[laweeks]

Who cares? As far as I’m concerned, he slapped together lines of disjointed thoughts that perhaps rhymed, and then drove people nuts trying to figure out what he meant.

Put it to bed, please.

[camle]

how he missed the ‘helter skelter’ reference to charles manson and the tate/labianca murders is telling...

[Oztrich Boy]

But where does the flute fit in?

[TomGuy]

Grand Rapids LipDub [new world record]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPjjZCO67WI

[Buckeye McFrog]

I think I got the gist of “American Pie” the first time. The pubescent males, the naked girls, the warm apple pie...

[wardaddy]

He was originally a folkie and is lifelong pals with apparently and unfortunately immortal Pete Seeger..

and yes..American Pie which came out in 1971 when i turned 14 is allegorical as all hell and was a major AM radio soundtrack to my own youth..which could be grating when compared to say Led Zepplin III or Allman Bros Filmore East both peaking about the same time

but whatever McLean meant I think we can bet it was not flattering to America or a traditional view of Christendom

[Sir Napsalot]

I am worried about ‘worry of (domestic) violent uprising’. In case I am wrong, if we are talking about the ‘Arab Spring” you can ignore my post.

The school of thought is that nobody wants a violent uprising, we have peaceful means to address our grievances. If our representatives no longer represent us, we have another peaceful means to remove/change them. And the justice system, ultimately the supreme court will be the safeguard of our rights and liberty.

In case you slept through the past few years, the Left had driven us to the inevitable point of ‘civil war’. Unless we just meekly accept whatever comes our way.

[Tijeras_Slim]

I heard that once it became a big hit ($$$$$) someone asked McLean “What does it mean?” and he answered “It means I’ll never have to work again.”

[BenLurkin]

"It's a small world after all,
It's a small world after all,
It's a small world after all,
It's a small, small, world."

[bgill]

American Pie was part of my process of self-awakening; a mystical trip into my past."

Good song but that was some tripping when he wrote it.

[Sirius Lee]

It's clearly a retelling of Francesco Colonna's "Hypnerotomachia Poliphili" along with some imagery borrowed from John Ford's movie "Stagecoach", and the Phillip Morris 'Clean, Fresh, Pure' ads.

I mean it's just so obvious.

[bramps]

If you play it backwards it says ‘you better enjoy this because 40 years from now music is going to suck’.

[duckman]

Does any one know the words to Louie Louie (Kingsmen)?This is another riddle wrapped in an enigma.

[blueunicorn6]

It’s a brilliant song by a brilliant songwriter. “Vincent”....”On The Amazon.....”And I Love You So”......”Narcissisma”.....”Castles In The Air”.....deep, thoughtful lyrics. I don’t have much use for most modern music, but if you’re going to say something, then do it well, and he does.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Could be a reference to the Beatles preparing for their role in the cultural revolution.

Except that the Beatles had already broken up by 1971 when American Pie was released.

[SeekAndFind]

Is this really Don Maclean’s explanation? or someone’s attempt at explaining it (again ?).

People have been badgering him (till today) to give his interpretation of it and he has REFUSED to do it.

Why is he explaining it now? (if true)

[KosmicKitty]

I once read, according to Don Mclean, that “American Pie” meant he never had to work again :-)

[Marathoner 244]

Big Don McLean fan here.

[Pan_Yan]

The fact that everyone is still discussing it in earnest at length forty years later tells me Don got something right. I downloaded the song and put it on my sons MP3 player for Christmas a couple of years ago. He probably can't remember anything else he got that year but he can sing along to every word of “American Pie.”

[The Duke]

No mystery here ... I actually did drive a Chevy to a Levy once and did see some good ol' boys drinking whiskey and rye.

Well, ok...it was Budewiser ... but close! :)