Don McLean - The meaning of American Pie (UPDATE)

This is a revision to previously posted videos. I was fortunate enough to go to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake IA and speak firsthand with many who were there including Tommy Allsup who flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens. This version corrects some factual errors and includes new footage from the SURF

Category:

Music

Tags:

• buddy
• holly
• american
• pie
• don
• mclean
• hell's
• angels
• altamont
• rolling
• stones
• music
• history
• 60's
• 50's
• Janis
• Joplin
• Bob
• Dylan

[lonestarsound]

Thanks for all the comments. I wish I had time to respond to all personally, but a few notes. Yes, this is one persons opinion, based on everything I've read. Many other interpretations can be made. NO American Pie is NOT the name of the plane. I've met the man who owns the plane, it just had tail numbers. Levy may be a bar that McClean hung out at. I did this for a bit of fun as I was learning an editing program, so take it in that sense. FUN, enjoy the music...it will never die.

[iHeartAniime]

Actually it means Drinking whiskey AND rye, rye is a type of whisky.

What he's singing about is Buddy Holly etc. joking around, "Richardson had developed a case of flu during the tour and asked Waylon Jennings for his seat on the plane. When Holly learned that Jennings wasn't going to fly, he said in jest, "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up" and Jennings responded, also in jest, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes". This exchange of words would haunt Jennings for the rest of his life."

[Mamelaification]

Nice video. However if I had a dollar for every different version of the "interpretation" of American Pie, I could take you all out to lunch. Everyone comes up with a different set of "meanings"

[MetrazolElectricity]

Always thought the Day the Music died was about John Lennon's death

[JADandKPpro]

When Mclean sings he says, "Lenin read a book on Marx."

He refers to the Russian leader Vladimir Lenin, who followed the ideas of Karl Marx`s views of communism around 1917-1924, when V.Lenin was in power of the Bosheviks.

He had taken power after the abdication and execution of Czar Nicholas II, Nicholas II was the last Czar of Russia, this ended Russia`s Monarch.

(Not John Lennon of the Beatles.)

[captainronable]

I always thought that American Pie symbolized a certain innocence that America had, "as American as Mom and Apple Pie". ALL of those values and innocence went up in smoke in the 60's. No more Leave It To Beaver or Father Knows Best. And America became a burning pit of anger and drug abuse. We still haven't recovered. So it is still Bye Bye Miss American Pie

[carson3223]

miss american pie is what sixtyes pop culture is called his widowed bride is JFKs wife

[i13m]

this is hands down, in my opinion, Along with Bohemian Rhapsody, the greatest song of all time... End of discussion.

[AgustaBeata]

WaYlon Jennings...

[AgustaBeata]

@gaylyfwd Yes, it's the same Walon Jennings.

[john9594]

Great vid...thanks

[XrisaPattinson]

thank you for this video

[voradeaur]

This is what they teach it to be in school.... this was in my history of rock class... so id assume this to be the best interpretation possible... understandingamericanpie dot co.m