American Pie tab - don mclean

{t:American Pie}
{st:Don McLean}

A [G]long [D]long [Em7]time ago [Am]I can still re[C]member
how that [Em]music used to make me [D]smile And [G]I knew [D]if I had [Em7]my chance
that [Am]I could make those [C]people dance and [Em]maybe they'd be [C]happy for a [D]while.[Em]

But February [Am]made me shiver [Em]With every paper [Am]I'd deliver
[C]Bad news [G-B]on the [Am]doorstep I c[C]ouldn't take one [D]more step
I [G]can't re[D]member if I [Em]cried When I [Am7]read about his [D]widowed bride
But [G]something [D]touched me deep inside The [C]day the [D7]Music [G]Died [C-G]      [G]

So
{soc}
[G]bye [C]bye Miss A[G]merican [D]Pie Drove my [G]chevy to the [C]levy But the [G]levy was [D]dry
And them [G]good old [C]boys were drinking [G]whiskey and [D]rye
Singin' [Em]this'll be the day that I [A7]die [Em]this'll be the day that I [D7]die.
{eoc}

[G]Did you write the [Am]book of love And do [C]you have faith in [Am]God above?
[Em]  If the Bible [D]tells you so.  Do [G]you be[D]lieve in [Em]Rock 'n Roll?
Can [Am7]music save your [C]mortal soul? And [Em]can you teach me [A7]how to dance [D]real slow?

Well, I [Em]know that you're in [D]love with him 'cause I [Em]saw you dancin' [D]in the gym
You [C]both kicked [G-B]off your [A7]shoes Man, I [C]dig those rythmny [D7]blues
I was a [G]lonely [D]teenage [Em]broncin' buck With a [Am]pink carnation and a [C]pickup truck.
But [G]I knew [D]I was [Em]out of luck The [C]day the [D7]music [G]died[C]

I started singin'
{c: chorus}

[G]Now for ten years we've been [Am]on our own And [C]moss grows fat on a [Am]rollin' stone
[Em]  But that's not how it [D]used to be When the [G]jester [D]sang for the [Em]King and Queen
In a [Am7]coat he borrowed [C]from James Dean And a [Em]voice that [A7]came from [D]you and me

Oh, and [Em]while the King was [D]looking down The [Em]jester stole his [D]thorny crown
The [C]courtroom [G-B]was ad[A7]journed No [C]verdict was re[D7]turned
And while [G]Lennon [D]read a [Em]book of Marx The [Am]court kept practice [C]in the park
And [G]we sang [D]dirges [Em]in the dark The [C]day the [D7]Music [G]Died.[C]

We were singing
{c:chorus}

[G]Helter-Skelter in a [Am]summer [Am]swelter The [C]Byrds flew off with a [Am]fallout shelter
[Em]Eight Miles High and [D]falling fast It [G]landed [D]foul out [Em]on the grass
The [Am7]players tried [C]for a forward pass But the [Em]jester's [A7]on the sidelines [D]in a cast

Now the [Em]half-time air was [D]sweet perfume While the [Em]sargeants played a [D]marching tune
[C]We all [G-B]got up to [A7]dance But we [C]never got [D7]the chance
'cause the [G]players [D]tried to [Em]take the field The [Am]marching band re[C]fused to yield
[G]Do you [D]recall [Em]what was reveiled the [C]day the [D7]Music [G]Died?[C]   [G]

We stared singing
{c:chorus}

[G]Oh, and there we were all [Am]in one place A [C]generation [Am]Lost in Space
[Em]With no time left to [D]start again So come on, [G]Jack be nimble
[Em]Jack be quick Jack [Am7]Flash sat on a [C]candlestick 'cause [Em]fire is the [A7]Devil's only [D]friend

Oh, and [Em]as I watched him [D]on the stage My [Em]hands were clenched in [D]fists of rage
[C]No angel [G]born in [A7]hell Could [C]break that Satan's [D7]spell
And as the [G]flames climbed [D]high in[Em]to the night To [Am]light the sacri[C]fical rite
I saw [G]Satan [D]laughing [Em]with delight The [C]day the [D7]Music [G]Died [C]   [G]

He was singing
{c:chorus}

I [G]met a girl who sang the [Am]blues And I [C]asked her for some [Am]happy news
But [Em]she just smiled and turned [D]away I [G]went down to the sacred [D]store
Where I'd [Em]heard the music [Am7]years before But the [Em]man there said the [A7]music woudn't [D]play

And in the [Em]streets the children [D]screamed The [Em]lovers cried, and the poets [D]dreamed
[C]But not a [G]word was [A7]spoken The [C]Church bells all were [D7]broken
And [G]three men I [D]admire most The [Em]Father, [Am]Son and the [C]Holy Ghost
They [G]caught the [D]last train [Em]for the coast The [C]Day the [D7]Music [G]Died.[C]   [G]

And they were singing
{c:chorus}

They were singing
{c:chorus}

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Video American Pie

American pie- Don McLean
A long, long time ago... I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, they'd be happy for a while. But february made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver. Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step. I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside The day the music died. So bye-bye, miss american pie. Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock 'n roll, Can music save your mortal soul, And can you teach me how to dance real slow? Well, I know that you're in love with him `cause I saw you dancin' in the gym. You both kicked off your shoes. Man, I dig those rhythm and blues. I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck, But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died. I started singin', "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." Now for ten years we've been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone, But that's not how it used to be. 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. The courtroom was adjourned; No verdict was returned. And while lennon read a book of marx, The quartet practiced in the park, And we sang dirges in the dark The day the music died. We were singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." 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 half-time 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. Do you recall what was revealed The day the music died? We started singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." Oh, and there we were all in one place, A generation lost in space With no time left to start again. 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. And as the flames climbed high into the night To light the sacrificial rite, I saw satan laughing with delight The day the music died He was singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news, But she just smiled and turned away. 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. And in the streets: the children screamed, The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed. But not a word was spoken; The church bells all were broken. And the three men I admire most: The father, son, and the holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast The day the music died. And they were singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." They were singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "this'll be the day that I die." Lyrics from: http://www.lyrics007.com/Don%20McLean%20Lyrics/American%20Pie%20Lyrics.html

Don McLean - The meaning of American Pie (UPDATE)
This is a revision to previously posted videos. I was fortunate enough to go to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake IA and speak firsthand with many who were there including Tommy Allsup who flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens. This version corrects some factual errors and includes new footage from the SURF

Don Mclean - The Real Meaning of American Pie
This is a music video I made for the song "American Pie". It shows the meaning of the song through pictures. Enjoy

Don mclean - American pie (live)
One of my favourite versions of american pie

Don McLean- American Pie (with Lyrics)
Click more info for description* Please comment, rate, and subscribe. Thank you! Lyrics are also below- A long, long time ago... I can still remember How that music used to make me smile. And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And, maybe, they'd be happy for a while. But february made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver. Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step. I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride, But something touched me deep inside The day the music died. So bye-bye, miss american pie. Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock 'n roll, Can music save your mortal soul, And can you teach me how to dance real slow? Well, I know that you're in love with him `cause I saw you dancin' in the gym. You both kicked off your shoes. Man, I dig those rhythm and blues. I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck, But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died. I started singin', "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." Now for ten years we've been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone, But that's not how it used to be. 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. The courtroom was adjourned; No verdict was returned. And while lennon read a book of marx, The quartet practiced in the park, And we sang dirges in the dark The day the music died. We were singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." 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 half-time 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. Do you recall what was revealed The day the music died? We started singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." Oh, and there we were all in one place, A generation lost in space With no time left to start again. 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. And as the flames climbed high into the night To light the sacrificial rite, I saw satan laughing with delight The day the music died He was singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news, But she just smiled and turned away. 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. And in the streets: the children screamed, The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed. But not a word was spoken; The church bells all were broken. And the three men I admire most: The father, son, and the holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast The day the music died. And they were singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "this'll be the day that I die. "this'll be the day that I die." They were singing, "bye-bye, miss american pie." Drove my chevy to the levee, But the levee was dry. Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin', "this'll be the day that I die."