Was the song a sort of protest about the Atomic paranoia of the early 1960's? Who was "the quartet practicing in the park" (the Beatles?) who was the Jester who "stole" the queen's thorny crown? What was this day when the music died?
2007-11-05 19:44:59 · 13 answers · asked by mjlocad 4 in Entertainment & Music ➔ Music ➔ Lyrics
February made me shiver: Holly's plane crashed February 3, 1959.
Them good ole boys were ... singing "This'll be the day that I die": Holly's hit "That'll Be the Day" had a similar line.
The Jester sang for the King and Queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean: ID of K and Q obscure. Elvis and Connie Francis (or Little Richard)? John and Jackie Kennedy? Or Queen Elizabeth and consort, for whom Dylan apparently did play once? Dean's coat is the famous red windbreaker he wore in Rebel Without a Cause; Dylan wore a similar one on "The Freewheeling Bob Dylan" album cover.
With the Jester on the sidelines in a cast: On July 29, 1966 Dylan had a motorcycle accident that kept him laid up for nine months.
While sergeants played a marching tune: The Beatles' "Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band."
And as I watched him on the stage/ my hands were clenched in fists of rage/ No angel born in hell/ Could break that Satan's spell/ And as the flames climbed high into the night: Mick Jagger, Altamont.
I met a girl who sang the blues/ And I asked her for some happy news/ But she just smiled and turned away: Janis Joplin OD'd October 4, 1970.
The three men I admire most/ The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost/ They caught the last train for the coast: Major mystery. Holly, Bopper, Valens? Hank Williams, Elvis, Holly? JFK, RFK, ML King? The literal tripartite deity? As for the coast, could be the departure of the music biz for California. Or it simply rhymes, a big determinant of plot direction in pop music lyrics (which may also explain "drove my Chevy to the levee"). Best I can do for now. Just don't ask me to explain "Stairway to Heaven."
2007-11-05 19:49:46 · answer #1 · answered by rafayel 3 · 10⤊ 0⤋
The day the music died was in 1959 when rock legends Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper lost their Their lives in a plane crash. The widowed bride was Hollys wife. The Beatles were the quartet that practiced in the park. Lennon reading a book on Marx was about John Lennon reading a book about Karl Marx. The girl who sang the blues was about Janis Joplin. While the King was looking down was referring to Elvis Presley and the jester stole his thorny crown was referring to Bob Dylan. Jack Flash sat on a candlestick because fire is the devil's only friend was referring to Mick Jagger. The marching band refused to yield was referring to the Chicago police during the riots. Thats all I can think of at this time without hearing the song. Great song!
2007-11-06 09:26:11 · answer #2 · answered by toughguy2 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The day the music died was the day The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash.
The jester is Bob Dylan, who stole the KING'S crown - Elvis Presley.
The Beatles are the quartet in the park.
The Rolling Stones, Janice Joplin, Peter Paul & Mary, JFK & Jackie O, and others also make cameo appearances in the song...
2007-11-06 03:50:56 · answer #3 · answered by pr0ph3t1cl1v1ty 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The Jester was Bob Dylan, who stole the crown from the king (Elvis)
The quartet in the park is the Beatles last concert at Candlestick Park
2007-11-06 20:10:16 · answer #4 · answered by Rocklyn80 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Oh, a most awesone song.
The day the music died refers to the day of the plane crash in which Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper were killed. More specifically February 3, 1959.
This date has a profound meaning to McLean because it marked a major change in his life:
From his own webpage:
"In Don's life the transition from light (the innocence of childhood) to the darker realities of adulthood probably started with the death of Buddy Holly and culminated with the assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 and the start of a more difficult time for America
The rest of the song Don McLean wanted the listeners to put their own interpretation to.
He said later: "The song was written as my attempt at an epic song about America, and I used the imagery of music and politics to do that."
Check out Don's own webpage, there is some interesting insight into the song:
http://www.don-mclean.com/
2007-11-06 03:59:20 · answer #5 · answered by Yellowstonedogs 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The day Buddy Holly died.
2007-11-07 20:46:29 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Here's the official view on Don McLean's own site
2007-11-06 03:57:27 · answer #7 · answered by Walter W. Krijthe 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Not me. In year 8 our class went on a camp to a location about 6 hours away. One girl had a guitar. All she could play was 'American Pie'- we sang it for 6 hours non stop. I've hated it ever since.
2007-11-06 03:59:15 · answer #8 · answered by chrisviolet4011 4 · 0⤊ 2⤋
Check out the link below. It explains a lot.
2007-11-06 03:50:04 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
the song was in memory of buddy holly after he died in the plane crash
2007-11-06 03:55:42 · answer #10 · answered by fatdadslim 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋