‘American Pie’ has six verses, with seven repetitions of the ‘chorus’ (sometimes referred to as the ‘Refrain’).

My band were the paid Guests a gig at a folk club a few years ago, where a few of the residents were given a two-song floor-spot at the start of the second half. The final floor-spot was given to a local ‘star-turn’, a well-known ‘Strictly Trad’ type, who made it very clear that someone of his ‘stature’ in the local scene should have more than two songs. As time was getting on, and in fairness to the other floor-spotters, he was asked to keep to two songs, which he did - but his second song was ‘Tam Lin’, sung in its entirety. The result was that, due to his selfishness and rude, vengeful behaviour, and in order to finish by 11pm, we had to drop two songs from our second set - no problem as far as we were concerned, other than that the club got, through no fault of ours, less than they paid for.

On the subject of ‘American Pie‘ v. ‘Tam Lin’, I know which of those most invites audience-participation, relates to my life and times the best, and which I’d rather hear any time.