ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL!..| FIRST TIME HEARING Don McLean - American Pie REACTION 

This song is just incredible, one of the greatest songs of the century. It mixes a bit of Don Maclean's own history, to the events that unfolded during a 12 year period between the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper (the day the music died), and how this accident started an era that brought the end of innocence to him and to large part of the American society of the time (in his view). He starts with some teenage love deception and then it gets serious. He talks about lots of singers and groups such as Elvis (the King), Bob Dylan (the Jester), the Rolling Stones and the Beatles, not always being nice to them, with the backdrop of 60s, Kennedy murder (The courtroom was adjourned), Vietnam war ("singing this will be the day that I die"), Crimes committed in the name of the Beatles (Helter skelter in a summer swelter) and so much more. It mixes his own feeling with the direction of music (apparently going away from his dream 50s rock'n'roll into a direction he didn't like) with the troubles on the American society. The loss of innocence is so well represented by the refrain, based on the 50s commercials from Chevrolet, but this time, he "Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry". It is a song worth interpreting every verse (and there is a lot of material if you search the Internet) and once you understand it, what is a great song becomes a work of universal art.

The day the music died was Feb. 3, 1959 when Buddy Holly, along with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash. The rest of the song tells the story of the 60s - the Sergeants are the Beatles, moss growing on a rolling stone is a reference to Brian Jones death, the King is Elvis, Bob Dylan is the jester, him being in a cast refers to his motorcycle crash, the Birds are the Byrds and so on...

Don McLean was a master lyricist, able to paint vivid pictures with words. Something that is sadly missing in today’s music for the most part. Back in the 70s there was an abundance of such songwriters and we were blessed to live it.

The Day the Music Died is about the day America lost three of its most beloved musicians and performers all at once in a plane crash. The song is absolutely filled to the brim with abstract references to so many popular performers at the time and to some extent their circumstances. That line about Janis Joplin just kills me every time. It's where he is saying that he met a girl who sang the blues and he turned to her hoping for some good news, but she just turned away. Meaning, she died early as well. In her late twenties, along with Jimi Hendrix and others like Jim Morrison of The Doors. It's that classic thing of taking a really sad feeling and making it poignant by putting it to a really light- hearted and carefree, sing-along type song. Sometime when you are out somewhere find yourself around some people that are older, and it doesn't really even have to be all that much older, just start singing that chorus and I guarantee you that at least a few people will start singing along with you. It will just happen. That is how much the song is ingrained in our American culture and why I am positive you would have heard the chorus before.

In a recent documentary, Don McLean himself states that 'the King' and 'the Jester' are NOT Elvis and Bob Dylan but he's "open to interpretation". The 'marching band' were the military and 'the air was filled with sweet perfume' refers to tear gas! In the program he explains where the various lines from and what he was feeling at the time when he wrote it. American Pie has to be the most talked about song in the history of music, with everyone thinking they know what Don McLean was referring to. It's brilliant! You must listen to Vincent by Don McLean, one of the most beautiful songs ever - makes me cry every time!

This here is a music genre we don't see much nowadays: the story teller. Don McLean created a masterpiece about the 60's in the USA. Lots of people have already identified most of the "players" in this song, but one I haven't seen is: the girl who sang the blues = Janis Joplin.

There are several references to specific individuals, some more obvious than others. So, for instance, the Jester is Bob Dylan, the line 'with the Jester on the sidelines in a cast' a reference to the motorcycle accident that temporarily halted his career. The King is Elvis Presley (of course), the Queen I'm not sure about. The Quartet are the Beatles, hence the previous line's 'while Lenin read a book on Marx' (McLean pronounces Lenin as 'Lennon') and the park is Candlestick Park, San Francisco, where they played their last live concert (another 'day the music died.') Jack Flash, unsurprisingly, is Mick Jagger, as is the 'Satan' (an allusion to the Stones' Sympathy for the Devil) later on in the verse, which seems to deal with the Altamont concert, where the group's Hell's Angel bodyguards (hence 'no angel born in hell/Could break that Satan's spell') stabbed to death a young black concertgoer named Meredith Hunter. 'A girl who sang the blues' is Janis Joplin, and 'The Father, Son and Holy Ghost' refers both to the three singers who died on Buddy Holly's plane (Holly himself, Richie Valens and J P Richardson, the Big Bopper) and to the three most prominent assassination victims of the sixties, Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy and JFK. The song's non-musical allusions are rather less straightforward. However, I would say that it alludes to events including the Charles Manson killings ('Helter Skelter/In a summer swelter' - the Beatles' Helter Skelter was the song that inspired Manson's family), the Vietnam War ('the Sergeants played a marching tune' - a reference to Sergeant Barry Sadler's gung-ho Ballad of the Green Beret), anti-war demonstrations including the 1968 riots at the Democrats' Chicago convention ('The players tried to take the field/The marching band refused to yield'), and Woodstock ('there we were all in one place'). Overall then, American Pie paints a picture of the sixties, linked by a number of 'days the music died' from Buddy Holly's death, the singer's teenage romance, Candlestick Park, Chicago 1968, Altamont to the decade's uncertain end. It's one of the first songs to deal with the death of Sixties optimism, and one of the most effective.

When Don McLean was asked by an interviewer, "What does your song 'American Pie' mean?" he replied, "It means I'll never have to work another day in my life."

The song is essentially about "the day the music died", which is the name McLean gave to February 3, 1959, the day Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash

Next Don McLean song to react to would be Vincent. Another masterpiece of music and lyrics. But, have your tissues handy.

“ VINCENT” should be your next masterpiece song. No pun intended.

Great reaction! Now is the time to react to Mr. McLean's 50th Anniversary remake of his iconic song. He contacted Home Free to record it with him. It's remarkable. Recorded during covid shutdown. The song is about so many things going on in the 60's, 70's, plucked from the headlines at the time. Remarkable original and remake. Thanks for all the joy.

"American Pie" is one of the greatest classic songs of our times. Don McLean is a great songwriter & storyteller. I remember this song growing up. "American Pie" pays tribute to the loss of 3 legends who died so young (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper). A lot of references in the song are made to many artists from the early days of music including Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Byrds & others. Don McLean did an awesome version with Home Free to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this song. Please check it out.

Don McLean reached out to Home Free for the 50th anniversary of this song, it came out incredible. There are a lot of visuals hidden within the shadowbox to go along with the current verse of the song. For another song of Don's check out Vincent about Vincent van Gogh. Nice reaction!

This holds the record for the longest (in terms of minutes & seconds 8:42) song to hit #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart. In fact, if you originally bought the 45, it was so long that it was split into two sides - side A was 4:11; side B was 4:31

You should see Don in concert - he held us in the palm of his hand. An amazing entertainer. Still producing music with Home Free. This is a music history lesson from the 60's.

One of my favorite songs! You'll have to go back and listen again now that you know the context.

Most of us who grew up with this song memorized every word. I found myself singing along and to my surprise the words still came to me. When you learn about the context of this song in the beautiful comments below, I hope you grow to love it as we all did back in the day.

He's talking about the late 50's, all of the 60's, and into the 70's. Every line is an event that happened. Look up the meaning of American Pie on YT. Several vids explain the events, and WHO everyone was.

Had the pleasure of seeing him live a few years before Covid hit. A.M.A.Z.I.N.G! He still has a stunning voice, and raised the roof with American Pie and did Vincent for his encore which also raised the roof. Fantastic performer.

Such a masterfully written and performed song. One of the best of all time, charting many years of rock n' roll.

Also, “Vincent” about Vincent Van Gogh

the Jester is Bob Dylan. the king is Elvis. The Byrds, Sergeant Pepper, the Beatles, Jack Flash is Mick Jagger-the list goes on.

I'm Mexican (forget my Grammar mistakes). This song is chronicle of the rock music of the sixties. "The day the music died was when Richie Valens, the Big Bopper and Buddy Holy crashed in an airplane accident. The author thinks that from the on the music was not the same. Some symbols: the march= the Beatles; a jacket borrowed from James Dean= Bob Dylan; the devil's only friend= the Rolling Stones, and the girl who sang the blues= Janis Joplin. I hope this data will help you

It starts out with him delivering newspapers. He's reading all the headlines and noticing all the deaths of pop singers (airplane deaths & drug deaths)--all the bad headlines, he suppose is because music masters were dying. So, you, not even knowing past headlines, caught the gist: the world is worse off without music. Kudos!

IN AN INTERVIEW….YEARS AGO, DON WAS ASKED WHAT THIS SONG MEANT TO HIM…..HE SMILED AND SAID…..IT MEANT I NEVER HAD TO WORK AGAIN !

America was having good times and Rock & Roll was everywhere. Then, in February 1959, travelling by small plane between concerts, 3 popular and famous Rock & Roll singers of the day lost their lives when the plane they were in crashed during a storm, killing everyone on board. This sudden and profound loss shocked Americans deeply, but was especially blunt and sobering for Americas exuberant music loving teenagers.

What I love about your reactions is that they are so real and honest. Often the same thing I was thinking is what you say.

He is singing about rock n roll legend Buddy Holly who died in a plane crash in 1959 along with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. He continues to give a history of the next 10 years until this song written in 1971.

"This'll be the day that I die." Buddy Holley's big hit "That'll be the Day.""

I really really like that you are a student of life, learning through music that so many of us heard right out of the album cover.

One of the greatest lyrics ever written. EVERY line in this has a special meaning and reference point in music.

This song has so many references of importance, I encourage you to do some research on the meaning so you can truly appreciate it! Great reaction! ❤

Two movies released in 2021 had this song in it: Marvel's 'Black Widow' and the Tom Hanks film, 'Finch.'

In less specific terms, this is about the death of innocence in America in the 60's as reflected in the music. The more you learn about the specific references in this song, the more you'll like it.

It is a metaphor for the death of American innocence: the tone and lyrics of popular music, the Vietnam and Civil Rights Era and the associated protests, the era of God is Dead and the overall loss of wholesomeness in American culture.

As I understand it, this is a song abstractly telling the history of music during the 60s (a huge time of cultural change). If you research it, every line is referring to something significant. It starts with the crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper (the day the music died). Everything from there refers to something. The marching band that refused to yield, and the quartet practicing in the park I believe refer to the Beatles. Candlestick Park was the place of their last concert. They also continued to preach non-violence as protests raged during the 60s and kept doing songs focused on love (they refused to yield). The Jester is thought to be Bob Dillian. It talks about him being sidelined in a cast. At one point he was in a mysterious motorcycle accident. There is debate over who the king and queen are. The girl who sang the Blues is Janice Joplin. The "no angel born in hell" part refers to a concert where the Rolling Stones hired Hell's Angels to be security at a show that was supposed to be bigger than Woodstock and a cultural touchstone, but which ended up being a disaster leading up to one of the Angles stabbing a teenager to death. Bear in mind, Mclean hasn't confirmed his meanings, so some of what I'm saying has other possible interpretations. Also, Mclean had been a paperboy when the plane crash happened, and there was a bar called the Levee in his hometown so it's believed that's where those parts came from.

"The jester" is Bob Dylan... I heard this somewhere...it makes sense "The day the music died" refers to the plane crash that killed 3 early rock n roll pioneers.... Buddy Holly Ricthie Valens, and The Big Bopper

Others have explained the meaning of this iconic Don McLean song much better than I could. Another beautiful song by this artist that you might like to check out some time is Vincent, which is a heartfelt tribute to the great artist Vincent Van Gogh. Unrecognised in his lifetime and unable to sell any of his work, his paintings are now so valuable many are bought and sold as investments, locked up in bank vaults and museums. He lived a turbulent life, with much mental torment, including once famously cutting off part of his ear. If you're not already familiar with them, it might be worth reading up a bit about his life and looking at some of his best known artworks first, in order to appreciate the song's references. Or you could pick one of several videos made by fans which show his art while the song plays.

Such a stupendous song, and others on here have said who it was about, so I won't bother. I thought you heard Vincent but if not you should give that one a listen. Love your reaction.

Music is a gift from God, you are right! Plus dogs.

McLean's "day the music died" is February 3, 1959, when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper , J.P. Richardson Jr., were killed in a plane crash. McLean's other big hit "Vincent" is worth a listen, too. It's a tribute to artist Vincent Van Gogh with descriptions of many of his famous paintings.

"The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost" refer to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, who all died together in a small plane crash on February 3, 1959...The Day the Music Died.

Great reaction to an amazing song - as others have said, it's a narration of the music history of the 50s and 60s and pefectly captures the loss of innocence of the early days of rock and roll. What a classic. Cheers.

People can (and do) argue about the specific references in the song and the meaning, but broadly speaking, the song is split into two parts: "long, long time ago" he sings, looking back from the perspective of "for ten years we've been on our own." Each part has its own imagery/symbolism. Rather aptly for the purposes of this song, the "day the music died" was in 1959, so the song divides the "innocent" times of the '50s from the more turbulent times of the '60s. The chorus contains imagery of Americana: "Miss American pie" combines references to both "Miss America" and "as American as apple pie," and a '57 Chevy pickup truck is an iconic American vehicle (the fact it's a pickup is mentioned in the verses) that symbolizes an America that (according to the song) is gone.

So your a teenager in a high school band back then. Your idols are Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the The Big Bopper. They all die in a plane crash. The marching band plays at halftime of a football game. It's time for the players to take the field, but the marching band refuses to yield. Powerful thoughts. This is probably a reference to the Beatles (Sargent Pepper) , but not the way I imagine it.

It was #1 on the US Pop Charts for 4 weeks in January and February 1972. And for 50 years was the “longest” song to ever reach #1

For another long but hugely entertaining musical story you really need to listen to Arlo Guthrie’s song Alice’s Restaurant Massacree from 1967. It’s 18 minutes of entertainment about getting arrested in a small town to trying to get out of the draft during the Viet Nam era. It’s long but well worth the listen, a virtual classic to all of us old hippies.

this is the happiest sadest song ever composed with the most meaning both hidden and overt

Growing up the mantra in the US for a long time (Well into the 80s, 90s). "Hot dogs, baseball and Chevrolet". (As American as).

Best song ever and still relevant paramount+ has documentary about this song and what it's meaning is to the singer/songwriter it's called the day the music died

It's time to listen to these songs of the 60',70's ...up to the 80' s...and appreciate what's the story dehind them( artists and the song)!

Madonna did a cover of this song in 2000, was also for a movie i think, maybe you know that version. (probably lots of covers out there, its a well known song) Song is (at least partly) about Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, en J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson dying in a planecrash, all 3 where rock 'n roll stars.

7:14 Now I'm not religious, but I get the sentiment...I see music as the vibrating harmonies of the universe...all the forces in the known universe SOMEHOW interwove themselves to create the moments in which this song was written, recorded, and listened to...It is indeed hard to call it anything short of a miracle...

This song was released when I was in 5th grade around 1971-72. A classmate would bring her brothers 45’ to play on the record player in the classroom during recess

They teach whole segments of university classes on what this song means in total. He tells of how the deaths of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper in a plane crash, the plane was rumored to have been named American Pie affected his early years and then it progresses in to changes in music over the years, the assassination of Kennedy the politics of the Vietnam War, the changes in lifestyles and so on. It isn't about religion. That's a metaphor. Take a deep dive into it. Many opinions. Quite fascinating. When Don McLean was asked in early years about what the song meant, he quipped that it meant that he would never have to worry about money again. In 2022, he took part in a documentary that explains much of what it means. It is a great watch. Called 'The Day The Music Died'. Part of the anthems of my generation.

Sadly, so many young people have never heard of Don McLean. American Pie is an American music history lesson in metaphors. Vincent is one of the most beautiful pieces of poetry ever written by a songwriter. You have to listen to Crying to see that Don can do the cover of a great Roy Orbison song that matches the original in quality. In both American Pie and Vincent, you have to listen to how he treats each word. To say that his singing was different would be to understate the case. Music soon went off in a different direction where the words were no longer clear and it was all about noise. Then came "music" without any tune. If you haven't already, do check out Vincent. People think of it as Starry, Starry Night. It tells the story of Vincent Van Gogh who died penniless after producing over 2,000 works of art. Today, many of them sell for millions of dollars. Starry Night was his most famous painting and really grabs you when you see it. The words of this poem evoke many of Van Gogh's paintings. When the song reaches "I could have told you, Vincent, this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you," I choke up every time. This song is pure genius, including the performance that brings the words to life.

Father: Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holly; son: Richie Valenzuela; Holy Ghost: BIG Bopper

This was about the death of Ritchie Valens the big bopper And Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash

On that date that those three young men died in the plane crash the news paper headlines were: The Day The Music Died.

In the gym, dancing to this…along with the teachers.

He's singing about the days that innocence was part of the culture. He's speaking about February 3rd when Buddy Holly, Big Bopper & Ritchie Valenz' plane went down in an awful crash. It was the end of an era, ie " the father , the son , holy ghost .

So glad to hear this song. I bought the record when it came out when I was a teenager at school and played it non stop.

"Day the Music Died" = 1959 plane crash (Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, Richie Valens) "Jester" = Bob Dylan "Jester on the sidelines in a cast"= Bob Dylan appears in the "cast of characters" on the Sgt. Pepper album on the side. "King" = Elvis "Quartet" = Beatles "The Byrds" = The Byrds. Eight miles high was one of their songs. "Sweet Perfume" = smell of marajuana "Marching band refused to yield" - Beatles were top of the charts thru '60's "Devil" - Mick Jagger "Girl who sang the blues" = Janis Joplin "Father, Son & The Holy Ghost" = John Kennedy, Robt. Kennedy & Martin Luther King

Buddy did not make it to his concert in Moorhead, Minnesota so the local warm up band did the whole concert - Bobby Vee and the Shadows.

I cried the day I heard about the crash. I cried when I heard this for the first time. I'm crying again. Thank you.

The song is a tribute to 3 very early rockers who died in a plane crash in the late '50's. One called the Big Boppetr, another Richie Valanze (spelling wrong)and one whose name escapes me.

On February 3, 1959, American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were all killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson.The event later became known as "The Day the Music Died" after singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to it as such in his 1971 song "American Pie".

You might remember it from madonnas cover. it was very popular in 2000 when i was young

Every line is a reference to a moment in history. Look it up. You will enjoy knowing and appreciate the song even more.

Very poetic.

American Pie is innocence and about loosing that, Music had an innocence to it during the 50's... what the lyric is saying is on Feb. 3, 1959 music lost it's innocence with the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson. Then throughout the song he makes references to Bob Dylan, The Byrds, The Beatles, Woodstock and Janis Joplin among others in the years following, music was different. What he Implied was American society also lost it's innocence.

I think it was February 23rd 1959 when the 3 iconic Rock´n Roller, Bill Hayley, the big bopper and Richie Valens died in a Plane crash. This was seen as the day the music died. The "jester" is Bob Dylan and the girl, that sang the Blues was Janes Choplin. Elmar from Germany.

Almost every line has meaning to a baby boomer. It is still one of the most popular songs on oldies radio. Madonna has done a cover. Home Free has done a cover; One reason for the immense popularity is the 8 minute time which gave djs a chance for a smoke break. Most of the song used allegory to relate to various 60;s musicians, many of whom are discussed below. Another allegory song for McClean is Starry Starry night, which is about the artist Vincent Van Gogh. The Father was JP Richardson, (The Big Bopper), tbe Son was Rich Valens, who was 19, I believe, and the Holy Ghost was Buddy Holly.

This song describes all the major events in my life!! The music died when the plane crashed carrying the Big Bopper and all the other people on board.

If I were a songwriter and wrote American Pie, Vincent or And I Love You, any ONE of them much less all 3 of them, i would have a pen drop (instead of Mic drop) and call it a day!! 🎶🎵

The Chevys and Fords were the cars most people drove in the 60’s

"That'll be the day I die" is a line from Buddy Holly, and most of the lyrics are echoes of other songs and references to other musical acts, etc.

The reference - the day music died - is about a plane crash involving Buddy Holly Richie Valens and the Big Bopper! Holly had had a massive influence on most acts at the time and future! The Beatles said without Buddy Holly there wouldn't be Rocknroll!

This song shows respect to Buddy Holly and Richie Valens , and The Big Bopper , died in Iowa plane crush. This is original he wrote it.

Believe me, when this song came out, EVERYBODY wanted to know what he was talking about!

The imagery in this song includes so much about musicians of the 50s and 60s you could write a paper on it. Just from my memory these musicians are mentioned by name or reference: The Byrds, John Lennon, The Beatles (sergeants), The Jester (I think is Bob Dylan), the King (Elvis), Jack Flash (Mick Jagger), the Rolling Stones, Janis Joplin (girl who sang the blues) so many more.

“American Pie” is full of metaphors and references to old rock and roll songs from the 1950s. One thing is undisputed. “The music” is a reference to Buddy Holly, who died in an airplane crash in 1959, along with two other pop stars of the day, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. The song is Don McLean's tribute to early, danceable rock and roll. To a certain extent he felt that as pop music evolved during the 1960s, it became too topical and lost some of the joy of old time rock and roll. The song is also filled with subtle references to other bands and musicians, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, the Byrds and Mick Jagger. “The girl who sang the blues” was Janis Joplin who had died of a drug overdose a couple of years before McLean wrote this song. Whole books have probably been written trying to dissect and interpret the lyrics of this song. Many of the references work on multiple levels. “The three men I admired most” could refer to Holly, Valens and the Big Bopper, but also probably refer to President John F. Kennedy, his brother Bobby Kennedy, and Martin Luther King, all of whom were assassinated during the 1960s.

About a plane crash which too musical professionals we all know. I don't remember exactly who buddy Holly was one. The day the music died

Jack is a reference to Jumpin Jack Flash, by the Rolling Stone. The character. Potentially McClean himself. Has his fist clenched in fits of rage. Due to a concert, in which the Stones had hired the Hells Angels as security. Several died and Mic Jagger and the rest of the Stone had no care for the violence of that day. The song overall is lamenting a shift in rock'n roll. Stemming from the death of The Music- Buddy Holly, Richy Valens, and Big Bopper. They all died in the same plane crash. They were all good ethical men who sang positive music. With them gone, many turned to more cynical music. More artist started to turn away from the bible and toward the communist manifesto. Lenin reading a book on Marx, is John Lenin going from an anti-tax, limited government type in the song Tax Man to espousing communism in Imagine.

Good stuff man! I saw McLean live at Old Dominion in Norfolk when he was on the namesake tour. Thanks.

This was a very popular song with radio disc jockeys back in the day, because they knew they had 8 minutes for a bathroom break or a drink. (My husband was a disc jockey)

There is a great video on the Polyphonic youtube channel that delves into the meaning of the entire song. Fantastic.

Everybody wants to know what he is talking about. But Don McLean has a standard answer when asked what the song means. "It means I never have to work again."

Such a great song, super long, nice video 😁👍🎶

Iconic song and such a great reaction! You should check out Home Free's cover of this (they do it with Don McLean), it is incredible.

I remember when it came out, it was amazing in that time, and it’s still amazing today, the music of the 60’s and 70’s, I think the song was about the death of budy holly if I remember correctly , I was young

This is probably the most symbolically dense song in the history of rock and roll. Many articles have been written about it.

My sister and I sat at the kitchen table in the 60’s listening to the top of the pops on the weekend. We knew all the words to this song 🤩

Lots to unpack here but I think some of your viewers have done a pretty good job.

Another of Don McLeans great story songs tells the story of the great artist Vincent Van Gogh called, appropriately enough, "Vincent".

This song is filled with allusions. You need to know about Buddy Holley and his death in an air crash. The Jester is Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin was the girl that sang the blues. The Byrds recorded 8 Miles High. Heater Skelter is a reference to The Rolling Stones and the Altamont festival. I can't say that I can analyze this song fully but there is a lot that you can dig into if you want to.

The layering of the meanings of these words, are profound.....for instance, the 'Jester On The Sidelines In A Cast' is a reference to Bob Dylan....and the Rolling Stones hints are key.

Now you really should mark Feb 3rd on your calendar and do a tribute to the three rock martyrs who died in that plane crash on that fateful date. I suggest Rave On by Buddy Holly, La Bamba by Ritchie Valens and Chantilly Lace by The Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson. They deserve as much, so do we, and you will enjoy it immensely.

Virtually every lyric is symbolic to something that was occurring at the time. He's verified some of the people and things, but I haven't heard if he explained everything yet.