-
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
javascript:;
-
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
