The same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly also took the lives of Richie Valens (La Bamba) and The Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace).

Holly's recent bride was pregnant when the crash took place she had a miscarriage shortly afterward.īut something touched me deep inside, The day the music died. McLean recalls his desire to become a musician playing that sort of music.īuddy Holly died on Februin a plane crash in Iowa during a snowstorm.ĭon McLean's only job before becoming a full-time singer-songwriter was being a paperboy.īad news on the doorstep. One of early rock and roll's functions was to provide dance music for various social events. I can still remember how that music used to make me smile. al.Īmerican Pie reached #1 in the US in 1972 the album containing it was released in 1971. McLean is lamenting the lack of danceable good time party music in rock and roll and (in part) attributing that lack to the absence of Buddy Holly et. The entire song is a tribute to Buddy Holly and a commentary on how rock and roll music changed in the years since his death. It is simply one fan's view of a very popular song. This interpretation, as with all others, is open to debate, and I make no claims whatsoever regarding its validity. Obviously everyone interprets it differently, but I have compiled this one after reading many other people's views, selecting the points that I feel are most appropriate for each line.

First off this is NOT my work or interpretation, but it kinda makes a lot of sense even if so of the more obsure 60's usa refrences leave me still scatching my head.ĭon McLean himself refuses to reveal the precise meanings of each line in this song because he fears 'You'll say 'you never meant that'', but many people have attempted to produce their own interpretations of the song.

American pie song analysis