American Pie - What does it all mean?

[packman]

I understand there are college courses on explaining this song - one of the most requested by radio DJ's.

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And if you are interested in what the lyrics refer to---:

http://home.earthlink.net/~karyll/karaoke/pie.htm

[Bjornsdotter]

1. I wrote a paper on it

....in university around 1979 or so. As I recall it was 25 pages long and I received an A.

[maddiemom]

4. I actually taught this song as my intro to symbolism in poetry in the early seventies.

In eighth grade, no less! You had to be subtle with the drug stuff, but the kids were pretty savvy to all of that in music back then. It went over big-time and there were never any complaints from parents. Many years later I'd run into former students who told me that whenever they heard "American Pie" as an oldie, they thought of our class.

[flamin lib]

2. DJs like it because it gives them time to make it to the bathroom and back. n

[packman]

5. American Pie and Hotel California - long guitar riff

[blackspade]

10. I usually put on "the Warriors Prayer/Blood of the Kings"

That got you almost 12 min....

[swilton]

3. Still have my Don McLean LP that is still playable

Always wondered what the words meant and I could come up with some of the fragment stories....But this explanation was the most comprehensive and in-depth read that I've ever seen.

Thanks!

[mmonk]

6. I saw him perform it in the Cameron Village underground

in Raleigh NC in the '70's. Thanks for posting.

[chapdrum]

7. One of the worst songs in existence.

I'd thought it was April 1st.

[Nitram]

9. No, not one of the worst.

Not one of the best, either, but fun and catchy, great word play and weaving in of cultural references. But maybe you had to be there to get it.

[chapdrum]

12. Did drive to the levrolet once

but when informed that on that day, "...the music died," I thought, yes, losing Buddy, Richie and the Big Bopper was tragic, but the music died?

And the music (what I listen for first) in the song was utterly w/out interest.

[Nitram]

14. I don't agree that the music died, either. I love the music he hates.

He strikes me as a bit of a sad sack. Probably mad that his kind of music fell out of favor - he was never a rock and roller like Buddy Holly. But I always enjoy the song when it came on the radio. Jack be nimble Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candle stick? Great lyrics!

[awoke_in_2003]

11. Agreed

I'd rather listen to Yoko Ono sing

[chapdrum]

13. Testify!

[Nitram]

15. Now that's cold!

[blackspade]

8. Pretty cool.

[liberalnarb]

16. Interesting.

I saw him play this song in concert this past summer.