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05 Nov 09 - 09:41 AM (#2760094) Subject: Don McLean question From: kendall 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? |
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05 Nov 09 - 09:49 AM (#2760102) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: BobKnight Even Don McClean won't say - it's all specualation, and that's probably half the fun. |
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05 Nov 09 - 09:50 AM (#2760103) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Steve Shaw 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! |
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05 Nov 09 - 09:50 AM (#2760104) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Mr Happy ..........perhaps he'd not eaten for a while? |
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05 Nov 09 - 09:50 AM (#2760105) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Greg F. 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 |
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05 Nov 09 - 10:21 AM (#2760126) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Deckman I recall reading the same explaination as "Greg F" just posted. bob(deckman)Nelson |
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05 Nov 09 - 11:08 AM (#2760161) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Hollowfox 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". |
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05 Nov 09 - 11:11 AM (#2760164) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: GUEST 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. |
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05 Nov 09 - 12:02 PM (#2760199) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: billhudson 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. |
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05 Nov 09 - 12:17 PM (#2760207) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Tug the Cox 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. |
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05 Nov 09 - 01:16 PM (#2760244) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: DonMeixner "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 |
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05 Nov 09 - 03:47 PM (#2760340) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Stringsinger 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? |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:08 PM (#2760352) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: GUEST,Ian Gill 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. |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:24 PM (#2760369) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Tangledwood 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. |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:33 PM (#2760377) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Bob Hitchcock 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. |
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05 Nov 09 - 04:33 PM (#2760378) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Mick Woods There is a fantastic analysis of American Pie verse by verse in our own digitrad resource See here |
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05 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM (#2760395) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Steve Shaw I've just has a deja vu. :-) |
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05 Nov 09 - 05:16 PM (#2760396) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Steve Shaw had |
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05 Nov 09 - 05:37 PM (#2760411) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Bob Hitchcock Sorry Steve, that's what I get for not reading all the posts that have gone before. Bob. |
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05 Nov 09 - 06:04 PM (#2760433) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Bill H //\\ 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 |
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05 Nov 09 - 08:02 PM (#2760500) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Steve Shaw One big hit? What about this then? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4h9ARdPHSBg&feature=related |
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06 Nov 09 - 06:04 PM (#2761169) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Tootler American Pie, Vincent And I Love You So Castles in the Air The Grave... Hmmmm... Not bad for a one hit wonder :-) |
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06 Nov 09 - 07:43 PM (#2761224) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: pdq On The Amazon |
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06 Nov 09 - 08:10 PM (#2761235) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: kendall Ok folks. I know as much now as I did when I posted this question! |
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07 Nov 09 - 05:18 PM (#2761747) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Bill H //\\ 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 |
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08 Nov 09 - 12:19 PM (#2762154) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: MissouriMud 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. |
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09 Nov 09 - 08:45 AM (#2762688) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: Smedley 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 !! |
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09 Nov 09 - 10:55 AM (#2762783) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: autoharpbob 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! |
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09 Nov 09 - 11:11 AM (#2762794) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: McGrath of Harlow 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. |
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09 Nov 09 - 12:55 PM (#2762865) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: GUEST,Steamin' Willie 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.... |
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09 Nov 09 - 01:06 PM (#2762879) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: MikeT 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 |
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09 Nov 09 - 03:04 PM (#2762947) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: GUEST,Allan Connochie "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 |
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28 Nov 11 - 02:57 PM (#3264955) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: catspaw49 One more post in the category of Don McLean and "American Pie" crap that doesn't really matter a ratshit: SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) — Don McLean says "American Pie" was written in Philadelphia, not the upstate New York bar that has long laid claim to it. The Post-Star of Glens Falls (http://bit.ly/s2VIMR ) says the 66-year-old singer and songwriter tells the newspaper that contrary to local lore, he didn't write the song on cocktail napkins at the Tin and Lint in Saratoga Springs. He also says the first time he performed the song wasn't at Caffe Lena (LEE'-nuh), a famous coffeehouse around the corner from the bar. McLean says he wrote "American Pie" in Philadelphia and performed it for the first time at Temple University. "American Pie" hit No. 1 in the Billboard charts in late 1971. Spaw |
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28 Nov 11 - 07:07 PM (#3265083) Subject: RE: Don McLean question From: GUEST,banjopicker I think it means a wide mojoirty of things Buddy Holly,Big Bopper Plane crash, JFK. The the world of rock and some of the things that went on during the period. I also think that it was his attempt at writing a topical song. He was one of Lee Hays ( weavers) helpers when Lee's health got to bad to do some of the things around his house ect |