Beck Reveals Meaning of 'American Pie' Video TheBlaze.com

[@kensnyder9372]

Beck , you are the ONLY person to tell the true and real meaning of American Pie , only Don Mclean new the real meaning and could see what the future was bringing .... I'am 80 and it made me cry to live through what we have become ...Thank you so much for telling the story of what the song was about !

[@Spacejockey426]

I was listening the day Beck did this analysis. I wish he had finished the whole song, but I'm glad he got through most of it. I think he got something wrong, (or maybe a little off) though, with regard to the line "Healter Skelter in the summer swelter." Yes, "Healter Skelter" is a Beatles song, but the mis-spelling as I put it here was done by the Manson Family when they wrote it in the LaBianca's blood on their refrigerator door on August 10, 1969. This happened two days after they killed Sharon Tate, (8 month's pregnant with she and her husband Roman Polanski's baby) and her houseguests. The Polanski's and the LaBiancas were neighbors, living in the Hollywood hills. The 60's were truly a transformative time for America, and not necessarily for the good. . .

[@jaeger251]

Great point!

[@DavidJohnson-kg2ms]

Definitely the Manson family was what he referenced. 100% agreed.

[@johnidstrom8980]

Manson was inspired by the Beatles song, in his insanity he thought it was written for him. The killings and the song are culturally fused.

[@DavidJohnson-kg2ms]

There was a part 1 and part 2, where he did finish the song and discuss it some more. There was also an interview he did with Don McClain separately that was somewhat contradictory to Glenn’s interpretation but that could be politics and McClain not wanting a target on his back. But regardless, the original two part analysis was 100% spot on in my opinion and even this one has been tweaked a little. Still, very powerful. Truth is its own witness, and this testifies to the Truth.

[@judytrousdale5996]

I have my children to play this at my funeral! I was in 7th grade when I heard this song! It had the most impact on my life!! Love it❤️

[@indigop38]

Weird choice considering some of the lyrics. Might somewhat fit if you are a vocalist or instrumentalist.

[@itisimatadvc]

He says"lennon" read a book on marks" but the song doesn't say that, what it actually says is "Lenin," as in Vladimir Lenin who was the Russian head of state during the Bolshevik Revolution and he was a communist that was influenced by Karl Marx, the song was written in the sixties while the cold war was going which is another thing the song is about that he failed to mention. Basically the song is all about the things that were going on at the time and the counter culture generation who, much like the rest of American society, were shocked beyond belief at what was happening and the feeling of disillusion when struck by the realisation that the American dream was dead and had been for some time, as Hunter S Thompson said "the bad guys are in control" another thing not mentioned is the Kennedy assassination. It's not hard to find meaning in the lyrics if you think about America during the 1960's because that is really what it's about.

[@BoMwarriorVlog]

THANK YOU for uploading this!! 😃🙏 I've been looking for the audio of this broadcast to share, but could only find the transcript. Now I can share this insightful look to the creativity, faithfulness, & patriotism of music artists back in the day. 🤍

[@TrinityDreamer12]

Basically it's about America's transition, through all the phases and important times of each decade it went through.

[@natalieps2387]

This song is so brilliant covering the baby boomers lives up until the song was written in the 70s. McLean said he wanted to write a large song about America & he says each new verse gets darker. The king is elvis & the jester stole his crown which is bob Dylan. Also when he sings the part about lennon & Marx I did not realize he was talking about john Lennon. I thought lennin. So he is referencing lennons song imagine which is very much a communist song of those ideals. Music is what has always represented is McLean said & if u look at music today its garbage & parallels America. The way music goes through the decades it gets worse or symbolizes something worse than the american dream of the idealistic 50s. It's absolutely brilliant and every word has meaning. Plus it's a catchy great song. I also just thought it was about buddy holly valens the big bopper too but that's also a parallel metaphor. The day the music died is when everything started going to shit. Also the jumpin Jack on a candle & the devil mention are about the stones at altamont when they hired the hells Angel's & a man got knifed while sympathy for the devil was playing. So hes showing u what a change from the teens that were the silent generation in the 40s where the youth was seen but not heard then elvis on Sullivan changed everything where all was now geared towards the teens. Sock hops & dances & kids starting to break out a bit than look at the wild changes to the 60s with long hair which was shocking boys had crew cuts now were growing their hair long & the sexual revolution where the teens were not buttoned up anymore in the poodle skirts saddle shoes boys clean cut it was now sex drugs & rock n roll. This song is unbelievable & one if if not the greatest song written about America during the baby boomer years that fascinate people.

[@uhuhuuuhhh9883]

Imagine is a communist song ? "You say you want a revolution well you know You better free your mind instead cause if you go carryin pictures of chairman Mao you ain't gonna make it with anyone anyhow" - John Lennon was NOT a communist .

[@jozeemacthehappygimp7481]

Brilliant. :)

[@teresastephenson84]

It has always been about America turning its collective back on God and the subsequent demise of America. And today in 2024, The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost have definitely taken the last train for the coast. America is now alone and under God’s judgement. Being a Janis Joplin fan, my favorite line is, I met a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news, but she just smiled and turned away.

[@danielneece6404]

Outstanding

[@katreagan82]

Happy to hear more musical references. But no mention of the Vietnam war? "Sargents played a marching tune" and "players take the field" is also an allegory for war. They never got the chance to dance because the men are off to war.

[@jozeemacthehappygimp7481]

Thanks Perry. I looked for this a while ago, and couldn't find it. Awesome.

[@ATTJ7628]

This was surprisingly good, not what I was expecting

[@joewilliam9315]

Very interesting. Adds so much to the song.

[@sportsmediaamerica]

From WIki: "In 2017, Bob Dylan was asked about how he was referenced in the song. "A jester? Sure, the jester writes songs like 'Masters of War', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall', 'It's Alright, Ma' - some jester. I have to think he's talking about somebody else. Ask him." Ha ha, Bob, methinks the jester doth protest too much!!!

[@stevenstrouth5047]

"There we were all in one place." How can he miss seeing that's woodstock?

[@stevenstrouth5047]

@Philip Greenwald Altamont was not "they we were all in one place." The event of the generation was Woodstock. The next line, "jack be nimble jack be quick," refers to Altamont and gives context to the previous line.

[@deepakdass5286]

Generation "lost in space" could be reference to the famous American series, not the space race.

[@americanlt100]

This D.J. got it right pretty much correct. I have never heard a better explanation.

[@indigop38]

Beck is and always was a genius.

[@dp5707]

Helter Skelter in a summer swealter was probably referencing the manson murders in august of 69....which kind of an end to the free, peaceful feeling of the hippies and the 60s

[@markdrinkard4150]

the lion the witch and the wardrobe does draw parralels with the gospel

[@DEVUNK88]

I heard this live on air, I've always wanted to hear it again, and just saw this interview between with Tucker and Don kzbin.info/www/bejne/lYaVcqqlpLF4eKM I was motivated to search youtube hoping to Find a recording of Glenn's rundwown

[@garlandremingtoniii1338]

A long long time ago I can still remember How the memes used to make me smile, And I knew if I had my chance I could still make those people laugh and maybe they-ed Be happy for awhile, But February made me shiver, With every comment I would deliver, Bad news on the door step, I couldn’t take one more step. I can’t remember if I cried when I read about his widow bride---- But something touched me deep inside--- The day, FREE SPEECH-----DIED. SO BYE BYE AMERICAN----FREE-SPEECH

[@rayewen3347]

Just watched Mclean state that "Dylan was NOT the jester, although he would have made a good one". There has ben so much conjecture about this song and ONY McLean knows. Years ago i read that the "levee" was not a place on the river but an actual bar, tavern or whatever.

[@rossflecknoy74]

I think the "chevy to the levee", is a ref to the commercial. That makes sense.

[@uhuhuuuhhh9883]

The question is why do people feel the need to deconstruct this song ?

[@missmel9605]

@@uhuhuuuhhh9883some feel there is an underlying message …future events / fall of America

[@kimmypfeiffer9130]

there are 3 levels to this song~ the real music is jesus and 'the music' replaced what jesus did for us...the widow'd bride is US...the bride is christ's church, his followers...the culture killed jesus leaving us lost and alone...he's singing about the people who worship rock and roll gods and use sex and drugs to fill the void left without god...there is music history, used as metaphor for world history, within the bigger reality of the CULTURAL loss of faith in god and what it has done to our christian nation...while the king elvis ? JESUS ! watched over us "looking down" from heaven, the devil through the 'jester' bob dylan and others stole his crown/suffering atonements..separated us from god...ALL these things, the rock idols have stolen the attention and love we should be giving to our lord and savior...this song is perfection and i think it's the christian imagery that people overlook, the message within the message, the song within the song...i've been listening to this song since i was a baby and i'm 55 now and i finally hear the 3rd level! GENIUS! mourning the loss of simpler times, innocence, and FAITH!

[@freddiesandoval5047]

I'm 56 and knew about this years ago.. it's what you make of it..you can't be slow or like now, you'll never get it

[@DEVUNK88]

I know people to this day that sing praises of the rolling stones and bob dylan and the like, not one of them is a christian or has the same moral compass you do

[@billiebone7513]

Don McLean says he did not really know what the song meant. Ha says that it came to him all at one and he just wrote it down. That is how true inspiration is received. Most of the bible prophets did not seem to know what the events that they were describing meant but later as they came to pass the people would understand and either heed the warning or not.

[@c.e.anderson558]

Levee was a corner beer joint.

[@juliaperkins9962]

Everyone has their own opinions this song and there is many!! Think it's what you get out of it! Love the song though!!

[@rodneyjohnson7327]

Some verses are obvious and some are more obvious than others. Then there are some that you have to read between the lines on.

[@sportsmediaamerica]

McLean still tours, I think. Ask him. Thanks for the rewind on an amazing opus.

[@hiltonroberts8742]

American Pie' is a song which depicts "A generation lost in space" as Don McLean agrees was the most important line in the song, The 'counter culture' that produced the hippies, was said to be a sign of a "New Age"- ' The Age of Aquarius", but it actually was a "False Dawn". The religious overtones in the lyrics point to this. 'The music died ' because Rock and Roll could not save our moral/immoral souls, as it was too coarse. The harmonies of the great master composers having been usurped and contorted out of recognition by 'Jazz and Rock'. Maybe McLean did not want to be too honest about the true meaning of the song

[@dougcmelik2442]

just listen to Don McLean's video where he explains it.

[@DavidJohnson-kg2ms]

Where is part 2? This is only part of it. The second half is gone. KZbin strikes again? It was just as prescient as this. Hate to not have it.

[@dp5707]

Some of the lines were just about rhyming words...simple

[@markdrinkard4150]

Tolkien said there was no coalation between the gospel and lotr

[@ATTJ7628]

So what? What the author say their work is about doesn't matter, every interpretation is as valid as the next so long as you can provide evidence for your arguments.

[@JonsDDVlog]

In the foreword of the book, Tolkien talks about "applicability." He said that certain aspects of the book could be applied to different historical events...like Sauron being in the East (Russia) and how all of the Elves moved to the West at the end of the age. This was similar to all of the European immigrants who moved to America at the beginning of the last century. Everything that was "magical" about middle earth had to leave. That's why Frodo and Bilbo had to go. They both had borne the one ring and the ring had changed them into something that could no longer reside in middle-earth once the age ended. I don't recall any correlations to Christianity though. J.R.R. was definitely a Christian, but I don't think there was anything in his books about it. There certainly was with C.S. Lewis though.

[@ianeyre3590]

Did he ever finish the analysis?

[@dharrell2000]

The man's crazy, but he's right

[@dixiechamberlain4788]

Black Pegasus, have you seen this

[@kimmypfeiffer9130]

there are 3 levels to this song~ the real music is jesus and 'the music' replaced what jesus did for us...the widow'd bride is US...the bride is christ's church, his followers...the culture killed jesus leaving us lost and alone...he's singing about the people who worship rock and roll gods and use sex and drugs to fill the void left without god...there is music history, used as metaphor for world history, within the bigger reality of the CULTURAL loss of faith in god and what it has done to our christian nation...while the king elvis ? JESUS ! watched over us "looking down" from heaven, the devil through the 'jester' bob dylan and others stole his crown/suffering atonements..separated us from god...ALL these things, the rock idols have stolen the attention and love we should be giving to our lord and savior...this song is perfection and i think it's the christian imagery that people overlook, the message within the message, the song within the song...i've been listening to this song since i was a baby and i'm 55 now and i finally hear the 3rd level! GENIUS! mourning the loss of simpler times, innocence, and FAITH!

[@alouettedemer5366]

"Miss American Pie" is the name of the aircraft in which Holly and the others died when it crashed. During a whiteout caused by a blizzard, the inexperienced pilot misinterpreted the attitude indicator (the "artificial horizon") on takeoff. And instead of placing the plane in a full-power climb, the pilot put the plane in a full-power descent, and he literally flew Miss American Pie into the ground at full power.

[@swagner15333]

Alouette de Mer [Lette] really? What a dummass.

[@jacobpullen6949]

Alouette de Mer It was also symbolic for America losing its innocence in the 60s

[@joebearce9843]

Not true

[@natalieps2387]

That theory was debunked. American pie on the surface is about buddy holly valens big bopper dying. Elvis was in the army, chuck berry was in jail & little richard left rock n roll to do gospel music. So when those 3 died it really was like Rock n roll died. American pie is just a metaphor for the good old days of the 1950s where family was strong , ideals were sacred & rock n roll music was innocence & music u could dance to. So when dylan stepped in it became about meaning not dancing. U can't really dance at all to Dylan. McLean is a traditionalist & longed for the days of sock hops early rock n roll & innocence. In the 60s kids became the counter culture against the government were getting stoned a lot of free love meaning lots of sex & violence . The beatles def were an influence bc they were dropping lsd so their fans were. Their mop tops seemed like too long hair as opposed to the crew cuts or the elvis ducks ass hair. Suddenly every guy & girl were growing their hair long. Guys had long hair & the girls used to have the shoulder length hair put up in pony tails. In the 60s their hair was really long & messy.

[@Joefest99]

Where's the rest!!!

[@Hard_Boiled_Entertainment]

He skimmed through the rest later. Basically the last verse involves picking up the pieces, with an expression of hope at the very end, another chance, if only we'll learn from history.

[@CoffeeSpillTV]

Hard Boiled Entertainment share the link?

[@ensignj3242]

Mick Jagger is pure evil.

[@dondesnoo1771]

Sin City emmylou Harris song might interest you Glen read your book broke good insights 😎

[@kennethlaster4850]

Beck knows nothing. The meaning was given on the Roy Taylor Ministries site but it has been taken down and you should know why after the occurrences of today.

[@geekaleek]

Who's "THEY"?

[@catesaathoff6741]

I

[@gotbacktofla]

this guy would pick apart a spiritual awakening jeez he'll ruin the perverbial wet dream GET BACK TO SOCAL

[@gotbacktofla]

he wasn't there how does he think he know shit.... he was 5 years old when altamont took place. I guess if you get some air time you know something

[@someguy4887]

why is he talking like he's unveiling some conspiracy? he's just repeating an interpretation that he read. who cares?

[@adamfelt9090]

I do, these days. 2020

[@tamihauser3464]

AND NOBODY WILL PLAY AT HIS INAGURATION.. no music..!

[@DougHinVA]

Glenn is a nutty and self absorbed has-been who continually interrupts others and talks in half sentences. He should just be a radio preacher and be done with it. I stopped his radio show several years ago... that constant interruption has become a fad the producers think makes audiences keep listening. Not normal people.

[@tamihauser3464]

And the king is DONALD TRUMP!.. IN THIS SONG..

[@adamfelt9090]

Operation Dark Winter is about to kick in.