DON McLEAN AMERICAN PIE

If you are ‘of a certain age,’ then you are certainly familiar with Don McLean’s ‘American Pie.’

And, if you have ever wondered why someone would “drive a Chevy to the levee,” (and why in the world was the levee dry?) this one’s for you:

Via Guardian: Don McLean sells American Pie manuscript, saying all will be revealed

Don McLean is to auction the original manuscript of American Pie, his elegiac, enigmatic ballad that became a signature song of its era.

The 16 pages of handwritten and typed drafts include notes and deletions for the recording that became a hit after it was released in 1971. It was named a Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts….

McLean, 69, is among the most renowned singer-songwriters of his generation. He said he decided to sell the manuscript on a whim. McLean has admitted the beginning of the more than eight-minute song is about the death of singer Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash with Ritchie Valens and JP Richardson in 1959.

But he has been elusive about the meaning of most of the lyrics, which has heightened interest and led to countless interpretations….

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9 Comments | Leave a comment
  1. pamelarice says:

    Oh, yes, I am “of a certain age”. I knew this song was about Buddy Holly and it will be fun to find out just what was behind some of the lyrics. ♪♫ memories ♫♪, light the corners of my mind…

  2. Alain41 says:

    Better not mean Rosebud.

  3. Dave says:

    Maybe it was prophetic to the current condition of the USA. Bye, Bye Miss American Pie.

  4. RedeemtheTime says:

    Thanks Shifra …. finally I will be able to sleep at night

  5. Teri says:

    A classic I will never tire hearing. EVER ! The under 40 crowd don’t quite get it like us baby boomers do 🙂 Don’s a very clever songwriter.

  6. naga5 says:

    I am of that certain age. I also love that song Starry, Starry Night that he did.

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