Such a fine song. I especially like the line 'oh God how I worked my youth away', and I love how Don sang this song in the studio recording, making himself sound like an old man. Only Don could write and sing a song like this so perfectly. Thank you, Don McLean, for this beauty!
"I considered it a paean or a tip of the hat to the "B" Western stars and T.V. Western stars who got royally shafted by the various Hollywood studios. It is that but it's sooooo much more." says poster lanetemple.
Yep, I borrowed the "voyeurs and lawyers" phrase (for the full version of the song THE BOMBER) ...different context, but same sentiment, this for the outcast WW2 hero Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris, ORS ... (order of the royal shaft) .
thanks, I always loved this song, and some of the others from that album--is it even available, I think I looked for it a while back. I also loved "O My, what a shame" and the one about the horse for sale. Overall, the album was kind of grim and a downer--that's always been my guess as to what made people lose interest. The next two albums were much happier, but didn't sell so well. Except he was a star in England, I guess.
@ahitler1000...YES!....I agree with you ....Don Mc Lean was perfection especially when he was throwing high hard one in the 1970' s and 80. A brilliant talent.
This song , like most of McLean's is actually about a real event. Clayton Moore, who played the TV Lone Ranger, was ordered by a court not to make supermarket appearances in the mask, which was the only way he had to make money. Understand that, and the song has more meaning
@bobbranson He was also good friends with Hop-Along Cassidy. so perhaps it's about him too. Hoppy didn't want photos of himself as an old man seen anywhere so he refused to have pictures taken as he got older. "this photograph was taken in my prime..."
@bobbranson The original American Pie inner sleeve featured a poem written by McLean about William Boyd aka Hop-Along Cassidy along with a picture of Boyd in full Hop-Along regalia. This sleeve was removed within a year of the album's release. The words to this poem appear on a plaque at the hospital where Boyd died.
Thank you homelessbrother for posting this GEM. When I first heard the song in the early 70's I considered it a paean or a tip of the hat to the "B" Western stars and T.V. Western stars who got royally shafted by the various Hollywood studios. It is that but it's sooooo much more.
Please put me down in the category who thinks that Don Mc Lean is a genius....and I don't use that word lightly.
Like Dylan, you have to know what Don's lyric is about. This is about Clayton Moore, TV's Lone Ranger, who was told he could not make appearances with the costume. And Respectable is about Ted Kennedy at Chappaquiddick.
It's interesting to see someone who is a natural born songwriter cause there are so many crappy ones churning out unmemorable junk now. I forgot how great this guy was/is.
Good work Homless Bro', this is a By God classic from a By God genius! Don Mc's self titled l p is still one of his best! I'd like to find it on C D someday, thanks again H B and as always you tube, rock on shindiggers!
sad but true . i can truely relate, i agree about the line about attorneys and such sold my youth to some fat cat .staying off welfare my body broken down and shoot . i wander what kind of pistol it was
Such a fine song. I especially like the line 'oh God how I worked my youth away', and I love how Don sang this song in the studio recording, making himself sound like an old man. Only Don could write and sing a song like this so perfectly. Thank you, Don McLean, for this beauty!
emofolkie 6 months ago
"I considered it a paean or a tip of the hat to the "B" Western stars and T.V. Western stars who got royally shafted by the various Hollywood studios. It is that but it's sooooo much more." says poster lanetemple.
Yep, I borrowed the "voyeurs and lawyers" phrase (for the full version of the song THE BOMBER) ...different context, but same sentiment, this for the outcast WW2 hero Sir Arthur "Bomber" Harris, ORS ... (order of the royal shaft) .
Don couldn't write a dumb song if he tried!
harperjohnlive 1 year ago
thanks, I always loved this song, and some of the others from that album--is it even available, I think I looked for it a while back. I also loved "O My, what a shame" and the one about the horse for sale. Overall, the album was kind of grim and a downer--that's always been my guess as to what made people lose interest. The next two albums were much happier, but didn't sell so well. Except he was a star in England, I guess.
davidlenander 1 year ago
Comment removed
israelgodschosenones 1 year ago
@ahitler1000...YES!....I agree with you ....Don Mc Lean was perfection especially when he was throwing high hard one in the 1970' s and 80. A brilliant talent.
lanetemple 1 year ago
perfect in every sense.
wer1ther 1 year ago
Just awesome!
SugarCrisp11 1 year ago
So perfect and true
antonov065 1 year ago
This song takes on more resonance for me as I get older.
Don the best there is
ysplse 2 years ago
This song is a delight. At first I thought this song was stupid but quickly the song became infectious. It's a really sweet song.
JaminRebel 2 years ago 3
This song , like most of McLean's is actually about a real event. Clayton Moore, who played the TV Lone Ranger, was ordered by a court not to make supermarket appearances in the mask, which was the only way he had to make money. Understand that, and the song has more meaning
bobbranson 2 years ago 3
@bobbranson He was also good friends with Hop-Along Cassidy. so perhaps it's about him too. Hoppy didn't want photos of himself as an old man seen anywhere so he refused to have pictures taken as he got older. "this photograph was taken in my prime..."
bobandrayfan1 1 year ago
@bobbranson The original American Pie inner sleeve featured a poem written by McLean about William Boyd aka Hop-Along Cassidy along with a picture of Boyd in full Hop-Along regalia. This sleeve was removed within a year of the album's release. The words to this poem appear on a plaque at the hospital where Boyd died.
bobandrayfan1 1 year ago
Thank you homelessbrother for posting this GEM. When I first heard the song in the early 70's I considered it a paean or a tip of the hat to the "B" Western stars and T.V. Western stars who got royally shafted by the various Hollywood studios. It is that but it's sooooo much more.
Please put me down in the category who thinks that Don Mc Lean is a genius....and I don't use that word lightly.
lanetemple 2 years ago 3
@lanetemple yes yes , yes, I think he, s a gift from God , myself, . . .perfection only comes once in a great while, and this man is just that, . . .
ahitler1000 1 year ago
Don Is one of the best songwriters. Some of the best work never gained popularity. I have to agree with others here who say he is a genius.
irishmary24 2 years ago 2
Like Dylan, you have to know what Don's lyric is about. This is about Clayton Moore, TV's Lone Ranger, who was told he could not make appearances with the costume. And Respectable is about Ted Kennedy at Chappaquiddick.
bobbranson 2 years ago 2
It's interesting to see someone who is a natural born songwriter cause there are so many crappy ones churning out unmemorable junk now. I forgot how great this guy was/is.
Saffron333 2 years ago 2
Wow! I used to have this record (it was a B-side of, I think, Dreidel). This song is incredible! Great lyrics.
rhodeisland95 3 years ago
"And put you where they choose, with the language that they choose" I prefer the language of his songs.
mad4music7 3 years ago 5
man, 10 years looking for this vid, i saw it on C-span. i've been a huge fan of Don's ever since...
"cowboy's life is the only life for me"
jameshowlett1975 3 years ago
Good work Homless Bro', this is a By God classic from a By God genius! Don Mc's self titled l p is still one of his best! I'd like to find it on C D someday, thanks again H B and as always you tube, rock on shindiggers!
9erfandex 3 years ago
Listen to the words to this song and you will learn about your life....amazing....!!
kadaspots 3 years ago 10
i moved my lips to someone else's voice.....fuckin genious
californium99 4 years ago 8
sad but true . i can truely relate, i agree about the line about attorneys and such sold my youth to some fat cat .staying off welfare my body broken down and shoot . i wander what kind of pistol it was
kind53 4 years ago 5