Watching “The Day the Music Died,” getting a glimpse of the behind-the-scenes history, and hearing McLean offer insight on what he meant when he wrote the song, is actually somewhat illuminating after so many years. Regarding the title of the song itself, McLean explained earlier in the film that it came from the idea of “American as apple pie,” minus the apple. Some of the later lines are references to his frustration with the war in Vietnam. In the documentary, he continues moving through the rest of the song, explaining more of the imagery.
“If you look at where I talk about John Lennon, I say ‘Lenin read a book on Marx.’ Well, Lenin read Marx, and then there was Marxist Leninism, and John Lennon certainly read Marx because he wanted socialism. With regard to another famous musician, McLean says his Lenin reference in the song has dual meaning and “does” refer to John Lennon. “If you want to think the King is Elvis you can, but the King in my song has a thorny crown.
He goes on to say his next reference to “ thorny crown” should remove any doubt regarding Elvis. If I meant Elvis or Bob Dylan I would have said their names.” There has been speculation the Jester refers to Bob Dylan, and the King to Elvis. Oh, and while the King was looking down, The Jester stole his thorny crown.” “When the Jester sang for the King and Queen, in a coat he borrowed from James Dean. His line “ For 10 years we’ve been on our own, Moss grows fat on a rolling stone” is about McLean and his mother, following the death of his father in 1960.Īs he moves through the song, he addresses some of the lyrics that have raised questions through the years. You both kicked off your shoes, Man I dig those rhythm and blues” refers to a young, lonely McLean, watching other kids have happy experiences.
“Well, I know that that you’re in love with him, I saw you dancing in the gym. Others come from songs, the culture, or things happening in the world at the time. Verse by verse, he goes through what he means by the lyrics.Īlthough the first verse clearly refers to the pain he felt over the death of Buddy Holly, many lines of the song relate to McLean’s childhood and other life experiences. 1 in early 1972, and has been an American favorite ever since.Īfter the documentary goes through much of the back story of “American Pie,” McLean sits down and does what he’s never done before. And all of that was compounded by negative reviews by Rolling Stone Magazine.Īnd yet, the song went on to reach No. “Then the thing is eight-and-a-half minutes long, so how is that going to become a No. Once in the studio, there was a problem getting it to sound the way McLean wanted it to sound, until a piano player named Paul Griffin was added to the mix. UNSPECIFIED - CIRCA 1970: Photo of Don McLean Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images getty
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