hip hop with Bill Curtis and the Fatback Band's "King Tim III", which predated Sugarhill's Gang "Rappers Delight", although Sugarhill did create the bigger buzz. Since then music has been a wasteland for new music Icons. In only my humble opinion.
@@toddstevens13 agreed but todays kids will look back on today differently than us.
@@PHILPOP2 Very true I am sure, that is why most younger reactors are at times amazed, confused, clueless, as they just never get to hear/see the incredibleness of my era anyway, when I was a teenager, young adult.
@@toddstevens13 I don’t know if I agree with all you said, but I admire the depth of your thinking on the subject.
This one is hard-core sentimental. Used to sing myself to sleep as a toddler with this song. According to my parents it's the first song I learned the lyrics to a tee. I couldn't even sing "Twinkle Twinkle" or "ABC's" correctly, but this song I have know the lyrics forever it seems.
I still shed tears every time I hear it. Hence the biography comment prior to watching your reaction.
There is so much in this song it blows me away every time, including capturing Mick Jagger perfectly in the Devil.
American Pie debuted on 12/11/71...50 years ago! It was on Billboard's Top 100 for 14 weeks, peaking on 1/15/72 at # 1
for 3weeks.
In the early morning hours of February 3, 1959, three performers - Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson - joined their pilot Roger Peterson for what was supposed to be a flight to their next tour stop. But the passengers and their pilot never made it to their destination. Instead, the four were involved in a deadly crash that took the lives of all aboard. This tragedy has been remembered as “The Day the Music Died.”
And a close call for Waylon Jennings.
ok I'm going three deep... but this song means alot to me - It also eludes to the way music can inspire nostalgia, sound and smell are actually the most powerful senses when we're trying to recall the feeling associated with a memory (it's one of the best ways to discern a false memory from a real one). Fun fact, my girlfriend in university was chinese (should say we were studying psychology), she was 1 year ahead of me and had to go back to China when her studies finished and we were both fairly heartbroken. This song inspired me to craft a plan for the last three weeks we had together: I played it low key wherever I could, in the car, in the shower.. especially tried to work it in whenever I could tell she was having a particularly good time with me, not loud enough to become annoying but not quite quiet enough to be entirely ignored, I even learned it on guitar and had her sing along when she'd had one too many glasses of Guinness. She loved the smell of lavender, so I had a lavender air freshener in the car, I had lavender candles knocking about, basically ingrained the song and smell into her head as often as I could but without it being obvious. Then when she went away and we knew we'd never see each other again I got her a music box which had lavender scented pauperize and played this song in monotone with a little Asian cat dancing around a scratching post (if you're not already feeling sick, I often called her Xiao Mao Mi which is 'kitten' in Chinese), told her not to open it until her birthday which was two months away at the time. Anyway, it had the desired effect, couldn't think of a more perfect song to inspire feelings of nostalgia... can't help but think she's probably going to either have to throw it away at some point or have some awkward conversations with any future boyfriends she has though xDD
This is one of the few songs I can pinpoint exactly what I was doing when I first heard it. I was in seventh grade laying in bed listening to my am radio. Back then the disc jockeys were big time and I remember the guy saying try this song on and let me know what you think. It later became a huge hit.
Ironically, I'm old enough to remember exactly where I was when I first heard about that fateful plane crash.
There’s a great video on this song that explains things, pretty much lyric for lyric.
This song is essentially about America losing its innocence in the 15 or so years from the late 50’s to the early 70’s, using the songs, musicians, political leaders & icons of the age as metaphor. It looks back at the country during this era, while simultaneously celebrating & mourning the passing of a very particular place & time in American history.
Bit of trivia……. The guy who wrote the song “Killing Me Softly With His Song” wrote it after he had seen Don MacLean in concert in London, especially the song “Empty Chairs.” McLean is one of the great story tellers, along with Dylan, Harry Chaplin and Cat Stevens……..
The line in the chorus, " This'll be the day that I die", is in reference to Buddy Holly's song, " That'll be the day". The whole song is a masterpiece of musical references, as many have pointed out here. There are probably college courses dedicated to this song alone.
“Father, Son, Holy Ghost”: JFK, RFK, MLK
“We sang dirges in the dark”: Dirges are funeral songs.
“And a voice that came from you and me”
1960s civil rights protest song
The three men reference could also be to the Jesus movement that took the West Coast during that Era and became the roots for Christian rock and Contemporary.
I long heard this song was about the death of Buddy Holly and some other musicians who I can't remember the name of, they died in a plane crash, but I'm almost certain the song was written before the crash... I think it's just an ode to nostalgia and how music moves us as human beings. Hey you should check out some Buddy Holly though Peggy Sue is my favorite, Heartbeat is up there, but he's got plenty of bumpers.
The others who died were Richie Valenz and the Big Bopper.
@@foxchasejrt1 yes, thank you for reminding me
I remember my mum telling me that the song was about crash and u have the line the day the music in song but not 100% sure if story was true or not
When I was a kid in the early 70's, I used to deliver newspapers with my transistor radio. When this came on, I was one happy paperboy!
When I told my children that my Dad allowed us to stay up and watch The Beatles first performance on The Ed Sullivan Show in America singing "She Loves you, Yeah, Yeah Yeah", in 1964, and then just 5 years later...after the assassinations of JFK, RFK, and MLK...we had Woodstock, they were blown away! It was a fast paced, tragic moving from American values and such, to a push for Socialism and Cancel culture, now. But, it happened so fast! We were trying so hard to all come together, and now .... Good is bad and Bad is good, and everything is upside down. Bye bye Miss American Pie.
One of the US's national anthems, - a magnificent piece of writing, playing, and singing (better than that fawning-over-a-banner song, by ten thousand country miles)! ✌️😄
I never looked deeply into its meaning. I thought it simply was about a bloke missing out on a girl whilst a young man, & life was a little disappointing after that, and that the song was nostalgic. Magical realism, not allegory.
This is a VERY Heavy Song. For example, "Helter Skelter in a Summer Swelter" refers to The Manson Murders in 1969 "Eight Miles High and Falling Fast" refers how Drug Culture helped to kill The Hippie Dream. This thing is packed with references to numerous things - all cloaked in Poetic Imagery. It's A Classic 😉👍
And, specifically, those two things are also respectively references to the Beatles song Helter Skelter and the Byrds album 8 Miles High.
Loved the reaction! Now that you've listened to the original, you should check out Home Free's a cappella cover from earlier this year featuring Don Mclean himself. Sooooo good. The video is awesome, too.
Wow!! Thanks to all the other commenters! I had no idea what this song was about but I loved loved loved it as a preteen when it came out! Thank you peoples!! 💜🔥✌🏼
Another wave of melancholy. Still live this song. I remember where I was when I heard this one. I loved his voice.
8 minutes, OMG, too late now. Was very well worth listening to. This is almost a one hit wonder, McLeans others known mostly by his FANS, but this one actually was one of the most requested songs of all times. As everyone said this is full of references to what was happening in music at the time, "the birds were eight miles high and falling fast," The Byrds had a song called, "Eight Miles High." The song has a ton of meaning to us old school, and when you are old school yourself, you will have little meaningless things that mean a lot to you and you will get it.
I guarantee you every kid from the 70s learned all the words to that song by heart. I can still sing the whole thing today.
I'm an 80's kid and know this song by heart. It is tremendous!
What better way to celebrate this song than to do reactions to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens & the Big Bopper ? Someday, I hope you have the time. Thank you for your reactions.
Thanks for reaching out to the world with your videos. Love to celebrate em with you.
A lot of pop culture references in this one. Lex hit on some of them. I would suggest a little research if interested. I know the Jester references Bob Dylan, the girl who sang the blues is Janis Joplin. The day the music died is a common reference to the day Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens died in a plane crash.