Background InformationBirth name Donald McLeanBorn October 2, 1945Genre(s) Folk, Folk rockOccupation(s) Singer, songwriter, MusicianInstrument(s) Vocals, Guitar, PianoYears active 1969 - presentWebsite http://www/don-mclean.com--------------------------------------------------------------------VICENT-----------Starry starry nightPaint your palette blue and greyLook out on the summer dayWith eyes that know the darkness in my soulsShadows on the hillsSketch the trees and daffodilsCatch the breeze winter chillIn colours on the snow linen landNow I understandWhat you tried to say to meHow you suffered for your sanityHow you tried to set them freeThey would not listenThey did not know howPerhaps they'll listen nowStarry starry nightFlaming flowers that brightly blazeSwirling clouds in violet hazeReflect in Vicent's eye of china blueColour changing hueMorning fields of Amber grainWeathered faces lines in painAre soothed beneath the artist's loving handNow I understandWhat you tried to say to meHow you suffered for your sanityHow you tried to set them freeThey would not listenThey did not know howPerhaps they'll listen nowFor they could not love youBut still your love was trueAnd when no hope was left in sight on that starry starry nightYou took your life as lovers often dobut I could have told you VicentThis world was never meant for one as beautiful as youStarry starry nightPotraits hung in empty hallsFrameless heads on nameless wallsWith eyes that watch the world and can't forgetLike the stangers that you've metThe ragged men in ragged clothesThe silver thorn of bloody roseLie cursed and broken on the virgin snowNow I think I knowWhat you tried to say to meHow you suffered for your sanityHow you tried to set them freeThey would not listenThey're not listen stillPerhaps they never will----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AMERICAN PIE-----------------------A long, long time ago...I can still rememberHow that music used to make me smile.And I knew if I had my chanceThat I could make those people danceAnd, maybe, the'yd be happy for a while.But february made me shiverWith every paper I'd deliver.Bad news on the doorstep;I couldn't take one more step.I can't remember if I criedWhen I read about his widowed bride,But something touched me deep insideThe day the music died.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 ryeSingin', "this'll be the day that I die."this'll be the day that I die."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' buckWith a pink carnation and a pickup truck,But I knew I was out of luckThe day the music died.I started singin',"bye-bye, miss american pie."Drove my chevy to the levee,But the levee was dry.Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and ryeAnd singin', "this'll be the day that I die."this'll be the day that I die."Now for ten years we've been on our ownAnd 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 deanAnd 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 darkThe day the music died.We were singing,"bye-bye, miss american pie."Drove my chevy to the levee,But the levee was dry.Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and ryeAnd singin', "this'll be the day that I die."this'll be the day that I die."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 perfumeWhile 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 revealedThe day the music died'We started singing,"bye-bye, miss american pie."Drove my chevy to the levee,But the levee was dry.Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and ryeAnd singin', "this'll be the day that I die."this'll be the day that I die."Oh, and there we were all in one place,A generation lost in spaceWith no time left to start again.So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!Jack flash sat on a candlestickCause fire is the devil's only friend.Oh, and as I watched him on the stageMy hands were clenched in fists of rage.No angel born in hellCould break that satan's spell.And as the flames climbed high into the nightTo light the sacrificial rite,I saw satan laughing with delightThe day the music diedHe was singing,"bye-bye, miss american pie."Drove my chevy to the levee,But the levee was dry.Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and ryeAnd singin', "this'll be the day that I die."this'll be the day that I die."I met a girl who sang the bluesAnd I asked her for some happy news,But she just smiled and turned away.I went down to the sacred storeWhere 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 coastThe day the music died.And they were singing,"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 ryeSingin', "this'll be the day that I die."this'll be the day that I die."They were singing,"bye-bye, miss american pie."Drove my chevy to the levee,But the levee was dry.Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and ryeSingin', "this'll be the day that I die." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE GRAVE-------------------The grave that they dug him had flowersGathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.He's gone.When the wars of our nation did beckon,A man barely twenty did answer the calling.Proud of the trust that he placed in our nation,He's gone,But eternity knows him, and it knows what we've done.And the rain fell like pearls on the leaves of the flowersLeaving brown, muddy clay where the earth had been dry.And deep in the trench he waited for hours,As he held to his rifle and prayed not to die.But the silence of night was shattered by fireAs guns and grenades blasted sharp through the air.And one after another his comrades were slaughtered.In morgue of marines, alone standing there.He crouched ever lower, ever lower with fear."they can't let me die! the can't let me die here!I'll cover myself with the mud and the earth.I'll cover myself! I know I'm not brave!The earth! the earth! the earth is my grave."The grave that they dug him had flowersGathered from the hillsides in bright summer colors,And the brown earth bleached white at the edge of his gravestone.He's gone. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------EMPTY CHAIRS-------------------------I feel the trembling tingle of a sleepless nightCreep through my fingers and the moon is brightBeams of blue come flickering through my window paneLike gypsy moths that dance around a candle flameAnd I wonder if you knowThat I never understoodThat although you said you'd goUntil you did I never thought you wouldMoonlight used to bathe the contours of your faceWhile chestnut hair fell all around the pillow caseAnd the fragrance of your flowers rest beneath my headA sympathy bouquet left with the love that's deadAnd I wonder if you knowThat I never understoodThat although you said you'd goUntil you did I never thought you wouldNever thought the words you said were trueNever thought you said just what you meantNever knew how much I needed youNever thought you'd leave, until you wentMorning comes and morning goes with no regretAnd evening brings the memories I can't forgetEmpty rooms that echo as I climb the stairsAnd empty clothes that drape and fall on empty chairsAnd I wonder if you knowThat I never understoodThat although you said you'd goUntil you did I never thought you would ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AND I LOVE YOU SO--------------------------------And I love you so.The people ask me how,How I've lived till now.I tell them I don't know.I guess they understandHow lonely life has been.But life began againThe day you took my hand.And, yes, I know how lonely life can be.The shadows follow me, and the night won't set me free.But I don't let the evening get me downNow that you're around me.And you love me, too.Your thoughts are just for me;You set my spirit free.I'm happy that you do.The book of life is briefAnd once a page is read,All but love is dead.That is my belief.And, yes, I know how loveless life can be.The shadows follow me, and the night won't set me free.But I don't let the evening bring me downNow that you're around me.And I love you so.The people ask me how,How I've lived till now.I tell them, "i don't know." ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------BIRTHDAY SONG---------------------------If I could say the things I feel, it wouldn't be the sameSome things are not spoken of, some things have no nameThough the words come hard to me, I'll say them just for youFor this is something rare for me this feeling is so newYou see I love the way you love meI love the way you smile at meI love the way we live this life we're inLong ago I heard the song that lovers sing to meAnd through the days with each new phrase I hummed that melodyAnd all along I loved the song but I never learned it throughBut since the day you came along, I've saved it just for youI don't believe in magic but I do believe in youAnd when you say you believe in methere's so much magic I can doNow you see me now you don't watch me dive belowDeep down in your love lake where the sweet fish come and goAnd I might sink and I might drown but death don't mean a thing'Cause life continues right or wrong when I play this birthday songI learned from you, and you can't even sing ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------