Don Mclean's American Pie Lyrics and What They (May) Really Mean

Even this generation must know the song "Killing Me Softly" as it was covered by Lauryn Hill in the 90's. This song was originally composed by Charles Fox and Norman Gimbel in 1971, and was based on a poem by Lori Lieberman. The poem was titled "Killing Me Softly With His Blues" and was written after watching a then-unknown Don Mclean perform "Empty Chairs".

"Killing Me Softly With His Song"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_Me_Softly_with_His_Song

Sadly, this generation may wonder "Don Who?" yet would sing along if I were to play "American Pie". (Bye, bye, miss american pie... drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry... you with me now?)

So after sharing the fun trivia fact that "Killing Me Softly" was originally written for Don Mclean, let's discuss what the lyrics to American Pie truly mean.

Some people already know that this song is about the death of Buddy Holly. Some people really don't care what this song is about and I could only wonder why somebody who doesn't care would continue to read this article, because I am here to tell you that it is about much more than Buddy Holly.

If you know what the word play means it is clear as day that the line "this will be the day that I die" is in direct reference to lyrics from Buddy Holly's most popular song "That'll be the day..... when I die". However, there are also references to Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin, the Beatles, Elvis, James Dean, the Rolling Stones, and much more. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper (whom all dies in the plane crash the day "the music died" are never specifically named. In fact, every person and event named in "American Pie" is only 'referred to' in a symbolical manner.)

"American Pie" has made songwriter Don Mclean an important contributor to our nations music and cultural history, and a "Songs of the Century" education project declared "American Pie" as the number 5 song of the twentieth century. It is the lyrics that have remained a semi-controversial mystery and songwriter Don Mclean refuses to explain them. If you ask him what "American Pie" means, he'll tell you "It means I never have to work again."