Don McLean reveals meaning of 'American Pie'
'This song was not a parlor game'
April 9, 2015
Joe Kovacs

It’s the epic song countless Americans have been singing since it reached the No. 1 spot in 1972: Don McLean’s “American Pie.”

Now, more than four decades later, the original 16-page working manuscript of the lyrics has sold at auction for $1.2 million, and the songwriter is coming forth to explain the meaning behind the 8-minute tune about “the day the music died.”

“For more than 40 years, I have rambled around every state of the union and many, many countries of the world. My primary interests in life have been America, singing, songwriting, and the English language,” McLean said in a Christie’s catalogue before the sale.

“I love the English language as much as anything in life and words really do mean something. I thought it would be interesting as I reach age 70 to release this work product on the song American Pie so that anyone who might be interested will learn that this song was not a parlor game.

“It was an indescribable photograph of America that I tried to capture in words and music and then was fortunate enough through the help of others to make a successful recording. I would say to young songwriters who are starting out to immerse yourself in beautiful music and beautiful lyrics and think about every word you say in a song.”

McLean has previously indicated the song was inspired by the 1959 plane crash that killed singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, better known to music fans as “the Big Bopper.”