What is your interpretation of American Pie?

Question

Don McLean's song has been a topic of discussion among music listeners for years. Until recently, I thought it was only a literal song about a guy with a Chevy and some apple pie, but recently I've heard a lot more interpretations of the jester and the king and the queen and the white sports coat and the song in general. How do you think the song should be interpreted?

Answer 1

This website seems to dissect the song for interpretation:

http://www.mbhs.edu/~bconnell/cty/american-pie-FAQ.txt

Answer 2

THe song has been definetely tied to the death of Buddy Holly, but I interpret it about Kennedy being shot (Jacky is Miss American Pie) and the Vietnam war. THe world was turning over inside out, civil unrest and those sitting by the levee was afraid tomorrow they had to go to Vietnam war. It was a song when the Ideal 50's was gone and everything America use to mean died.
I loved that song.

Answer 3

It's about Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" (J.P. Richardson, Jr.). It also makes references to other artists.

Bob Dylan: When he mentions the jester, king and queen.

Rolling Stones: When he sings about clenching his fists in rage, McLean was talking about the Altamont concert, where some of the Hell's Angels beat a black man to death.

Beatles: Marching band (Sgt. Pepper's).

He mentions a lot of other things, and Wikipedia covers it well. I would have put more in, but I'll just give you the link.

Answer 4

I don't know about the symbolism, in general, but he wrote the song as a response to the death of Buddy Holly. Or at least his emotional reaction to the death of Buddy Holly.

I'm not sure of the chronology, but I think he actually wrote it some years after the actual event. The symbols he uses in the song, I think, are likely representative of his feelings on the subject, since he apparently admired Buddy Holly greatly.

Answer 5

Short story (as I've always heard it) - the day Buddy Holly died.
McLean ties in a lot of then-current pop musicians like the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, the popular use of marijuana.