Don McLean

American Pie – A Time Line

Each verse sums up chronological

periods in time

the late 1950s

1963-66

1966-68

1969

1970

Verse 1

A long long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile

And I knew if I had my chance That I could make those people dance And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver Bad news on the doorstep

I couldn't take one more step I can't remember if I cried

When I read about his widowed bride But something touched me deep inside

The day the music died

Verse 1

But February made me shiver

With every paper I'd deliver

Bad news on the doorstep

I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried

When I read about his widowed bride

But something touched me deep inside

The day the music died

Chorus

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my chevy to the levee

But the levee was dry

And them good old boys were drinkin'

whiskey and rye

Singin' this'll be the day that I die

This'll be the day that I die

Chorus

Drove my Chevy to the levee

But the levee was dry Drive your Chevrolet through the USA,

America's the greatest land of all

On a highway or a road along a levee...

..life is completer in a Chevy

So make a date today to see the USA

And see it in your Chevrolet

Chorus

Them good old boys were drinkin'

whiskey and rye

Singin' "this'll be the day that I die,

This'll be the day that I die.

You say you're gonna leave

You know it's a lie

'Cause that'll be the day

when I die.

~Buddy Holly

“That’ll Be The Day”

Verse 2

Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above,

If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock ’n roll,

Can music save your mortal soul, And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you’re in love with him `cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym.

You both kicked off your shoes. Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.

I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,

But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died.

Verse 2

Did you write the

Book of Love

Tell me, tell me, tell me

Oh, who wrote the Book Of Love?

I've got to know the answer

Was it someone from above?

The Monotones

“The book of love”

Verse 2

Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above,

If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock ’n roll,

Can music save your mortal soul, And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you’re in love with him `cause I saw you dancin’ in the gym.

You both kicked off your shoes. Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.

I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,

But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died.

Verse 3

Now for ten years we’ve been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone,

But that’s not how it used to be. When the jester sang for the king and queen,

In a coat he borrowed from james dean And a voice that came from you and me, Oh, and while the king was looking down,

The jester stole his thorny crown. The courtroom was adjourned;

No verdict was returned. And while lennon read a book of marx,

The quartet practiced in the park, And we sang dirges in the dark

The day the music died.

Verse 3

Now for ten years we’ve been on

our own

And moss grows fat on a rollin’

stone,

But that’s not how it used to be

How does it feel

To be on your own

With no direction home

Like a rolling stone?

Bob Dylan

Verse 3

When the jester sang for the

King and Queen

In a coat he borrowed from

James Dean

And a voice that came from

you and me

A Rebel Without a Cause

~James Dean

Verse 3

And while the King was looking down

The jester stole his thorny crown

The courtroom was adjourned

No verdict was returned

Verse 3

And while Lennon read a book on Marx

The quartet practiced in the park

Verse 4

Helter skelter in a summer swelter. The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,

Eight miles high and falling fast. It landed foul on the grass.

The players tried for a forward pass, With the jester on the sidelines in a cast. Now the half-time air was sweet perfume

While the sergeants played a marching tune. We all got up to dance,

Oh, but we never got the chance! `cause the players tried to take the field;

The marching band refused to yield. Do you recall what was revealed

The day the music died?

Verse 4

Helter Skelter in the summer swelter

The Byrds flew off with a fallout shelter

Eight miles high and falling fast

Verse 4

It landed foul out on the grass

The players tried for a forward pass

Verse 4

With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Verse 4

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume

While the sergeants played a marching

tune.

We all got up to dance,

Oh, but we never got the chance!

`cause the players tried to take the field;

The marching band refused to yield.

Verse 4

Do you recall what was revealed

Verse 5

Oh, and there we were all in one place, A generation lost in space

With no time left to start again. So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!

Jack flash sat on a candlestick Cause fire is the devil’s only friend.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage My hands were clenched in fists of rage.

No angel born in hell Could break that satan’s spell.

And as the flames climbed high into the night To light the sacrificial rite,

I saw satan laughing with delight The day the music died

Verse 5

And there we were all in one place

A generation Lost in Space

With no time left to start again

Verse 5

So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick

Jack Flash sat on a candlestick

'Cause fire is the Devil's only friend

Verse 5

And as I watched him on the stage

My hands were clenched in fists of rage

No angel born in hell

Could break that Satan's spell

And as the flames climbed high into the night

To moonlight the sacrificial rite

Verse 5

Oh, and as I watched him on the

stage

My hands were clenched in fists of

rage.

No angel born in hell

Could break that satan’s spell.

And as the flames climbed high

into the night

To light the sacrificial rite,

I saw satan laughing with delight

The day the music died

Pleased to meet you

Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah

But what's confusing you

Is just the nature of my game

Just as every cop is a criminal

And all the sinners saints

As heads is tails

Just call me Lucifer

'Cause I'm in need of some restraint

The RollingStones “Sympathy for the Devil”

Verse 6

I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news, But she just smiled and turned away.

I went down to the sacred store Where I’d heard the music years before,

But the man there said the music wouldn’t play. And in the streets: the children screamed, The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.

But not a word was spoken; The church bells all were broken. And the three men I admire most:

The father, son, and the holy ghost, They caught the last train for the coast

The day the music died.

Verse 6

I met a girl who sang the blues

And I asked her for some happy news

But she just smiled and turned away

Verse 6

I went down to the sacred store

Where I'd heard the music years before

But the man there said the music

wouldn't play

Verse 6

And in the streets the children screamed

The lovers cried and the poets dreamed

But not a word was spoken

The church bells all were broken

Verse 6

And the three men I admire most

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

They caught the last train for the coast

The day the music died

Buddy Holly

Ritchie Valens

The Big Bopper

John F. Kennedy

Robert Kennedy

Martin Luther King Jr.

Assignment:

Write a Four Paragraph Response to

“American Pie” by Don McLean

Standards Being Scored 9-10.W.4

Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.

9-10.W.9

Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

Aspects of Writing

When referring to the Singer/Songwriter,

you use their last name only: McLean

If doing a song where you only know the

name of the band, you would use the

band name each time

Aspects of Writing

The title of the song goes in quotation

marks

“American Pie”

1st Paragraph - Introduction

1st Paragraph: Introduce the song and

summarize the song

Focus on general ideas of the song – NOT

specific details yet; those go on the body of

your response

2nd & 3rd Paragraphs

Aspects of Writing

When using lines from songs in your

writing, if the lines are “broken up” in the

song, you put them together in your

paper using a back slash - / - keeping all

other punctuation.

Quotes From the poem

So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my chevy to the levee

But the levee was dry

And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singin' this'll be the day that I die

This'll be the day that I die

In your paper

“So, bye-bye, Miss

American Pie / Drove

my chevy to the levee

/ But the levee was

dry ….”

2nd & 3rd Paragraphs – Body

Explain what the song is about

Pick specific parts of the song to explain

that you thought were the most interesting

○ Use the notes taken in class

Use Examples from the song

○ REMEMBER: Explain the examples and tie

them back into your response

4th Paragraph - Conclusion

4th Paragraph: Reflection on the song:

Explain what makes it a good song

○ Use of Poetic Devices – Metaphor, Simile,

Figurative Language – etc.

Explain how knowing the history of the time

periods it covers helps with understanding

the song