American Pie

Don McLean - American Pie

(8:31)

97,778 listeners : 479,702 plays

classic rock, 70s, folk, oldies, singer-songwriter… see all

Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one U.S. hit for four weeks in 1972. The song is an abstract story of his life that starts with the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) in a plane crash in 1959, and ends in 1970; in the song he called the plane crash “the day the music died,” which later became a name for the plane crash. The importance of “American Pie” to America’s musical and cultural heritage was recognized by the Songs of the Century education project which listed the song performed by Don McLean as the number five song of the twentieth century.

The song’s lyrics are the subject of much curiosity. Although McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Buddy Holly, none of the singers in the plane crash are identified by name in the song itself. When asked what “American Pie” meant, McLean replied, “It means I never have to work again.”[1] Later, he more seriously stated “You will find many ‘interpretations’ of my lyrics but none of them by me… sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.”[2] Despite this, many fans of Mclean, amongst others, have attempted an interpretation; most agree that many lines make reference to The Beatles (John Lennon particularly), The Rolling Stones (also, possibly, Mick Jagger in particular), The Byrds, Bob Dylan and Janis Joplin.

Albums featuring this track

American Pie
Don McLean
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American Pie - the Greatest Hits
Don McLean
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Rearview Mirror
Don McLean
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The Best of Don McLean
Don McLean
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medusawithglass wrote:
11 hours ago

The day the music died, he couldn't say it more perfectly! losing those gods of rock was the darkest day in rock and roll beginning days

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DanielSSHL wrote:
Tuesday evening

We started singing...

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happy_archer wrote:
9 days ago

Great lyrics and whole song is pretty orgasmic, wonderful tribute to Buddy Holly. I hope the memory about this song and Buddy Holly will last forever.

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tartazinha wrote:
10 days ago

best...best song ever!

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Meatloaf08 wrote:
12 days ago

Lyrically it is the best ever i'm used too long songs now i'll make a list of 1s i like I'd Do Anything for Love Meat Loaf 11:53 Objects in the Rear View Mirror Meat Loaf 10:09 Free Bird 10:02 Bat out of Hell 9:45 Seize the Night Meat Loaf 9:43 Estranged Guns N' Roses 9:19 Homecoming Green Day 9:14 Jesus of Suburbia 9:06 November Rain 8:52 For Crying out Loud Meat Loaf 8:42 American Pie 8:27 Stairway to Heaven 7:58 Us and Them Pink Floyd 7:51 Bohemian Rhapsody 5:54 Sweet Child o' Mine 5:52 and many more

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mastashake69 wrote:
23 days ago

BEST SONG EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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BridgetCash wrote:
25 days ago

<3

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SaveMantha wrote:
26 days ago

It is almost impossible to get tired with this song...'tis awesome.

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THE--DOYLE wrote:
26 days ago

This is pretty much my favourite song ever, want it played at my funeral

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Modzio666 wrote:
28 days ago

best lyrics ever

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Meatloaf08 wrote:
last month

2 years ago when i heard a really long song i complained about the lengths then i got used to them i don't mind them now infact in iTunes iv'e got over 80 songs over 7:00 i must be used to them songs that i thought were very long are This 8:27 Us and Them Pink Floyd 7:51 several by Meat Loaf and more

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oWakOo wrote:
last month

"I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride..." Beatiful...

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rotfrauke wrote:
last month

One of my super favourite songs. I love it!!!!! And only this original is really good.

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VITE2000 wrote:
last month

w l'originale

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dbgirl wrote:
last month

"dbgirl, does db stand for deafblind?" No, it doesn't. I guess you can't read? As did I mention earlier, this is better version. But nostalgia is some wicked little thing: it can make a crappy song into a good song. But again, if you didn't understand: Don McLean's American Pie is so much better than the other version I'm not allowed to mention in the same sentence. And by the way, db stands for David Bowie.

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crazyrabidfox wrote:
last month

Awesome tribute to three people who gave us what no one else could... their souls and songs

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kisielek-BKD wrote:
June 2008

Milion przekmin na sekundę... Kocham to... :)

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marcy9508 wrote:
June 2008

Great singer ,had alot of great times during these years.

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muncyl wrote:
June 2008

The Day the Music Died February 3, 1959... RIP Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, Your music will live forever.

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frogking07 wrote:
June 2008

A great tribut to Buddy Holly

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