Gloomy Don McLean reveals meaning of ‘American Pie’ — and sells lyrics for $1.2 million

[loyalsister]

This is so interesting because all of the literal references easily throw you off. I didn't catch all of the Vietnam references before. His explanations makes it more relevant today than ever.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/08/gloomy-don-mclean-reveals-meaning-of-american-pie-and-sells-lyrics-for-1-2-million/?tid=sm_fb

[Stardust]

1. Vietnam references?

When this song came out, I became obsessed with it and spent days transcribing it when I'd catch it on the radio. But I still don't get the references to Vietnam...

[loyalsister]

8. The marching band= military

The players are the young people trying to make change. This video is a really interesting take, especially with McClean's comments in mind.

[Zorra]

2. Nostalgia for the racist, sexist, homophobic good ol' days of the 50's?

Meh.

Old, straight, white conservative men everywhere sing along and cry in their Budweiser when American Pie plays on the jukebox.

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. Yeah? Well, aging white liberals like the song too.

Try standing outside of yourself for a minute--you might see just how crass you sound.

Meh.

[Rex]

5. LOL! They are famous counter-culture songs from that era!

Said poster seems to be going overboard or does not know that.

That's like saying Lenny Bruce is Dennis Miller.

[Rex]

4. No actually that is a famous counter-culture song of that era.

So was Bob Dylan's Rolling Stone. So is Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi.

They in no way glorify the racist, sexist, homophobic good old days.

[Zorra]

18. LOL! Rex, I was playing and singing "Like a Rolling Stone" in 1966. I prefer

Jimi's version personally.

Like a Rolling Stone is a counterculture song.

American Pie is a hooky, fun little mainstream pop tune but it was/is definitely not a counterculture song.

Here's me and some old friends from back in the day doing a cover of a real counterculture tune.

[Rex]

20. Ha! Awesome video!

Well I will defer to you that is of greater age than I.

[bullwinkle428]

16. Old, straight white conservative men love this song the way they loved the use of

"Born in the USA" by the Reagan campaign!

[Kelvin Mace]

27. Bingo!

They sing the lyrics, but don't listen to them.

[pinboy3niner]

28. Like when Romney was played onstage at a Bachmann rally to 'Fortunate Son'

I guess somebody heard "that red, white and blue" and figured it was a good, patriotic anthem for him.

[Kelvin Mace]

29. The prize winner for me was a car with bumper stickers

declaring the driver's anti-immigrant views that was blaring Neil Diamond's America. The driver and his passengers were rocking out and singing along.

[pinboy3niner]

30. Oy!

On my old mix tape I put that song right next to Born in the U.S.A.

[octoberlib]

6. He was prescient.

“People ask me if I left the lyrics open to ambiguity,” McLean said in an early interview, as the Guardian reported. “Of course I did. I wanted to make a whole series of complex statements. The lyrics had to do with the state of society at the time.”

But what state was that? It seemed like the song’s cast of characters — which include a jester, a king, a queen, good ol’ boys drinking whiskey and rye as well as “Miss American Pie” herself — were meant to represent real people. The song includes references to Karl Marx; Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (or, more likely, John Lennon); the Fab Four; the Byrds; James Dean; Charles Manson; the Rolling Stones; the “widowed bride,” Jackie Kennedy; and the Vietnam War.

What does it all mean? Just what a song about the day the music died seems like it might be about: the end of the American Dream.

“Basically in ‘American Pie,’ things are heading in the wrong direction,” he told Christie’s, as the Newcastle Herald reported. “It is becoming less idyllic. I don’t know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song in a sense.”

[Baitball Blogger]

7. I would have liked him to explain the meaning, lyric by lyric.

I understand the historical references for the first few stanzas, but then it begins to go off on a tangent when he starts talking about someone dancing with someone else.

[loyalsister]

9. He seems to use the historical references with irony

The birds flew off with a fall out shelter. 8 miles high could also be understood as a reference to dropping bombs. "No angel born in hell = hell's angels were basically hired for the Altamont concert to help with security.
That and Helter Skelter references are probably references to the internal violence at that time.

[bhikkhu]

26. I've never been fond of hearing poetry deconstructed and explained

any more than I like to hear explanations of what a painting means, or exactly what a piece of art intended to express. The meaning is how it makes you feel, no more, no less. Good art is experienced, not explained.

"American Pie" always brings back to me a certain feeling, and a lot of memories. Its a great poem, and McClean delivered it so well. I'm happy that its possible for someone to have done something that meant a great deal to many people, and that there was a money-side to it that worked out in the end. Too many artists have given their hearts and moved people, and died in poverty.

[Baitball Blogger]

32. I tend to disagree.

For example, people would sing the song "Luka" with the idea that the song was a happy one. And then they found out what it was about a child who was abused. The "happy tune" was used as a wrapper, in the same way that child abuse was something that no one would talk about in a serious way.

Actually, wiki had a good explanation:

One critic said, "the 'happy' music is a metaphorical denial, making this seem beautiful and serene while discussing something terrible and devastating. It is a wonderful use of tune as a metaphor for how many abuse victims also deny their abuse, and is a profound classic."[1]

You see, the artist's method of communication IS the point.

[loyalsister]

10. When he was asked about the meaning

he once answered that it meant he'd never have to work again. Now he's selling the lyrics because he needs the money. Heartbreaking!

Religious figures splitting town is an extremely prescient metaphor for the moral decay that is the religious right.

[Bluenorthwest]

19. I wouldn't say it's a heartbreaking need for money but rather a wise move to enhance the security of

his already well off family who will have a few million stacked up and regular refreshment from reuse fees.

[sendero]

11. I've always loved this song...

.. and while I've never been that great at deciphering lyrics, I've always felt like I understood what he meant. A loss of innocence, things spiraling out of control. The trajectory of pop music mirroring the trajectory of society.

He EARNED that 1.2 mil as far as I am concerned!

[loyalsister]

12. And then some!

A kid goes from dancing in the gym to seeing public figures die, to seeing friends die, to mass murder and kids getting stomped to death at a rock concert.
From a literary perspective, it is truly genius.

[beam me up scottie]

13. Wow, thanks!

Great find!

[rgbecker]

14. I thought it was about the death of Buddy Holly.

WTF?

[edhopper]

15. That was only a part of it

a springboard for all that followed, Dylan, the Beatles, Vietnam.....

[loyalsister]

22. It was Rock and Roll losing optimism and fun

Even a song with the "that'll be the day that I die" lyric was fun for awhile. Then it all happened to the guy singing it and in other contexts, assassinations, war, within the music scene and even among fans at concerts.

[KG]

17. thought it was word salad mostly, myself.

like a lot of early dylan and springsteen

[Bluenorthwest]

21. I've seen Don do a couple of really amazingly shows. A wonderful entertainer.

Amazing songwriter, golden singer, excellent player, a living library of songs.

[Orsino]

23. McLean always resisted being pinned down on the specific references.

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-32196117

...has a lot of the obvious and not-so-obvious meanings listed. I believe that the occadional ambiguities are mostly intentional, always playing off the twin themes of a lost golden age and the equation of music and religion.

[loyalsister]

24. I think that's why it's timeless

Leaving room for personal interpretations is a great quality of poetry and lyrics.

[appalachiablue]

25. While just in HS I was lucky enough to see McLean perform the song with friends

at their college. And we're still close friends. Next was Ike and Tina Turner at the same school, amazing.

[loyalsister]

33. That would have been awesome!

I've seen Chuck Berry twice.
The Who and The Stones are touring this summer, and I'm thinking about trying to go. I had a chance to see Gordon Lightfoot a couple of yrs ago and I regret missing it.

[Art_from_Ark]

31. I could certainly relate to the part where he sings

"February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step..."

I was a paperboy at that time, and by far the worst day I ever had delivering papers was on a super cold Sunday morning in February, when there was a super-big edition commemorating the 90th anniversary of the town's founding. I couldn't carry the papers on my bicycle because they were too heavy and awkward, so I had to walk the route-- in two trips. By the time I made it home the second time, my feet and hands were frozen.

[loyalsister]

34. I think I remember the first time I heard it

I was in the truck with my family going home after cutting firewood, and when we figured out the chorus we were all singing along at the top of our lungs.

[Art_from_Ark]

35. We used to sing that chorus in school

and pretend to be drunk while singing it. It drove some teachers up the wall because they thought we actually were drunk