ONE OF THE BEST SINGLES TO EXIST?! First Time Hearing Don McLean - American Pie Reaction!

The music 'died' in Feb 1959 when the Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. Thereafter, the rock-n-roll those three stars created also 'died'. The music changed dramatically in the 1960s and the old rock-n-roll style simply disappeared from the airwaves. American Pie just refers to American culture, generally. He outlines the impact of the great bands and artists of the 1960s--referring to them with euphemisms (like 'the Jester'), and his reaction to them. He then mentions when the generation were all in one place, lost in space, (Woodstock), and how that marked the end of the era.

This is an absolute classic, the theme of "the day the music died" resonates on several levels, even beyond the one of a tale of early rock greats dying in a plane crash. The song, in a nutshell, is about an end of an era that essentially started with that plane crash, a loss of innocence in American culture, an innocence lost and scarred by JFK being assassinated, social strife, racism running rampant, riots in cities, protests and war and a complete disillusionment of the youth and American culture. "For 10 years we've been on our own" is the first clue about this song, its all about the turbulent 60's, an the innocence of the 50's era dying.

I'm always tickled when younger people attempt to "figure it out" before they learn all the backstory. Then all of a sudden....ohhhh ..but no fault of anyone. Just us old folks getting a smile out of sharing our history. You 2 make me smile. Thanks

When Don McLean was asked what this song meant, his standard answer was that it meant he didn't have to work anymore.

Many years ago I listened to a radio program that examined the song line by line. I've forgotten most of it, but a few things that stood out to me were: "The Jester" was Bob Dylan, "The King" whose crown he stole was Elvis. "The Sacred Store" was a drug store - long ago Drug Stores had a "Soda fountain" in them where teens would gather and there was usually a juke box there playing music.The whole "Devil" and fire portion was about the Rolling Stones and perhaps a few other bands that had darker songs. "No Angel born in Hell", at a concert in California the Rolling Stones infamously hired members of the "Hell's Angel's" biker club for security and at least one person died as a result. "The girl who sang the Blues" was Janis Joplin. If you liked his voice and writing skills in theis song you need to listen to "Vincent" from the same album. Absolutely beautiful and moving song. Edit to add: I almost forgot, "The Marching band" and "The Sergeants" were the Beatles.

"Day the Music Died" = 1959 plane crash (Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, Richie Valens) "Jester" = Bob Dylan "Jester on the sidelines in a cast"= Bob Dylan appears in the "cast of characters" on the Sgt. Pepper album on the side. "King" = Elvis "Quartet" = Beatles "The Byrds" = The Byrds. Eight miles high was one of their songs. "Sweet Perfume" = smell of marajuana "Marching band refused to yield" - Beatles were top of the charts thru '60's "Devil" - Mick Jagger "Girl who sang the blues" = Janis Joplin "Father, Son & The Holy Ghost" = John Kennedy, Robt. Kennedy & Martin Luther King

"Vincent" is another one of his great songs. Also a history lesson that touches on human suffering and mental health. Just fantastic!

When you do find the meaning i think you will realize how great a poet and songwriter Don McLean really was. Even if someone never understands it all, it is still a great song that will forever be loved by millions. Great writer, Great singer. He wrote the story of Rock and Roll and the story of an exciting generation of change. In my old age and now understanding it, a few tears stream down my cheeks. It makes you laugh and may make you cry. Thanks for playing it. I am over seventy now, but still love this one. It tells so much of the era of my teenage years.

If ever there was a song written where the lyrics should NOT be taken literally, it’s this one. Every word drips with symbolism. Love this song. Makes me cry almost every time. Another song by Mr McLean is called Vincent. Please listen to this one, as well. Thank you.

This is the history of rock and roll, and the American culture, in 8 minutes. Buddy Holly was one of the early rockers, died in 1959, in the plane crash. There's also mrntion of James Dean, the actor, died young in the same time frame; the Beatles, Elvis, the Byrds, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan. A short answer is that these were the figures who influrnced HIM as he was growing up.

What amazes me the most is how visionary Don McLean was, in realizing that his music contemporaries (The Beatles, Dylan, The Stones, etc) were so important that he portrayed them as mythology

"Vincent" is a must from Don Mclean a true tribute to a great artist.

The best way to think about this song is as a musical scrapbook of the early Rock & Roll era.

One of Buddy Holly's biggest hits was "That'll Be The Day (when I die)", a line that Mclean used to build the famous chorus in American Pie around...

This is one of the greatest classic songs ever written. It's meaning has been debated and discussed since the the release of the song in 1971.

I have this song memorized. Have listened to it for 53 years.

Once you learn what this song is about, you will want to immediately listen to it again.

The critics loved this song when it first came out and lauded Don McLean as a songwriting musical genius and rightfully so. This is a masterpiece!

I was in high school when this song came out. All of us in my class could recite every word of these lyrics.

This is one of the top 5 songs in the history of Rock and Roll. The lyrics are genius! People have written Master's Thesis on what it means, there is incredible depth to every line. The music is timeless. Catchy yet whimsical, upbeat and slowed down. Very few songs come close to this masterpiece!