ONE OF THE BEST SINGLES TO EXIST?! First Time Hearing Don McLean - American Pie Reaction! 

The music 'died' in Feb 1959 when the Big Bopper, Richie Valens and Buddy Holly died in a plane crash. Thereafter, the rock-n-roll those three stars created also 'died'. The music changed dramatically in the 1960s and the old rock-n-roll style simply disappeared from the airwaves. American Pie just refers to American culture, generally. He outlines the impact of the great bands and artists of the 1960s--referring to them with euphemisms (like 'the Jester'), and his reaction to them. He then mentions when the generation were all in one place, lost in space, (Woodstock), and how that marked the end of the era.

I'm always tickled when younger people attempt to "figure it out" before they learn all the backstory. Then all of a sudden....ohhhh ..but no fault of anyone. Just us old folks getting a smile out of sharing our history. You 2 make me smile. Thanks

Many years ago I listened to a radio program that examined the song line by line. I've forgotten most of it, but a few things that stood out to me were: "The Jester" was Bob Dylan, "The King" whose crown he stole was Elvis. "The Sacred Store" was a drug store - long ago Drug Stores had a "Soda fountain" in them where teens would gather and there was usually a juke box there playing music.The whole "Devil" and fire portion was about the Rolling Stones and perhaps a few other bands that had darker songs. "No Angel born in Hell", at a concert in California the Rolling Stones infamously hired members of the "Hell's Angel's" biker club for security and at least one person died as a result. "The girl who sang the Blues" was Janis Joplin. If you liked his voice and writing skills in theis song you need to listen to "Vincent" from the same album. Absolutely beautiful and moving song. Edit to add: I almost forgot, "The Marching band" and "The Sergeants" were the Beatles.

"Vincent" is another one of his great songs. Also a history lesson that touches on human suffering and mental health. Just fantastic!

If ever there was a song written where the lyrics should NOT be taken literally, it’s this one. Every word drips with symbolism. Love this song. Makes me cry almost every time. Another song by Mr McLean is called Vincent. Please listen to this one, as well. Thank you.

When you do find the meaning i think you will realize how great a poet and songwriter Don McLean really was. Even if someone never understands it all, it is still a great song that will forever be loved by millions. Great writer, Great singer. He wrote the story of Rock and Roll and the story of an exciting generation of change. In my old age and now understanding it, a few tears stream down my cheeks. It makes you laugh and may make you cry. Thanks for playing it. I am over seventy now, but still love this one. It tells so much of the era of my teenage years.

This is an absolute classic, the theme of "the day the music died" resonates on several levels, even beyond the one of a tale of early rock greats dying in a plane crash. The song, in a nutshell, is about an end of an era that essentially started with that plane crash, a loss of innocence in American culture, an innocence lost and scarred by JFK being assassinated, social strife, racism running rampant, riots in cities, protests and war and a complete disillusionment of the youth and American culture. "For 10 years we've been on our own" is the first clue about this song, its all about the turbulent 60's, an the innocence of the 50's era dying.

When Don McLean was asked what this song meant, his standard answer was that it meant he didn't have to work anymore.

"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

This is one of the greatest classic songs ever written. It's meaning has been debated and discussed since the the release of the song in 1971.

This is the history of rock and roll, and the American culture, in 8 minutes. Buddy Holly was one of the early rockers, died in 1959, in the plane crash. There's also mrntion of James Dean, the actor, died young in the same time frame; the Beatles, Elvis, the Byrds, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan. A short answer is that these were the figures who influrnced HIM as he was growing up.

Honestly, the older I get, the more this song means to me. I enjoyed it in my twenties, I began to understand it in my forties, and I feel it in my soul in my sixties. One of the great American music anthems.

He has an other wonderful song called Vincent, about Van Gogh.

The hit song Killing Me Softly (with his song) was written about Don.

One of Buddy Holly's biggest hits was "That'll Be The Day (when I die)", a line that Mclean used to build the famous chorus in American Pie around...

"Vincent" is a must from Don Mclean a true tribute to a great artist.

Yep amazing story of the 1959 plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the big bopper, and its effects on Don McLean and America reacting to it.

I have this song memorized. Have listened to it for 53 years.

The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald- Gordon Lightfoot. Guys, another great history lesson song about a sinking ship with lost lives on it from the mid 70s. Gordon sang the song uniquely and as a history lesson to listeners. It went to #1 on the billboard charts. It’s a powerful song and I bet both of you would appreciate reacting to it.

What amazes me the most is how visionary Don McLean was, in realizing that his music contemporaries (The Beatles, Dylan, The Stones, etc) were so important that he portrayed them as mythology

You should check out his song "Vincent", his omage to Vincent Van Gogh. The song American Pie is an anthology ot the music of the 60's and 70's. There are veiled references to the Stones, Dylan, Joplin, the Beatles and others, The day the music died is when Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper died in a plane crash.

Grade 5. 12 years old. 1972. Our teacher brought his guitar to school and sang this song. He was a hit. Yes, he was a cool Teacher!

The best way to think about this song is as a musical scrapbook of the early Rock & Roll era.

This song is a time line of events in American culture, a loss of innocence.

McLean asked the a cappella group "Home Free" to record the 50th anniversary of the song with him in 2021 during the health concern. That edition already has over 4 million views on YT. Just put "Home Free American Pie" in the YT search.

I was in high school when this song came out. All of us in my class could recite every word of these lyrics.

A beautiful tapestry from Don McLean‘s perspective of America from the late 50s through the 60s into the beginning of the 70s people events places change a masterfully told story.

This is one of the top 5 songs in the history of Rock and Roll. The lyrics are genius! People have written Master's Thesis on what it means, there is incredible depth to every line. The music is timeless. Catchy yet whimsical, upbeat and slowed down. Very few songs come close to this masterpiece!

Once you learn what this song is about, you will want to immediately listen to it again.

I'm now 78 years of age and this still makes my top ten songs of all time ! in fact the American pie album is in my car as we speak (along with Dire Straits Alchemy album ) - probably the greatest live album of all time. I recommend you have a run through The American Pie album if you liked this !

Released in 1971 and I still remember hearing this song for the first time. I've listened to it hundreds of times since then and I still get emotional listening to it. One of the most (if not THE most) iconic songs in American music history. You really need to research it to get the full meaning, way too many references to try to explain. His song Vincent is another must listen.

An amazing "wordsmith"...the brilliant Don McLean.

Music died when 3 rock stars died in plane crash in late 50's big bopper ,richie valens ,buddy holly, byrds had a song called 8 miles high , helter skelter a heavy metal song by the beatles ,jumpin jack flash song by stones

I have been listening to this song since its release, and I never get tired of it.

Unless u understand the times in which this song came out it will b confusing but once u understand the terms & situations he's referring to its amazing!!!!

Don McLean did a reprise of this song fairly recently with Home Free. Another popular song of his is "Vincent " aka Starry Starry Night. A peaen to Vincent Van Gogh.

The critics loved this song when it first came out and lauded Don McLean as a songwriting musical genius and rightfully so. This is a masterpiece!

The lyric “no Angel born in hell, could break that satins spell” is said to reference when the hell’s angels were hired as bodyguards for The Rolling Stones & during that performance a man was killed by the hells angels to protect mick jagger from being attacked on stage. Referring to The Rolling Stones as satin as they had songs like sympathy for the devil.

McLean was once asked in an interview what this song means. He replied, "It means I never have to work again!" An iconic song that gets better when you start getting all the references.

McLean wrote the song, much of it biographical, as a reflection of what was happening in America during the 1960s with the assassinations of the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Vietnam War. For McLean, it started with what he called the end of the happy 50s, the tragic plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JD “the Big Bopper” Richardson in February of 1959. The day the music died.

While being about the Buddy Holly plane crash, Don McLean has also explained that it’s about the loss of morality in America. This song was written over several years. You can look up the meaning, but just to give you a little context, Bob Dylan is the court jester, the Beatles are the sergeants and the marching band. The concert is the Rolling Stones at Altamonte, where a fan in the crowd was murdered.

In 1971 I remembered every word of this song, And I’m 68 and still do

Iconic song. Don McLean is a phenomenal artist with songs like "Starry Starry Night" and his "Babylon" performance where he got a 10k crowd to sing in canon while playing a banjo

McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song's lyrics; he has said: "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry."

One of the best songs ever made and his other song " Vincent " is also awesome...My favorite line in the song has always been " And the three men I admire most, The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, They caught the last train for the coast "...An outstanding verse.

1 The Jester:= Bob Dylan 2 The King = Elvis / Christ 3 Quartet in the park = Beatles (Candlestick Park last concert 4 Eight Miles High : The Byrds. 5 Marching Band = US military 6 Girl Sang the blues (Janis Joplin). 7 Father sun and holy ghost (the 3 of them Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" or JFK MLK and RFK. Just a few of the cultural references

DEAR Friends I was born 1959 in germany , so when i was old enough to realize REAL music I heard This song. We my friends were the most unsucssful cover band ever, but we had sooooooo much fun . SO MUCH

I remember when this came out, it basically starts in 1959 with the plane crash that killed Valens, big bopper and Buddy Holly, that’s the day the music died and the innocence of the ‘50’s along with it. The rest basically talks about the turbulent ‘60’s. It’s a totally iconic song, I grew up in the ‘60’s and listening to this song always gives me a lump in my throat.

if you are over fifty in this country you are required to know the lyrics by heart

"Vincent/starry starry night" by Don Mclean is another must listen to tune. It's brilliantly tragic.

Listen to his tear-jerker about Van Gogh, Vincent. Beautiful lyrics.

The song is a sort of history lesson about the 60s. There's a lot of music references in the song. For example, the jester is Bob Dylan. The jester(Dylan) became more popular than The King(Elvis) taking his crown. Dylan was also sidelined from a motorcycle accident and was in a cast. The song mentions Woodstock, landing on the moon, The Beatles, The Stones, Janis Joplin. There's so much packed into this song. You have to know the 60s to fully understand this piece of art

I was actually gifted with this single on my 13th birthday, with a "basement party"! You had to actually turn it over to hear the song in it's entirety, lol. Music really is the best time travel machine ever! Thanks for this!

A few other lyric references; Quartet practiced in the Park is a reference to the Beatles The 60s group the Byrds had a great song “eight miles high”

He was asked during an interview what the song meant. He laughingly said It means I don't have to work anymore. Everyone else has given you a pretty good synopsis of lyrics. Mainly just enjoy the tune and don't worry too much about the lyrics. We didn't. Good reaction. Try some of his other tunes. I really like "Starry, Starry night".

Guys, it's only an 81/2 minute impressionists folk song about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. Which ushered in the turmoil of the 60s. Beyond that you just gotta let art flow over you. I was 4 when I saw The Beatles American premiere on The Ed Sullivan Show. Their music introduced us to surreal lyrics way before this. Other songs of this type are Hard Rain by Bob Dylan, Blinded by the Light by Manfreid Mann and too much Beatles song to remember.

Once you realize what the lyrics actually mean, you'll never look at music the same way again.

I remember buying this 45 rpm single. You had to flip it over to hear the second half of the song. 😊

The song Vincent would be Don McLean's 2nd most popular song.

also, Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) is another gem from Don. .

I suggest you look up all the references he made to music history and then listen to it again. It will all make sense if you know what is going on. I have a feeling, that his song "Vincent" will amaze you just as much.

American Pie was like anthem at the time we were teensgers and I am 67 yrs old .Still love this folk rock jam . ❤😊

I’ve always interpreted this song as a reflection of world events. I put it in the same category with “We Didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel and “End of the World as We Know It” by REM.

I graduated from high school in 1973. This song is our theme song at every reunion, the last song of the night when everyone is called out to be represented: cheerleaders, football players, drill team, band, orchestra, choir, Ag, every sport, every club. It's just an awesome celebration that honors everyone with this spectacular song. My daughter knows it from listening to it along with so much music from my era on long roads from college. Great times and memories

If you don't listen to his song STARRY STARRY NIGHT (VINCENT) you will miss an amazing experience.

Everyone is just born knowing the chorus to the song.

On February 3 1959 Buddy Holly Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, who were 3 major rock n roll stars(especially Buddy Holly) were killed in a plane crash..The tragedy was coined The Day The Music Died which is what this is the main theme of this song....The song then is a sort of history of rock music and it effect on culture...

It would be very hard to decipher much of the meaning of this song without knowing the history of rock and roll very well.

the 'good ole boys' drinking on the levee were 18 year olds who were being drafted to go to Vietnam. so many popular references-jumpin' jack flash (the rolling stones), the jester (bob dylan) and so many more.

"Castles in the Air" is a favorite of mine from Don McLean.

Great reaction. Love this song. I'm old so I know what he's talking about and it brings back many memories. McLean's "Vincent" is my favorite song especially while watching a video slideshow of Van Gogh's works.

An interviewer famously asked him once what it meant……..he said it means I’ll never have to work again…….😂😂😂

Masterpiece of a song. When I used to be a radio DJ, this was the song to play when a bathroom break was needed.

Santana. Carlos Santana. Iconic for over 50 years. Review his stuff from back then and now.

I am sure that there have been Doctoral Dissertations written about the ramifications and underlying meaning of this song. A person who lived through the events of the time - the music and cultural happenings - gets it more by feeling and instinct rather than by logical inclusion.

A lot of famous American Rock stars actually died together in a famous plane crash the day the music died

Don McLean "Vincent" is another popular masterpiece you may want to react to.

part of the song references The Altamont Free Concert where several people died. Especially during the Rolling Stones setlist and the song Sympanthy for the Devil. the biker gabd Hell's Angels provided security for the event and several people died,many injured, and extensive property damaged. The biggest issue was that the bands playing were unaware of the violence that were occuring but the media painted a different picture as if they knew but didnt care. Satan laughing with delight and no angel born in hell (hell's angels). Saw him on the standing on the stage (reference to Mick Jagger)

I agree with you that this is a great single, but you need to read all the comments to "get" the lyrics because, besides the poetry he's diving deeply into an era of great music, and its history

The Jester is Dylan, the Marching Band is The Beatles, Eight Miles High is The Byrds, The KIng whose crown is stolen is Elvis, the generation lost in space is a reference to Woodstock Festival, Jack Flash is Jagger. A shout out to Rob Stoner who played bass and back ground vocals and later did the same for Dylan on the album Desire and the Rolling Thunder Revue

You absolutely have to do “Vincent” by Don McLean. It’s an amazingly moving song about Vincent Van Gogh.

I was born 1967 and I grew up listening to The Day the Music Died on the radio. For decades I use to wonder how on earth could there ever be a moment in the U.S. where the music could die. How could there ever be at least a day where there is no music? Then..... 9/11 Happened! I was born in New York City. And I spent 46 years out of my 56 years of life living in New York City. And yes, I was not too far from the World Trade Center on September 11th. In fact, I was late for work that day and getting out of the subway in Union Square when I saw the giant burning hole in the North Tower. Not fully understanding yet that we were under attack I went to my job and just missed witnessing the second plane hit the South Tower by seconds. I was in the elevator heading up to my place of work at a Broadway theatrical costume company when it happened. We were all in shock. Even my boss (who was the only person at our facility going into the fitting rooms to watch the news coverage on television) later that night had a cerebral hemorrhage, went into a coma and died two days later. To make a very long story short, needless to say, all radio stations STOPPED playing music for several days. Not even MTV or VH1 showed any music videos. And of course, Broadway shows were all shut down for several days as well. 9/11 happened on a Tuesday but it wasn't until Friday that MTV finally played it's first music video. It was a live performance of The Day the Music Died. They played the video multiple times that day. Suddenly, for the first time ever the song made sense to me. And for the first time that horrible week I finally Cried. And sobbed I did. After the radio stations began playing The Day the Music Died multiple times a day for several days as well. Everywhere it began to be about playing and performing songs of patriotism and rememberance. I had never experienced anything like it in that magnitude before nor after again in my personal lifetime. Even though I am a Goth and prefer Goth and metal music The Day the Music Died song has far greater meaning to me because of that incrediblely surreal week in New York City. September 11th, 2001 truly was the day the music died, even if only for a few days. 🗽🎶📻🇺🇲

This is a classic and the lyrics have been debated for 50 years. As a boy,McClean was a huge Buddy Holly fan and he found out about the plane crash as he was delivering newspapers. It impacted his beliefs on religion as referenced in the song. Many of the lyrics reference singers of the 1960s including the Beatles,Bob Dylan,Elvis,and Janis Joplin.

One of the best songs ever written.

Definitely a top ten classic of all time. Buddy Holly (That'll Be The Day), Ritchie Valens (La Bamba) and The Big Bopper (Chantilly Lace) died in the plane crash. This works as a tribute to them and rock n roll in general. It also works as the death of America with the civil rights movement of the 60s and the Kennedy murders. Such a brilliant upbeat song about a heavy subject. Just brilliant.

Truly one of the greatest songs ever written and sung! Thanks for the reaction. Don is a lyrical and musical genius.

Me and my sister could sing this in it’s entirety when we were 6! Lol. My parents had the album and we listen to it a lot. Cheers.

Love your reactions We really didn't focus so closely on the lyrics back then because we didn't have the lyrics available. We just enjoyed the music! and any words we did understand.

What makes this song SO BRILLIANT is the lyrics ! Each line or phrase not only has a smooth rythmedic flow but also tells a story about different musical artists and current events through the sands of time...From " The day the music died" ( February 1959) When Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper all died in a plane crash....The music dying refers to not only to these 3 artists future music potential, but also the end of so-called " Innocent Rock & Roll" ...as music became darker and the lyrics became more " Sex, Drugs, Rock & Roll " I think it is probably the BEST LYRICAL SONG ever written !

Not only is this a great song on its own but when you know who he's talking about its that much better.

I loved your reaction to this. One of my favourite songs, and it was cool to see you get drawn into it. There are a lot of great metaphors in the lyrics.

He mentions a number of bands and musicians: the King is Elvis, the Jester is Bob Dylan (on the sidelines in a cast refers to his motorcycle accident) The Rolling Stones is the Devil (Sympathy for the Devil, and the mention of Jack Flash jumping a candle stick), the Byrds (8 miles high, one of their songs, and falling fast), The Beatles (a marching band like Sgt. Pepper who refused to yield). Also, Don McLean delivered newspapers as a kid. Bad news on the doorstep (that's where newspapers were usually thrown), the bad news being the death of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens is a plane crash. He read about his widowed bride, I'm pretty sure Richie was married and had a daughter.

The King - Elvis, Sargeants - Beatles, The Jester - Dylan, Helter Skelter - Manson.........so many more.

McLean wrote the song, much of it biographical, as a reflection of what was happening in America during the 1960s with the assassinations of the Kennedys, Martin Luther King, Jr, and the Vietnam War. For McLean, it started with what he called the end of the happy 50s, the tragic plane crash of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JD “the Big Bopper” Richardson in February of 1959. The day the music died.

This song is full of metaphors and rabbit holes. Talking all about the 1960s/1970s cultures, bands, Woodstock, I could go on and on. Elvis, The Byrds, Dyland, Rolling Stones.... etc.

This song was in constant rotation on all the radio station formats for the summer of 73. It was also the song that broke the rule that songs couldn't be longer than 4 minutes. A real game changer.

you need to hear this played in concert...EVERYONE sings that last chorus

Great reaction, you would never hear of the long version on Pop Radio, You would hear the edited version, I’m glad you did the full length version it’s full of generational landmarks

That last verse always breaks me down in tears. *💔😢😭*

This is a great song to sing along with. It just lends itself to a room full of people all singing at the top of their lungs.