does anyone know the meaning of the words of the song "American Pie" ? what was on Don's mind?

Question

the strangest lyrics.... would love to know the meaning...

Answer 1

American Pie is about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper. The Day of the plane crash (Feburary 3rd 1959) is considered "The Day The Music Died"

Answer 2

All the answers here are not correct. McLean himself has stated on MANY occasions that the song just sounded good, it rhymed well, and of course, it was a hit. It DIDN'T have some deep, dark meaning as so many read into it. It is just a complilation of things from pop culture (includiing various muscial artists) that he weaved into a song. Again, he has stated this over and over. It was NOT specifically about the deaths of Buddy Holly or anyone else, other than the fact he referenced them in the song. These people were merely mentioned in the song and that's it, and as McLean has stated over and over, the song just rhymed and sounded good. He grew weary of people always trying to read other things into the song. By the way, the first poster is off on cloud nine altogether.

Answer 3

The song is about a plane crash killing 3 of Don's favorite childhood musicians.

"The song is an allusive history of rock and roll that starts with the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson, Jr. (The Big Bopper) in a plane crash in 1959, and ends in 1970." -Wikipedia: "American Pie"

"The day the music died" refers to February 3rd, 1959 upon the plane crash's date. While Don was delivering papers (as he did throughout his childhood) he noticed that the 3 had died by a headline in the paper which inspired him to write the song.

Other lyrics in the song are pretty basic, such as "Satan on the sideline in a cast" refers to Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones when he got hurt. Other lyric debates continue to this day but "The day the music died" is self-evident.

Answer 4

Interestingly enough, Don McLean himself has said that even though the song starts off with the death of Buddy Holly, the song describes America as he was seeing it at the time, the song is part reality and part fiction with him as both the narrator and an occasional main character.
**BUT** take a look at the link below-it explains it *all.*

Answer 5

specifically written after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, with a broader meaning about the death of "rock and roll" and the loss of innocence in American culture

Answer 6

Don McLean wrote American Pie with regard to the tragic plane crash that killed Richie Valence (I don't know if I'm spelling his last name right), Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper.

Answer 7

Theres several theoriesbut the most popular is hes talking about the plance crash that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens with that day being 'the day the music died' and them being ''the father son and the holy ghost' and there are mant other artists alledgly referred to.. 'the girl who sang the blues'- janis joplin- 'the jester'- bob dylan etc

Answer 8

He's singing about the plane crash and deaths of The Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly.

Answer 9

As all have stated 3 dead musicians, Miss American Pie Refers to the sign over the diners. we all know what the Levey was after they breached in New Orleans.

Answer 10

rock and roll took a big hit when buddy holly, richy valenzuela and the bopper died in a plane crash - some dj's at the time said it might spell the end of white rock and roll. but it didn't, proving that the movement was here to stay. the song is about rock and roll's resilience, told in allegorical quips (the marching band refused to yield, etc)

considered one of the cornerstone songs in pop history