American Pie

Song American Pie
Artist Don McLean
Album 40 Hits 1970 - 1974

Lyrics

[00:01.82] A long long time ago
[00:04.94] I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
[00:13.36] And I knew if I had my chance
[00:16.86] That I could make those people dance
[00:19.48] And maybe they'd be happy for a while.
[00:26.72] But February made me shiver
[00:30.21] With every paper I'd deliver
[00:33.77] Bad news on the doorstep
[00:37.20] I couldn't take one more step
[00:41.94] I can't remember if I cried
[00:44.81] When I read about his widowed bride
[00:49.81] But something touched me deep inside
[00:54.30] The day the music died
[01:01.97]
[01:04.22] So Bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[01:07.90] Drove my chevy to the levee
[01:11.08] But the levee was dry
[01:13.77] And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
[01:17.95] Singin' this'll be the day that I die
[01:23.50] This'll be the day that I die
[01:30.49] Did you write the Book of Love
[01:32.68] And do you have faith in God above
[01:37.60] If the Bible tells you so
[01:39.48] Do you believe in rock 'n roll
[01:44.34] Can music save your mortal soul
[01:47.71] And can you teach me how to dance real slow
[01:54.08] Well' I know that you're in love with him
[01:57.76] 'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
[02:01.25] You both kicked off your shoes
[02:04.19] Man' I dig those rhythm and blues
[02:08.18] I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
[02:11.49] With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
[02:14.92] But I knew I was out of luck
[02:18.35] The day the music died
[02:24.59] I started singin'
[02:25.78] Bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[02:28.65] Drove my chevy to the levee
[02:30.64] But the levee was dry
[02:32.27] And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
[02:35.51] Singin' this'll be the day that I die
[02:39.63] This'll be the day that I die
[02:43.87]
[02:44.44] Now for ten years we've been on our own
[02:47.93] And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
[02:51.80] But that's not how it used to be
[02:54.86] When the jester sang for the King and Queen
[02:59.97] In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
[03:03.72] And a voice that came from you and me
[03:09.08]
[03:10.39] Oh' and while the King was looking down
[03:14.39] The jester stole his thorny crown
[03:17.63] The courtroom was adjourned
[03:21.19] No verdict was returned
[03:24.00] And while Lennon read a book of Marx
[03:27.87] The quartet practiced in the park
[03:31.17] And we sang dirges in the dark
[03:34.79] The day the music died
[03:40.22]
[03:40.78] We were singing
[03:41.84] Bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[03:44.96] Drove my chevy to the levee
[03:46.90] But the levee was dry
[03:48.46] And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
[03:51.89] Singin' this'll be the day that I die
[03:56.01] This'll be the day that I die
[03:59.44]
[04:01.38] Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
[04:04.18] The Byrds flew off with a fallout shelter
[04:07.55] Eight miles high and falling fast
[04:13.86] It landed foul out on the grass
[04:16.23] The players tried for a forward pass
[04:19.66] With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
[04:23.15] Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
[04:30.58] While the Sergeants played a marching tune
[04:33.70] We all got up to dance
[04:36.82] Oh' but we never got the chance
[04:40.69] 'Cause the players tried to take the field
[04:43.93] The marching band refused to yield
[04:47.55] Do you recall what was revealed
[04:51.05] The day the music died
[04:54.66] We started singing
[04:58.28] Bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[05:01.22] Drove my chevy to the levee
[05:03.21] But the levee was dry
[05:05.02] And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
[05:08.39] Singin' this'll be the day that I die
[05:12.45] This'll be the day that I die
[05:15.44]
[05:17.32] Oh' and there we were all in one place
[05:20.44] A generation Lost in Space
[05:24.31] With no time left to start again
[05:27.55] So come on' Jack be nimble' Jack be quick
[05:32.98] Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
[05:36.41] 'Cause fire is the Devil's only friend
[05:43.15] Oh' and as I watched him on the stage
[05:46.52] My hands were clenched in fists of rage
[05:49.95] No angel born in hell
[05:53.63] Could break that Satan's spell
[05:56.38] And as the flames climbed high into the night
[06:00.31] To light the sacrifical rite
[06:03.74] I saw Satan laughing with delight
[06:07.17] The day the music died
[06:12.67]
[06:13.41] He was singing
[06:14.35] Bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[06:17.47] Drove my chevy to the levee
[06:18.84] But the levee was dry
[06:21.34] And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
[06:24.58] Singin' this'll be the day that I die
[06:28.64] This'll be the day that I die
[06:32.88]
[06:35.00] I met a girl who sang the blues
[06:38.12] And I asked her for some happy news
[06:42.31] But she just smiled and turned away
[06:46.86] I went down to the sacred store
[06:49.98] Where I'd heard the music years before
[06:53.97] But the man there said the music wouldn't play
[07:00.78]
[07:01.96] And in the streets the children screamed
[07:06.20] The lovers cried' and the poets dreamed
[07:09.82] But not a word was spoken
[07:13.19] The church bells all were broken
[07:17.56] And the three men I admire most
[07:21.56] The Father' Son and the Holy Ghost
[07:25.49] They caught the last train for the coast
[07:29.42] The day the music died
[07:36.09] And they were singing
[07:39.15] Bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[07:43.89] Drove my chevy to the levee
[07:46.83] But the levee was dry
[07:49.39] And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
[07:54.81] Singin' this'll be the day that I die
[07:59.81] This'll be the day that I die
[08:05.42] They were singing bye-bye' Miss American Pie
[08:11.91] Drove my chevy to the levee
[08:14.41] But the levee was dry
[08:15.84] Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
[08:18.78] Singin' this'll be the day that I die