Don McLean: American Pie Meaning

Song Released: 1971

American Pie Lyrics

A long long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while.

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd...

1. anonymous

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   Jan 10th 2011 !⃝

   Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
   (Pot smoke on the quad at Kent State University in Ohio)
   While the Sergeants played a marching tune
   (National Guard called to deal with the war protesters)
   We all got up to dance Oh, but we never got the chance 'Cause the players tried to take the field
   (students continued to protest)
   The marching band refused to yield
   (The Guard began with tear gas and a riot ensued ending in the shooting deaths of 4 students)
   Do you recall what was revealed
   The day the music died (America's youth changed that day forever)
2. bobola

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   Aug 7th 2010 !⃝

   Everyone is correct in asserting the tribute in the song, but the main thing about the song is it is written in dream sequences. Like it is all a dream and one word leads to a whole different dream sequence and it all jumps around like in a dream but is all tied together just like a dream.
3. ReeseAlias

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   Jul 19th 2009 !⃝

   This song was written after Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. It was about how his music was amazing, but after he died there was just something missing in the music industry.
4. anonymous

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   Apr 12th 2009 !⃝

   This song is about buddy holly and how sucky rock has been since his death
5. Whiskey_angel

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   Oct 4th 2008 !⃝

   This site takes the song line by line and explains it really freaking well!!
   
   www.whrc-wi.org/americanpie.htm
6. anonymous

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   Sep 21st 2008 !⃝

   Early on and shortly after the song was released, I saw an interview with McClain on television. I believe it was Dick Cavett or Merv Griffin. McClain was asked directly what the meaning of the song was. His reply? The record company was after him to produce another song, and this is what he came up with. There was no meaning other than free thought being put to paper. Sorry if this pops a few bubbles but it’s the truth. Maybe it’s why McClain has never explained it, because there is no meaning. He could never make up as intricate and mystifying an explanation as that which was created by the collective imaginations of hundreds of minds. Besides, it keeps the song being played and sold. So, his so called “joking” comments about the meaning being that he will never have to work again is actually the truth, not a joke!
7. m320753

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   Sep 9th 2008 !⃝

   This song is definitely not about the Holy Scriptures nor can it be about any thing in the bible. It is about Don's life after the plane crash in Iowa including but not limited to Dylan -the jester-Elvis the king-Janis the girl who sang the blues the Beatles the Marching band (Sgt. Pepper) a lost love in high school. The stones in two instances American Pie a time in the life of the U.S.A. when things were not complicated the 50s and early 60s.and more and more.
8. m320753

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   Sep 9th 2008 !⃝

   I too wrote an essay about this song from the youthful days as a paper bboy in suburban New Rochelle, N.Y. up to the time when he wrote this un believable classic song. It goes from the plane crash in Iowa to teenage crushes from Elvis to the Beatles and stones and the Jester (Dylan) I Would try hitting Don McLean and see all the good interpretations of this song. Incidentally Roberta Flack's "Killing Me Softly is about seeing McLean singing American Pie.
9. anonymous

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   Sep 3rd 2008 !⃝

   I believe this song is a tribute to many celebrities and leaders that have been accidentally killed, assassinated etc. and basically the narrator thinks about all these things that happened while he was a teenager and as he is older it makes him sad to think there is more of this going on around him. Also in the line "I asked a girl for some happy news and she just smiled and turned away" I think he's talking about a girl he proposed to but she just gave him a polite answer and walked away out of his life.

   This interpretation has been marked as poor. view anyway
10. anonymous

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    Mar 29th 2008 !⃝

    I asked my dad about this and he said it makes all sorts of references to rock bands, and everyone said rock n' roll would die. And I think this is from the voice of rock itself.
    
    Signed,
    
    Jackson Porteger
11. anonymous

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    Mar 27th 2008 !⃝

    Part of the mystique of this song is Mclean's silence about what it means. He's joked it means he won't have to work again, and said people wouldn't believe him if he did tell them...
12. anonymous

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    Feb 14th 2006 !⃝

    Another link to a very interesting and unique interpretation of American Pie's lyrics...
    
    www.roytaylorministries.com

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