American Top Ten: American Pie (#5)

Tweet

Even Stevie Wonder saw this one coming. You may be sick of this song, but it’s become a “standard” for a reason. And so, without further ado (“what is ado, and why should there be any further amount of it?” - Robert Klein), here’s today’s song with “America” in the title. #5: American Pie - Don McLean The story of a U.S. mathematician: American Pi! For decades and eons folk/rock singer/songwriter Don McLean has had a standard answer when asked what the song “American Pie” means: “It means I don’t ever have to work again if I don’t want to.” Gotta appreciate the man’s honesty. The song gave the world a title for February 3, 1959: “the day the music died.” It was never known by that name before McLean’s song. Now, it’s hardly known by anything else except “the day the music died.” An eight and a half minute epic detailing the ten years (“for ten years we’ve been on our own”) between the Holly/Valens/Richardson plane crash and the rise in violence throughout the country. There are websites devoted to taking apart the meaning of each line in the song. That may be overkill. For now, just enjoy, again, one of the great songs in rock and roll history. American Pie Written by Don McLean Recorded by Don McLean From American Pie, 1971 Do you recall what was the deal: