I agree with McGrath of Harlow on the images. I am grateful to read all the detailed connections but I do not need the detail to thoroughly enjoy the song.

I thought a "levee" was a formal New Years Day gathering (tails and gowns and all that) hosted by higher mucky-mucks and by invitation only. Drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry (nothing for ordinary folk) The good old boys (higher mucky-mucks) drinking whiskey and rye had it all.

Regardless, what a great song. I remember, somewhere around 1970? a group of university students at Queens in Kingston, ON coming back from a rock concert by a band then famous and now forgotten, all excited by the opening act. An unknown singer named Don McLean openned for the rock band and sang American Pie. The band never recovered from the opening act that blew the audience away.