Don McLean question

Subject: Don McLean question
From: kendall
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:41 AM

A good friend of mine wants to know what McLean had in mind when he wrote American Pie. Who, what was he saying? I'm not a fan so I have no idea. Thoughts?

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: BobKnight
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:49 AM

Even Don McClean won't say - it's all specualation, and that's probably half the fun.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:50 AM

When someone once asked him what American Pie meant, he said it meant he'd never have to work again.

Google it. Loads of entertaining stuff on the meaning of it all!

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Mr Happy
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:50 AM

..........perhaps he'd not eaten for a while?

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Greg F.
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 09:50 AM

February 3, 1959. The plane crash that claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson and the pilot, Roger Peterson

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Deckman
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 10:21 AM

I recall reading the same explaination as "Greg F" just posted. bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Hollowfox
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 11:08 AM

There was a thread on this in 2000 that has everything from annotations of the lyrics' meanings to the origin story I heard when I was living in Saratoga Springs (where it was written). Just put "American Pie" in the search box and set the Wayback for "all".

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 11:11 AM

There are articles online and elsewhere that give extensive analyses, breaking the lyrics down line by line and even word by word, but these are ,of course, little more than figments of the imaginations of the various writers. There isn't any question, though, that the introductory verse ("A long, long time ago...")refers to Buddy Holly's death.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: billhudson
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM

If you listen carefully in the back ground vocals that is Pete singing.
I was living around Beacon,NY at the time and Don use to play for us for the Clearwater festivals. That is where I met Henry The Fiddler and he did a great version of American Pie with Don,never will forget it.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Tug the Cox
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 12:17 PM

In the early 70's, in Amsterdam, pamphlets by 'Moses David' a self proclaimed prophet, had pamphlets claiming it had deep meaning christian messages in it.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: DonMeixner
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 01:16 PM

"American Pie" is said to be the name of the Beachcraft Bonanza that Holly, Vallenz, and Richardson were flying in. The plane is also known as a Doctor Killer by some plane pilots because it was fast, affordable by some(Doctor's and Lawyers), sexy looking, and it wasn't forgiving.

I always thought of the song as a nostalgic time line of music after the death of Buddy Holly. Crique Alley by The Momma's and The Poppas had a similar feel altho' it only documents the history of Mom and Pops.

Don

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Stringsinger
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 03:47 PM

He refers to different periods of pop-rock music history.
1. "Book of Love" by Phil Spector
2. Buddy Holly, Big Bopper and Richie Valens (In those days they didn't drug but drank)
3. Bob Dylan (about the clown part)
4. Altamont (mentions Jumping Jack Flash and anger and Stones)
5. Nostalgia for how it was so nice and simple and uncomplicated then it
      got crazy in the Sixties and Seventies.
Each stanza contains references to how rock progressed.

Of course Don doesn't want to give away the store. Otherwise would you listen to it and try to figure it out?

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: GUEST,Ian Gill
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:08 PM

If your friend enjoys musical riddles get him/her a copy of 'The Last Damm Song In The World' by Bill Caddick. I think Bill's stlii offering a liquid reward to anyone who can identify all the references in that one.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Tangledwood
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:24 PM

The plane is also known as a Doctor Killer by some plane pilots because it was fast, affordable by some(Doctor's and Lawyers), sexy looking, and it wasn't forgiving.

Hmmm, never heard it given that title before and I used to be a part-owner of a V-tail Bonanza. Certainly, it is fast enough for an inexperienced pilot to get into trouble with, just as an inexperienced driver can in a high powered car.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:33 PM

I heard that someone once asked Don Mclean what the song meant, he replied "it means I never have to work another day in my life".

I like that answer.

Bob.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Mick Woods
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 04:33 PM

There is a fantastic analysis of American Pie verse by verse in our own digitrad resource See here

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM

I've just has a deja vu. :-)

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM

had

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 05:37 PM

Sorry Steve, that's what I get for not reading all the posts that have gone before.

Bob.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 06:04 PM

Well, to me it always symbolizes the death of JFK---I know it is about Holly, et al---but still it sets that mood for me---Bye Bye American Pie---though that probably happened after HST left office. The world has changed.

Still- great song and, yes, never having to work again happens to most songwriters who create the one big hit of their lives. Many are honest to admit it ---as is Don M.



Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 05 Nov 09 - 08:02 PM

One big hit? What about this then? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h9ARdPHSBg&feature=related

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Tootler
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 06:04 PM

American Pie,
Vincent
And I Love You So
Castles in the Air
The Grave...

Hmmmm... Not bad for a one hit wonder :-)

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: pdq
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 07:43 PM

On The Amazon

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: kendall
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 08:10 PM

Ok folks. I know as much now as I did when I posted this question!

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Bill H //\\
Date: 07 Nov 09 - 05:18 PM

Sure he had other hits---but like some other writers there is always 1 song that is always a signature piece---I believe his comment about not having to work again amplifies that.

Bill Hahn

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: MissouriMud
Date: 08 Nov 09 - 12:19 PM

Basically just a song about the simple exuberant youthful innocence (both in terms of the times and the youth of those times) of the post WW2 1950's including its very early rock and roll, and the end of that simplicity, exuberance,youth and innocence as life and the music changed, as a factor of growing up with the issues of Civil rights, drugs, Viet Nam etc, with the start of the change symbolized in the song by the loss of several great artists in the 1959 plane crash.   A wonderful set of poetic images of American culture of the 1959 - 1969 decade, many of which probably have several references - but its a heck of a lot of fun, whether you try and analyze them to death or just let them flit by.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: Smedley
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 08:45 AM

I recall that on the 7-inch vinyl single version, it faded out after a few verses/choruses & you had to flip it over to the B-side to pick up the rest of the story. You wouldn't have *that* experience with a CD !!

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: autoharpbob
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 10:55 AM

I know a lady who was in the folk club where Don McLean first aired American Pie. She told him she liked it - but it was too long! Much what the radio stations said too!

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 11:11 AM

If she thought it was too long, she didn't really like it. It only works the way it should when it's all there.

MissouriMud is right, it's about a generation.

The references are just the building blocks. You could have every last reference neatly pinned down, but if you didn't understand the overall story you wouldn't have heard the song.

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 12:55 PM

Some of us were brought up on Crackerjack   CRACKERJACK!

A Don McLean question was usually phrased thus..

McLean?

Yes, I had a bath this morning....

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: MikeT
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 01:06 PM

When Bruce Phillips was in Saratoga for his penultimate time, for a gig at Lena's with the Rose Tatoo, I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours walking around our old haunts with him. The wife of one of the Tatoos was with us, sorry I can't remember her name, and Bruce was recalling old times, old friends, and just telling outrageous stories. I knew they were all true, because I was present for most of them back in the day. One of the best of them involved Don McLean and American Pie. Apparently, after a gig, Don, Bruce and others eventually found their way to the Tin and Lint on Caroline Street. Everyone was very drunk, and Don lay down on a table and passed out while everyone else continued doing what we all did back then. When it was time to leave, Bruce woke Don up, and noticed a bunch of napkins with writing on them scattered about. Bruce thought they might be something Don would want, so he gathered them up and gave them to Don the next morning at Lena's apartment where they were all staying. Bruce recalled that Don had no recollection of writing on the napkins, and what was written there was American Pie. So, if this story is true, who knows what Don was thinking when he wrote it? I personally believe this, all the other stories Bruce told that day were true, and he certainly had no reason to make this one up.

Mike

Subject: RE: Don McLean question
From: GUEST,Allan Connochie
Date: 09 Nov 09 - 03:04 PM

"One hit wonder"

I think it is right that American Pie is his signature tune but in the UK it wasn't his biggest hit. It got to number 2 in the charts whilst both Vincent and his cover of Crying got to number 1