DON MCLEAN - American Pie | FIRST TIME REACTION

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Welcome to my channel! This is a music reaction channel. For the longest time, I've loved creating content on the internet. I started off with a gaming channel right here on KZbin, which eventually turned into a Twitch gaming channel, but as time has gone on I've evolved into doing other things on KZbin. For years now I've wanted to create a music channel on KZbin, and recently just figured "why not?", so it’s time to give this a go! Give me any suggestion you have for music reactions, and I will do my best to get around to them. As music has fallen further out of my life, I figured this would be a great time to get reintroduced to music.
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This is a reaction video used to educate and give my feedback on the song and artists.
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[@jonathansmith3742]

50+yrs later and we all still know all the words. Some songs really stand the test of time, this is one of them.

[@kierstenridgway4634]

True. So true. ❤️❤️✌️

[@thomastimlin1724]

Stands the test of time if you really know your music history and history in general. Otherwise the performance is great but with no understanding of the lyrics, the meaning is lost. Some can only say, "Gee what a neat song that was" with no clue what it was about.

[@kierstenridgway4634]

@@thomastimlin1724 I don't think that's so bad.

[@CherubChick1221]

Did you hear the story of a little girl who was kidnapped by a Pedo and this song ended up saving her life and getting the guy caught? It was because her Mother had sung it with her and she knew how long the song was. While she was being transported in the trunk of his car, she would sing the song over and over knowing that maybe if she survived, the cops would know how far they had driven. That DID end up happening!! 🥰 I think you can Google it....she tells the story 💪

[@sassypants7581]

I can see/hear my Dad out in his garage working on cars & belting out this song like his life depended on it 💖

[@susanrombak7959]

The lyrics are a comprehensive history of numerous musicians, the main protagonist being about Buddy Holly’s death when his plane crashed, the day the music died

[@thomastimlin1724]

And a few topics and leaders from the era.

[@matthawkins8880]

Don McClean has one of my favorite quotes of all time. Every time somebody asks him what the song means he has one answer. "It means I never have to work again."

[@contucker9413]

I saw that original interview

[@alanbrown8527]

Great reaction. Don McLean is a treasure. Try his dedication to artist Vincent Van Gogh “Vincent” one of the greatest songs ever written. A huge hit in the 70’s.

[@ptournas]

I agree it was among the greatest songs written, but unfortunately it wasn't a huge hit in the U.S., a top 20 hit, but it never cracked the Billboard's Hot 100 top 10 here , though it did hit #2 on the Adult Contemporary chart. It didn't make Gold, never selling a million copies in the U.S.. It was a bigger hit in Britain though, going Gold there in 2022. And in Canada it went platinum in the same year. In the U.S.. But even though "American Pie" and "Crying" were much bigger hits, I always thought "Vincent" was right up there with "American Pie"and deserved much more attention at the time.

[@sharonpate5481]

Vincent is a must listen!! 😎👵🏼💜☮️

[@nmt2k2]

​@@ptournaseven though it barely touched the charts, if you take a look at how many people are still listening and reacting to a half a century later shows that Vincent has a timelessness to it far outshines its meager chart performance.

[@ptournas]

@@nmt2k2 Agree 100%. Plus part of the reason it didn’t hit higher on the charts may have been that American Pie was still #1 on the charts and the album was released around six months before before this single. Myself and just about everyone else I knew had the album within a week or two of hearing American Pie. I'm sure that was common all over the country, so most people would have already had the song on the album when the single was released.

[@karenj3611]

The history of Rock and Roll music in 8 1/2 minutes! A Classic

[@DrStrangelove3891]

Ok, so this is about Buddy Holly and his plane crash, about the Jester Dylan and Elvis the King, about Mick Jagger, about Janis Joplin who sang the blues, and so much more references.

[@edevard9048]

It’s also about the loss of American innocence beginning in the 1960s with the Vietnam War and the fight for civil rights.

[@patticampana9458]

Yes!

[@theshadowfax239]

That is false and has been debunked multiple times by Don McLean. The part about the jester, the king that is. The song was about the plane crash, though, among other things. Don McLean specifically said, 'I mentioned James Dean by name, I would have mentioned Elvis and Bob Dylan by name if it was about them'. He did note that Lenin was a double entendre and it referred to John Lennon as well.

[@Renovion]

The "Day the Music Died" was when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper all died in a plane crash. All 3 were huge at the time. There is a really good documentary I watched not too long ago (pretty sure on Netflix) That was all about this song and it's creation. Well worth the watch.

[@hannejeppesen1809]

The was one on MTV as well, which was quite good. Waylon Jennings was interested in a seat on the plane, but somehow someone (perhaps Buddy Holly) talked him out of it, or convinced him someone needed the seat more, Waylon's was happy about it, can't remember the details, other than Waylon kind of joking said "I hope your plane crashes", it haunted him for the rest of his life.

[@Renovion]

@@hannejeppesen1809 yeah he was in Buddy Holly's band but was sick so he let Ritchie take his seat...

[@hlawrencepowell]

"American Pie" is a song by American singer-songwriter Don McLean, released in 1971. It's known for its cryptic and somewhat enigmatic lyrics that have been the subject of much interpretation and analysis. The song is often seen as a reflection on cultural, political, and musical events of the 1960s and early 1970s in the United States. Here's a breakdown of some of the key references and their likely meanings: The Day the Music Died: The song opens with the phrase "A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that music used to make me smile." This is a reference to the tragic plane crash on February 3, 1959, which killed rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. This event marked the end of an era in rock music, and McLean may be expressing nostalgia for that time. "The Jester" (Bob Dylan): The "jester" in the song is widely believed to refer to Bob Dylan, a hugely influential singer-songwriter who went through a significant transformation in his music and lyrics in the mid-1960s, moving from acoustic folk to electric rock. McLean may be lamenting the shift in Dylan's style and its impact on the folk music scene. The Byrds: The Byrds were a folk-rock band known for their hit "Mr. Tambourine Man," which featured lyrics by Bob Dylan. They are mentioned in the song, likely in connection to the changing landscape of folk music. "The King" (Elvis Presley): Elvis Presley, known as "The King of Rock and Roll," represents the early days of rock and roll, and his reference signifies the transformation of music through the 1960s. Elvis's influence was profound, and his death in 1977 marked the end of an era. The Beatles: The Beatles are referenced as "the quartet" who "practiced in the park." This likely alludes to the Beatles' move into experimental music and their iconic concert on the rooftop of Apple Corps in London in 1969. "Helter Skelter" and "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band": These references point to The Beatles' experimentation with different musical styles and the broader cultural impact of their work. Woodstock: The famous Woodstock Festival of 1969, a symbol of the counterculture movement, is mentioned. It was a pivotal moment in music and politics, representing the ideals of peace, love, and anti-establishment sentiment. The Rolling Stones: McLean mentions the "moss grows fat on a rolling stone," which some interpret as a commentary on the Rolling Stones' excesses and turbulent history. "Jack Flash" (Jumpin' Jack Flash): "Jack Flash" likely refers to the Rolling Stones' song "Jumpin' Jack Flash," a reflection of their edgier, rebellious side. February Made Me Shiver: Likely a reference to the Winter of 1969, a period marked by turmoil, including the Manson murders and the Altamont Speedway Free Festival, which ended in violence. "Miss American Pie": The chorus, "Bye, bye, Miss American Pie," is often interpreted as a farewell to an idealized, innocent version of America. The song reflects the cultural and political shifts of the 1960s and early 1970s, from idealism to disillusionment. In summary, "American Pie" is a complex song that touches on the changing cultural and musical landscape of the 1960s. It reflects the disillusionment of an era that saw the loss of beloved musicians, the transformation of folk and rock music, and the shifting political and social climate in the United States. The song has been analyzed and interpreted in various ways, and its meaning remains a subject of debate and discussion among fans and scholars.

[@punkydoodle4774]

Actually, "helter skelter in a summer swelter" references the Manson family murders in August of 1969. At the LaBianca's they wrote "healter skelter" on the refrigerator. Apparently spelling wasn't their strong point. Manson was inspired by the Beatles song, but the summer swelter means the murders, I think.

[@hlawrencepowell]

Helter Skelter is a song by the Beatles released in 1968. The Manson's were referring to the Beatles' song.@@punkydoodle4774

[@AP-gb3eh]

@@punkydoodle4774or both

[@billsimonis]

When Don was a boy he used to delivered papers and found out of the plane crash from the paper's headline. You also need to remember that Elvis enlisted in the army in 1958 for a two year stint. When he returned the landscape of the music had drastically changed. Although he did have some hits, the British Invasion basically crushed Elvis and other 50s act. the line 8miles high comes from the Byrds song 8 Miles High, which was about the drug and counterculture/ basically coming down from a drug high, ceashing and burning. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper all perished in a plane crash February 3, 1949. which is what is mentioned by the headlines and making him shiver. Incidentally, there have been two biopics made of the three musicians: The Buddy Holly Story - starring Gary Busey as Buddy La Bamba - starring Lou Diamond Phillips and Ritchie

[@user-gu1zb6cw6t]

Excellent reaction to one of the most significant songs in rock history. I'm with you on most of those interpretations. Buddy Holly would have become one of the all-time greats had he lived on.

[@paullanoue5228]

I remember the day the music died, February 3, 1959. It was a big story in the news. Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), we’re killed in a plane crash. Buddy Holly was the most creative mind in rock&roll at the time. Richie Valens was a talented singer. The Big Bopper was an over the top high energy entertainer. The loss hit young music fans hard.

[@rk41gator]

I can remember when this hit the airwaves. Huge impact although we had no idea what it was about. We listened to it over and over as we worked on our architecture projects. It was a trip, a very pleasant trip. The lyrics are insanely complicated, filled with musical references. But none of that mattered, it just sounded SO damn good. 'Vincent' will make you cry. Don has some fine music.

[@MN_Cozy]

Agree!!! This song was the IT song

[@jimideaton]

His song Vincent makes me cry every time. It's about the life of Vincent Van Gogh. Definitely worth listening.

[@xJRx77]

This song cannot be appreciated and understood without knowing the history of music and the 60's early 70's. Everything.... is a metaphor for something, and each "character" represents a real person.

[@thomastimlin1724]

yeh I said the basic same thing.

[@jimclifford1241]

One of the most important songs ever written or sung.

[@randyjohnson6960]

Alot of history/story behind this song ❤️💯🔥🔥🔥🎶👊

[@armandogarza6181]

American Pie comes along once in a generation I believe. Like you found out, so much reference for the art of music. The song Vincent is beautiful. Cheers.

[@johncurtis7186]

I’ve always considered this my favorite song of all time….simply a lyrical masterpiece. Another song of his, “Vincent” is an INCREDIBLE composition!!

[@paularietta6744]

Great reaction! Thank you for actually taking the time to read through the break down of this song's meanings. When I was in my junior year in high school (1972), I had an english teacher who spent 2 full classes leading us through breaking down the meaning of this song. We all loved this song, the metaphors and of course Don McLean back in the day. Another great song by Don is called Vincent about Vincent van Gogh. Thanks again.

[@arnodobler1096]

Love Vincent even more

[@Hayseo]

A lot of history teachers use this song as a lesson.

[@asshat23871]

I was in 7th grade. it was a real long song for AM radio. We used to sing it on the school bus.

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

My guitar friends and I would sit in the park and start this song and we would draw a crowd and by the end of the song everyone was singing along. It brings back so many memories as I just went to my 50th reunion and most of those guys are gone. I have to play the song on my guitar for all of them and remember. There is a very good review of this song on the web. It actually covers the sixties.

[@gvbezoff]

Your friends are guitars?

[@HRConsultant_Jeff]

😃 I guess I should say my fellow guitarists. Good point.@@gvbezoff

[@sharonpate5481]

The day the music died was the day Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash. I believe the girl who sang the blues is referring to Janis Joplin. The Homefree version features Don McLean and is also awesome 👵🏼💜☮️ I lived through all of the years he wrote about 😎

[@DerekDominoes]

Back when we bought copies of songs on 45 records, I bought this. It was too long to fit on just one side so you had to flip over the 45 to hear the second half of the song. I'm not aware of any other hit single that took up both sides of a 45. Oh, and just a heads up: McLean is pronounced "McLain."😂

[@matthewhawkins517]

Nobody knows the full meaning of the lyrics except Don McLean and he has a great answer when asked what they mean. “It means I never hav to work again.”

[@ptournas]

I clearly remember "the day the music died". I came home from hanging out with my friends when my mother told me she had just heard Buddy Holly died in a plane crash with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper. I was very upset. I was also surprised at how much my mother was upset by it, though she did like a lot of the early rock performers, even though her record collection was mostly Jazz standards, Country, R&B, and Classical.

[@anthonyblakely399]

And half the crew of Lynard Skynard...died in a plane crash....the music dies..when these Iconic music legend dies....the music dies...like today When Michael Jackson or Prince died the whole grieved because we knew the music would never be the same again. He is talking about Iconic figures in the 60's and 70's that died or caused stuff. And it was just the way of expressing the times Don lived in.

[@katiem9644]

Our anthem in high school. Still sing along with every word. Great!!!

[@Immortalheart66]

It’s a combination of the day Buddy Holly,. Big Bopper… J.P Richardson and Ritchie Valans Died in a plane crash. The rest is about the loss of innocence of the 1960’s to which there are a lot of references to……it’s a true masterpiece. When asked about What American Pie means to him,…Don replied,… It means I don’t have to work another day in my life”….. Great reaction. Thank you kindly!!!!!

[@karenmandeville7116]

i'm so glad i lived through everything that happens in this song.

[@bloodybutunbowed291]

I did my thesis in my creative writing class on this song. There are a LOT of cultural and historical references in the lyrics of this song. A timeless masterpiece. 1. ‘Drove My Chevy To The Levee But The Levee Was Dry’ There was an advertisement for Chevrolet sang in 1953 by Dinah Shore who was a top-charting female vocalist of the 40s and 50s. The fact it was now dry refers to the change in the social climate in the 60s compared to the 50s. 2. ‘Singin' This'll Be The Day' - in the chorus Likely refers to Buddy Holly's song "That'll Be the Day." 3. ‘But February Made Me Shiver’ Of course refers to the deaths of Buddy Holly, along with singers the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson, who perished in a plane incident on February 3, 1959. Their small aircraft went down on a snowy late night after a concert in Clear Lake, IA. (Made me shiver - plane crashed in a blizzaed_ 4. ‘With Every Paper I'd Deliver / Bad News On The Doorstep / I Couldn't Take One More Step’ McLean worked as a newspaper delivery boy. And on February 3, 1959, the "bad news" was Buddy Holly's demise, on the cover of every paper that he delivered. 5. ‘When I Read About His Widowed Bride’ Buddy Holly was married to his young wife, Maria Elena Santiago-Holly, for only six months when he perished. His widowed, pregnant new bride was so traumatized by the news of his demise that she had a miscarriage. 6. ‘The Day The Music Died’ Since there was the loss of all three rock musicians in the same incident was seen as a tragedy, and in McLean's mind, marked the end of a musical era that would never be reclaimed. 7. ‘Did You Write The Book Of Love?’ "The Book of Love" is a famous song by The Monotones, a group from Newark, NJ. The song was released in 1958, topping pop and R&B charts. It must have left an impression on young McLean. As the lyrics to the song go: "I wonder, wonder who, mmbadoo-ooh, who...Who wrote the book of love" 8. ‘If The Bible Tells You So?’ "The Bible Tells Me So" was written by Dale Evans in 1955 and recorded by a handful of singers the same year. It was a pop(ish) version of the of the Sunday school song "Jesus Loves Me" 9. ‘You Both Kicked Off Your Shoes' Refers to sock hops. Teenage dance parties in the '40s and '50s that involved playing popular music in gymnasiums or community halls. Kids were told to take their shoes off to protect the varnish on gymnasiums and dance floors. 10. ‘With A Pink Carnation And A Pickup Truck’ In 1957, Marty Robbins released the heartbreak song "A White Sport Coat (And a Pink Carnation)" about a young man "all dressed up for the dance" and "all alone in romance." 11. ‘And Moss Grows Fat On A Rolling Stone’ A year after Bob Dylan released "Like a Rolling Stone" in 1965, he was involved in a motorcycle accident that made him lie low for a year or two at the height of his career. He had just transformed himself from a folk singer to an electric guitar-playing rock musician, which caused a lot of controversy within the American music scene. Some people believe McLean's intention was to highlight the evolution of music between the '50s and early '70s while also pushing the action of the song into the '60s. 12. ‘When The Jester Sang For The King And Queen’ Bob Dylan is the jester, Pete Seeger is the king, and Joan Baez is the queen. Bob Dylan opened for them at the Newport Folk Festival in 1963, where the three of them sang Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" together on stage. 13. ‘In A Coat He Borrowed From James Dean’ On the cover of his 1963 album The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan, Dylan wears a red windbreaker similar to the one worn by James Dean in the film Rebel Without a Cause. 14. ‘And While The King Was Looking Down’ Reference to Pete Seeger looking down on the way Bob Dylan experimented with music in the 1960s. 15. ‘The Jester Stole His Thorny Crown’ Bob Dylan the jester became the king, taking the crown when he won hearts with his brand of folksy rock 'n' roll. Some people believe he took the crown from Elvis, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll." Others stick with Pete Seeger. 16. ‘The Courtroom Was Adjourned / No Verdict Was Returned’ Referring to the JFK assassination. After he was slain in 1963, the man accused of the slaying, Lee Harvey Oswald, was himself slain. Therefore, "no verdict was returned" because no trial actually occurred. Also, the Warren Commission showed no real explanation to the event. 17. ‘And While Lennon Read A Book On Marx’ The popular theory is that he's singing about the Beatles becoming more political with their music as tensions soared in the '60s. The Beatles, adored by American youth, were deemed inappropriate by older generations who thought their music was too rowdy. Also, the Beatles released songs like "Revolution" in 1968, whose message is in line with the Communist writer Karl Marx, known for The Communist Manifesto.

[@bloodybutunbowed291]

18. ’The Quartet Practiced In The Park’ The quartet is likely the Beatles: Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. 19. ‘And We Sang Dirges In The Dark’ A dirge is a funereal song of mourning, and there were a lot of funerals in the '60s: President John F. Kennedy, Martin Luther King Jr., and Robert F. Kennedy among them. The line could also refer to the Vietnam conflict; many drafted service members sent overseas never made it back home. 20. ‘Helter Skelter In A Summer Swelter’ "Helter Skelter" is a song the Beatles released in 1968, a year of political and social turmoil in the United States. The next August, "in a summer swelter," followers of Charles Manson (who called for a racial war he referred to as "Helter Skelter") brutally slayed five people, including the actress Sharon Tate. 21. ‘The Birds Flew Off From A Fallout Shelter’ Some fans speculate this is a reference to the '60s rock band The Byrds. A fallout shelter is a euphemism for a drug treatment center, which one of the band members checked into after being caught with illicit substances. 22. ‘Eight Miles High And Falling Fast’ Eight Miles High is the title of a 1966 album by The Byrds. It is considered one of the first real trippy records. The sound of the album was influenced by plenty of experimentation with acid. 23. ‘It Landed Foul On The Grass’ Referencing the counterculture's overt use of weed. 24. ‘With The Jester On The Sidelines In A Cast’ In 1966, Bob Dylan (the Jester), was in a very bad motorcycle accident that had him laid up and in a cast. He didn't want to go to a hospital so he moved in with the small-town doctor, Doctor Ed Thaler, and his family, staying in the third-floor bedroom of their home until he healed. 25. ‘While Sergeants Played A Marching Tune’ The Beatles released their album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" in 1967. It was an album where they changed their style making traditional "rock n roll". Experimenting with different soundscapes, introducing instruments such as brass horns and sitars. 26. ' 'Cause The Players Tried To Take The Field / The Marching Band Refused To Yield’ Talking about the protest movement that seemed to peak in the late '60s and early '70s, from Chicago protests at the Democratic National Convention to the one at Kent State in Ohio where the National Guard opened fire on a bunch of students. 27. ‘Oh, And There We Were, All In One Place’ Woodstock. The 1969 music festival in Bethel, NY, brought together more than 400,000 people in one weekend. Many of the most well-known rock musicians of the time performed, including Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. The festival is viewed as the height of American hippie culture. 28. ‘Jack Be Nimble, Jack Be Quick / Jack Flash Sat On A Candlestick’ A mashup of the "Jack Be Nimble" nursery rhyme and the 1969 song "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by the Rolling Stones released on their album "Live'r Than You'll Ever Be". The album sold poorly, so this could be read as an insult to the Stones for not coming up with a good comeback to the Beatles' album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". 29. ‘Cause Fire Is The Devil's Only Friend’ The Devil is seen to be represented by the Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger. The Rolling Stones' music portrays rebellion and estrangement, and the pull away from a more innocent time was perceived earlier in the '50s and early '60s music as well as the world in general. 30. ‘No Angel Born In Hell / Could Break That Satan's Spell’ "Angel" refers to the Hells Angels Motorcycle Club, which started a riot at the 1969 Altamont Free Concert in California. They were hired to provide security during a performance by the Rolling Stones, and an 18-year-old Black man was stabbed by a member of the motorcycle group (some say for trying to pick up on a white girl). The events of the day are considered by some to be the day the "free love" movement ended. 31. ‘I Met A Girl Who Sang The Blues’ The "girl" could be Janis Joplin, the rock singer with a very bluesy voice who perished from taking illicit substances in 1970. Her hits "Piece of My Heart" and "Me and Bobby McGee" were considered anthems for the hippie generation. 32. 'I Went Down To The Sacred Store / Where I'd Heard The Music Years Before / But The Man There Said The Music Wouldn't Play’ Don McLean is possibly talking about the loss of interest in '50s music at record stores. When he released the song in 1971, perhaps he was suggesting no one cared about music from this bygone era anymore. 33. ‘And In The Streets, The Children Screamed’ In recent years leading up to the song's creation, thousands of young people across the country were involved in various protest movements, which led to confrontations with law enforcement or other groups. 34. 'And The Three Men I Admire Most / The Father, Son, And The Holy Ghost' Since Don McLean was raised Catholic, bringing religion in at the end of the song makes sense. The sacred holy trinity he speaks of, however, catches "the last train for the coast," likely a sign McLean believes America lost its moral foundation in 1959, the year of Buddy Holly's plane crash

[@ShawnSalvadori]

This was a great read, thanks for sharing! You really did your homework on this one, appreciate it. Don McLean had so much to say and an incredible way of saying it

[@wpollock1]

"Vincent" is fantastic! Highly recommended.

[@FredGarnett]

And, not only is this about the music dying in the 50s and the 60s but the production of the record itself also follows how music evolved over those 12 years (?). Starts in mono and finishes in a very rich resonant stereo. Glad you loved this great song Critical. Check out his wonderful live performance at the BBC too...

[@debbers]

If you aren't aware of this, the day the music died was the day that "The Big Bopper" Buddy Holly" and "Richie Valens" died in a plane crash! They were all so young and talented! It was a very sad time!

[@melissakhalar1842]

Excellent reaction to a Great song. I love it so much. Don's song Vincent is another song that is beautiful and worthy of a listen.❤❤🎵 🎶

[@ShawnSalvadori]

I'll definitely get around to that one 😁

[@kevinlundgren1169]

This is about Buddy Holly , the Big Bopper , and Ritchie Valens , they were big at that time , and they all went at the same time , the day the music died !!!

[@keithwest2148]

The first time I remember hearing this song was through the little white earphone from my transistor radio as a 14-year-old folding papers at 5:00 am on a street corner in San Jose, CA, so it had a little added resonance to me. It is very fitting that McLean tells his story in a series of headline statements. As a paperboy, much of what you learn about the world first appears to you across the top of the front page. I remember the Tet Offensive, the MLK and RFK assassinations, the moon landing, and the Tate-LaBianca murders that way. I can understand why McLean's papers were so heavy to carry that February in 1959.

[@RyleyI]

I still remember the 1st time I heard the whole song when it came out. It was huge with everyone trying to figure out what was about.

[@keithowen3523]

I know I’m old when I’ve run across someone that’s never heard American Pie.

[@anthonyblakely399]

When I first heard this song I went crazy...my friends went crazy!!! We would get together and figure out the lyrics....which are very very deep. We knew all the words to this song.....and I still do.....and we figured out what Don meant....and the meaning of the song......One of my favorite songs!!!

[@karenmandeville7116]

history of rock n roll all in one song. and the good ole boys were drafted and getting ready to go to Nam, hence 'this;ll be the day that i die',

[@RJ-oy7cq]

If you like Don Mclean's poetic writing--you need to try the song VINCENT...you'll love it.

[@andrewmorton9327]

The marching band was the Beatles (Sergeant Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band) who were keeping American bands from the stage.

[@alanbrown8527]

Thank you for clarifying. I was in high school in Brooklyn NY at the time it was released and I heard it on the radio constantly. It was even discussed in my high school English class. It certainly was a big hit on NY top 10 radio.

[@johnbattles1002]

Mine was a similar experience in Georgia. I was taking an advance English class in 12th grade called "Honors Humanities," in which we discussed great art/painters, sculpture/sculptors, music/composers, and literature/authors from the Middle Ages to modern times. "American Pie" was one of the songs which gave us (including the teacher!) a great challenge -- and great fun -- dissecting!

[@refreshcms]

Don McClean, and especially this song, had a huge influence on me as an angst-ridden teenager and as a musician. I forced my entire youth group to travel up to London to see him live at the Royal Albert Hall; it was brilliant!

[@stanleynykaza9042]

The phase of the sacred store refers to when you could listen the a record at the record store before you decided to buy it, but that changed and they no longer offer to play it before you bought a copy.

[@johnthegreek5836]

First of all, Great Reaction, you’re the perfect person for to give your thoughts on this masterpiece; Great song and so many interpretations but it’s a song that will be played for generations and another classic from him is Vincent

[@terridostal1348]

Love your reaction. Still have to sing along with it. If the song is on the radio you can not get out till its over.

[@827dusty]

"American Pie," is an American Classic, and that's an understatement to be sure. This song is a reference to the Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, and Richie Valens tragedy in 1958 when they were killed in a small airplane in a terrible storm in 1958. They crashed in an Iowa corn field, while flying to their next gig. More than a few movies have been made about this sad event in Rock n Roll history.

[@eloisapompa5048]

It actually happened in February 1959, 4 months before I was born.

[@bearballin]

February 3rd, 1959.... I was born the day before

[@danielman4057]

Best song ever written... Every time I listen to it I hear it for the first time

[@Jeff121456]

I suggest listening to "Killing Me Softly With His Song" as arranged and sung by Roberta Flack. The song was partially inspired by watching a Don McLean concert.

[@shark5919]

I still have the original '45' record of this song. The song is on both sides.

[@bernardwright2264]

Great song thanks.Vincent is another good one of his .it’s about Van Gogh.🙏✌️❤️

[@lorilxn1597]

I'm 60 and I've been listening to classic rock since about 10, 5 older siblings and listening to what they loved.

[@bettybaby63]

So good. The ultimate sing along. And the perfect driving song. You could be pulling down your block & if this came on the radio , you just kept on driving. ✊✊ The reference to Lennon is kinda wild bc he would later become that touchstone for a newer generation.

[@MrSidney52]

Love this song. Long time no hear.

[@cindyweir9645]

In this song I believe it’s about all the things that he had gone through that he thought would kill him, but he kept going and after all these hard life experiences he was still alive. He survived, and it gave new meaning to father son and Holy Spirit.

[@lorilxn1597]

He's a fabulous musician, many fantastic songs

[@Music_is_Breathing]

Pronunciation: Ma-Clane (ane as in aim, mane, etc.) The day the music died: the night Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Eddie Valens died in a plane crash. The lyrics are pointing certain artists of the particular era. The King: Elvis, the Jester: Bob Dylan after a motorcycle crash. Sargents: The Beatles, Byrds, actual group, Players: Rolling Stones. Stones at the Monterey Pop Festival 1967 (they hired to Hell's Angels for security....nough said!) The girls who sang the blues is Janis Joplin. The rest is still being argued about (because Don STILL hasn't told us the full meaning). The Three Men...a lot of theories. We've been trying to figure it out for over 50 years! It's a trip to listen to someone who just listened to it. Wow!

[@gvbezoff]

"But the man there said the music wouldn't play" This refers to the fact that the music stores would let you listen to a single in the store before buying it, and the practice had recently come to an end. Or so I believe.

[@lawana1958]

This song takes you on a ride. I am glad you are intruding a new generation to these lyrics. So much was expected of him after this masterpiece. It was on hard song to follow. Genius

[@jonsher7682]

I grew up a 10-minute bike ride from Don McLean's home in New Rochelle (pronounced "Roshell") and Don uses to take out his guitar -- he was in high school, and play for the neighborhood kids. This was a few years before my time but older neighbors recall this. McLean produced a documentary a year or two ago about the making of the song in which he claimed the musical references in his song, as interpreted by others, were NOT at all what he thought at the time (with the exception of the Byrds), that the marching band referred not to the Beatles and Sgt. Pepper but the National Guard, but I don't quite believe him -- I think he just enjoys not being to open a book. As other mentioned, listen to Vincent, also on his debut album with American Pie. Also check out his life version, as he is as good live as in the studio -- a beautiful, earnest voice. He still tours.

[@MRCANTGETANAME]

I always thought that it was pretty obvious that the “marching band”was referring to the National Guard and that the “players” trying to take the field , were the Kent State student protestors. 🤷‍♂️

[@jonsher7682]

@@MRCANTGETANAME Bob Dylan was at the peak of his fame when he tumbled from a Triumph motorcycle on July 29, 1966, claimed to have broken his neck and did not tour again for years, releasing a studio album in December 1967. In the meantime, the Beatles released June 1, 1967 Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, whose cover featured the foursome dressed as if in a marching band. And at the same time Dylan was in a cast, the Byrds released a hit, in 1966, Eight Miles High, that McLean was his reference in American Pie. So in a song filled with musical references, most people think the following lines refer to Elvis (the King), the Beatles (marching band and Lennon/Lenin wordplay) and Dylan, (the Jester) and who posed on album covers and in public appearances to be James Dean-like, a rebel, in the case of albums both on The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan (1963), and later on Highway 61 Revisited (1965), the latter happening a year before the motorcycle crash: XXXXXXXXXXXXX When the jester sang for the king and queen in a coat he borrowed from James Dean And a voice that came from you and me Oh, and while the king was looking down The jester stole his thorny crown... And while Lenin read a book on Marx A quartet practiced in the park And we sang dirges in the dark... Helter skelter in a summer swelter, the birds flew off with a fallout shelter Eight miles high and falling fast It landed foul on the grass, the players tried for a forward pass With the jester on the sidelines in a cast Now the halftime air was sweet perfume While the sergeants played a marching tune We all got up to dance Oh, but we never got the chance 'Cause the players tried to take the field The marching band refused to yield XXXXXXXXX McLean disputes every musical reference but the Byrds, but again, I think he simply enjoys obscuring a meaning that seemed clear to most observers at the time. McLean denies the "jester" was Dylan even though that was his nickname, he cultivated an image as a musical James Dean right down to his leather jacket, and he was sideline with injuries at the time the Byrds released Eight Miles High and the Beatles released Sgt. Pepper with Lennon serving as the band leader in the title track. If McLean is fibbing about Dylan, than surely he would be willing to do the same about the Beatles in a song largely focused on the loss of musical innocence. In any case, it's a masterpiece of a song.

[@MarkFern-fc1eu]

Legend has it that a long time after this song came out, and there was still so much speculation on what it all meant, an interviewer asked Don, for the millionth time, “Don, what does American Pie really mean?” And Don supposedly replied, “ It means I’ll never have to work again.” I don’t know if that story is true. But I hope it is. “Vincent” is a must. Super sad and thoughtful song about Vincent Van Gogh. That might be Don’s best work. Try to find a lyric video if you can. And if you don’t know anything about Van Gogh you might research him a bit to have some basic knowledge about him. Some background will help you appreciate Don’s amazing lyrics.

[@bella-xp7qd]

August 16, 2021 Ron received a star on the Walk Of Fame. He invited Home Free to sing and attend as they sang this song together. They received 3 Telly awards for it. Don heard them and asked them to do the song. Should definitely check it out.**** The policy of notifying next of kin before Cops release names of fatalities stems from Buddy Holly's wife having a miscarriage after learning of his death through hearing it on tv. Due to her having a miscarriage she was not able to attend the funeral.****

[@annadreamsart9756]

Such a beautiful song. I heard it the year it came out. Your reaction was wonderful! Thank you for digging into the meanings and looking up Don. This was the first time I saw one of your reactions and I followed because you did so good. I've always loved this song. And funny how I learned the lyrics so so young and still remember them all.

[@joelliebler5690]

One of the best lyrical stories ever. In an interview decades after the song was first released Don said that the story is about several things intertwined about several artists though he said it was mostly about the struggles for him and most American artists getting radio air play during the first British music invasion of the U.S..Try reacting to these other great ones by Don; Castles In The Air(original album version), And I Love Her So, Vincent, and Crying!All accurate info on these subjects and topics.

[@dbriddie9525]

Countless have tried to fully interpret these lyrics. included are Buddy Holly, Lennon, Dylan, Elvis, Manson etc. Mclean has never fully divulged this in public

[@gew1898]

Empty Chairs, also by McLean, is world class poetry put to music.

[@patticampana9458]

I used to play this on my guitar when I was 12. Still love it and the lyrics!

[@garyarnett1220]

Agree with about 85% of their analysis, though I think they were reaching a bit on some. "his widowed bride" would more likely refer to Holly again who had recently married, rather than JFK who had been married for years. There are a few others that may be a stretch.

[@ShawnSalvadori]

It is fun to let your mind reach those far off place though 😅 but I get what you mean 😁

[@LunaCorbden]

Your insights without knowing what the song is about are very perceptive and spot on. The death of Buddy Holly was indeed pivotal and world-changing, a big shift from the 50s zeitgeist to the 60s.

[@trekkiexb5]

Most of the song references the plane crash in which Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens died. THe Jester verse is about Bob Dylan. In the '80's when we were on bus trips wit the my high school band, whenever this came up, we all would sing it. This song, "Edmund Fitzgerald" (I'm from Michigan), "Bohemian Rapsody" or "Hotel California" came on the radio, we would all stop whatever we were doing and start singing.

[@cherrypickerguitars]

I remember hearing this for the first time, on the radio (the “radio” is one of our great cultural loses!) in the very early 70’s, when I was a teenager. I had just learned about Buddy Holly the same year (God bless the Stones and the Beatles) and I soon discovered the Big Bopper and Richie V. I was a huge CSNY, The Band, The Allmans and the Stones fan, at the time - but this really “fit” me as well. Peace

[@MN_Cozy]

Agree that radio is a great cultural loss… this a a reason many younger people don’t know any music from the past… when we grew up radio played oldies once in a while.. we knew our parents music… you heard old songs without even trying! Today everyone chooses only what they want to hear, and through ear buds.. I love older music being discovered by the younger generations!

[@edb6690]

Feb 3rd 1959, a plane crashed that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper(J.P. Richardson). He called it "The Day The Music Died" and the term is now the reference to that day.

[@marilyn4917]

Just discovered you and loved this reaction. I was 11, I believe, when this song was released and I still remember every word. By the way, I subbed!

[@jonathanmurphy3141]

There is a decade of symbolism in this song. Some references are understandable, others still cryptic. When I was younger, I only knew Rye bread, later learned it’s a form of whiskey. The tragedy of three early Rock’ greats -would have wrecked a fan. The first death that I had to cope with was John Lennon’s murder, I was 11years, and a fan of The Beatles for only 2 years.

[@JillianDavis-yk8pc]

There is a documentary on the streaming service paramount plus called The Day The Music Died American where Don McLean himself describes his inspirations for the song and breakdowns some of the lyrics of the song.

[@cletushouse906]

Great reaction. Best I have heard on this song yet.

[@edb6690]

Bit of humor, a reporter asked Don what the song meant, he replied "it means that I'll never have to work again".

[@DwayneShaw1]

You may almost be ready for "Alice's Restaurant Massacree" - or possibly even, "Bob Dylan's 115th Dream" btw, Gary Busey did an excellent portrayal of Buddy Holly. Back in the 70's Gary was a great actor.

[@dreams2xs]

I live just a couple hours from the plane crash site. I have been there a few times. There is an annual Buddy Holly fest at the Clear Lake Ballroom where Buddy did his last gig. There wasn't enough seats on the plane, so they flipped a coin to see who would be left behind. Waylon Jennings lost (or won according to perspective) the coin flip. I remember as a paperboy delivering papers where the sherriff of that county found Buddy Holly's glasses in a file cabinet and returned them to the widow. I was in middle school when this song came out and my brothers and I sang it a lot.

[@savannah65]

When this song turned 50 years old, he re-did it with Home Free. It is great.

[@IrishKack]

You have to check out Vincent. Your love of sad songs, you will love the tragic story of Vincent Van Gogh. It’s quite beautiful.

[@sarahjackson2873]

Back story, the line I cant remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride refers to at the time of his death Buddy Holly and his wife Maria were married just under 6 momths still making her a bride as the first year you are consider a bride thus his / Buddy s widowed bride

[@stephaniewilson1153]

One of my favorite songs when I was in grammar school!!!

[@dionysiacosmos]

American Pie is an eight and a half minute Impressionist folk /rock song about the death of Buddy Holly. I knew from the time I first heard it, at 12, it wasn't meant to be literal.

[@darrellwhitman4756]

This song is about the loss of innocence using rock n roll metaphors.

[@flubblert]

One of the most enigmatic and dissected songs of the baby boom generation. It Chronicles the evolution of rock against the tumultuous times of the fifties and 60s. The assassination of President Kennedy in 1963 is often referred to as 'the day the music died'. Or the day our generation lost it's innocence. In 1969 the Rolling Stones performed a free concert at Altamonte Speedway in California. Three people died - one stabbed to death by security which was provided by the Hells Angels. The song the Stones were singing during the murder was "Sympathy for the Devil". It is believed this passage refers to that event: "So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick Jack Flash sat on a candlestick 'Cause fire is the devil's only friend. "Oh, and as I watched him on the stage My hands were clenched in fists of rage No angel born in Hell Could break that Satan's spell" It goes on and on and on like that. Dissecting this song became a favorite pastime for awhile. They even had radio programs devoted to it. This song is iconic. We were truly "a generation lost in space". The space race with Russia began in earnest when President Kennedy promised during his inauguration in 1961to put a man on the Moon by the end of the decade. The first moon landing occurred on July 16th 1969. We won... I guess. 😕

[@flubblert]

"Vincent" by Mr McClean is a must listen.

[@JasonGilbert-yl8hf]

Hey buddy... that plane crash is here in ClearvLake Ia just north of town about 5 miles... just north of my house 4 miles. They have a Winter Dance Party the 1st of February every year to remember the 3 Greats!!!

[@Xcris_crosX]

The interpretations vary. Bob Dylan was the Jester mentioned in the song. Dylan was blamed/credited for transforming the 1950s {ahem} Happy Days era into the 1960s politically turbulent era. He’s the Jester that stole the crown (from the King, Elvis). I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck: is a reference to Marty Robbins' song called A White Sports Coat. Drove my Chevy to the levee: May have been that The Levee was apparently the name of a favorite neighborhood bar. Upon going back to revisit it, The Levee was disappointingly no longer a bar; "But the levee was dry". And while Lennon read a book on Marx: John Lennon was a thorn in the side of the old Soviet Union Lenin ideology. The marching band: Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Helter Skelter in a summer swelter: The Beatles and Charles Manson. Eight miles high and falling fast: Eight Miles High by the Byrds. Did you write the Book of Love: Song by The Monotones. I met a girl who sang the blues: Janis Joplin There we were all in one place: Woodstock. And several more symbolisms

[@nmt2k2]

Okay, I know you posted this 4 months ago and it's unlikely you're going to see this, but I was in 7th grade when this was a hit. Me and all of my friends kept a pencil and paper near the radio so that when American Pie would come on we would furiously scribble down whatever lyrics we could parse out. By the time summer was halfway over, between the bunch of us, we had all the words and we could sing the entire song acapella.

[@Gashouse69]

This song is chock full of music related Easter eggs.

[@llanitedave]

Now that you've heard the original, you have to try Weird Al Yankovic's take on it, called "The Saga Begins."

[@lisamoore5552]

Yes! If he's a Star Wars fan, it's a must.

[@cjdesign5700]

The King - Elvis The Jester - Bob Dylan Sergeants - The Beatles The Byrds - Rock group (Eight Miles High) Jack Flash- the Stones at Altamonte concert The the song is about the death of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valence in a plane crash. However Don McLean revealed this song was written over a long period of time and is also about the decline of the morality in America. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost catching the train for the coast. the murder at the Altamonte concert, etc. -FRom Beatles4sale

[@patticampana9458]

The girl who sang the blues, was Joplin.

[@TheirFinestHour]

I think it’s about the loss of innocence and what was once good about us.

[@tonybennett4159]

One Don McLean song that is rarely mentioned but is so powerful is "The Grave". In it he matches the intensity of Dire Straits' anti-war song "Brothers in Arms"

[@TangieTown81]

If you want to know what he meant with all the lyrics he finally did a tell all documentary: The Day The Music Died: The Story of Don McLean's American Pie. Check it out now on Prime Video! I know he painted a picture of Americana in the 60's surreal enough for people to have their own interpretations but when he talks about the king with the thorny crown it isn't Elvis it is Jesus. And the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost catching the last train for the coast is to represent that the debauchery of the 60's meant even God sold out to California.

[@dougca7086]

February 3,1959 Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens died in a plane crash! a lot of people think of them as the beginning of rock and roll and of course that was The Day the Music Died!

[@rebeccafoust7145]

Don did a remake of this with Home Free, an a capella band. Worth a listen. Either on your own or as a reaction. If you choose to react, you are inviting Home Free's huge fanbase to your channel. Either way, enjoy.

[@katherinea.rodgers8366]

I see you listened to Vincent! John Mayer did a great job of this song on the last week of the David Lerrerman show. The song is about the death of Buddy Holly who died in a plane crash along with Ritchi Valenz and Big Bopper!

[@brandonflorida1092]

I am pretty sure that the reference to "his widowed bride" refers to Buddy Holly's young wife, Maria Elena. I agree that the joker is probably Bob Dylan and the reference to the joker being in a cast could well be a reference to Bob Dylan's 1966 motorcycle accident. I suspect that the reference to "the king" is a reference to Elvis Presley.

[@joonzville]

A couple of The Big Bopper’s hits were Chantilly Lace and White Lightnin’ in the late 50s.