What did 'American Pie' really tell us?

Why do we have music? Why do we have art at all? It is because art is that part of the savage beast that is not so savage, or so it seems. It is a more 'spiritual' way to express ourselves and get our message across over and over that can also be used to get a subversive message across.

Don McLean wrote 'American Pie' because of the death of Buddy Holly, as he has stated. But McLean also said that because of the impact of these deaths, the song represented “the turn from innocence of the '50s to the darker, more volatile times of the '60s—both in music and politics.”

“For some reason I wanted to write a big song about America and about politics, but I wanted to do it in a different way,” McLean stated.

http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=1193

I have also thought for several years that McLean was describing the beginning of the political turn from a Republic to socialism and eventually to communism. The Jester, to me, represents evil and many researchers believe that is Bob Bylan, who is Jewish. Dylan was a fan of populist folk legend Woody Guthrie, who is Arlo Guthrie's son, a known supporter of communism.

'No verdict was returned' could be a reference to the assassination of JFK because the shooter was killed also and it did not go to court. It has been theorized that this is a metaphor for the growing inability of America to form a consensus on anything, even the music that had once held them together.

Very telling about this political connection to communism are these words, “And while Lenin read a book on Marx...A quartet practiced in the park ” Not only did Karl Marx create communism, but Vladimir Lenin put it into action with the overthrow of the Russian Czar in 1917. Also, John Lennon read about Karl Marx, which introduced the radical politics into the music of The Beatles.

Senator Joseph McCarthy not only rid our Federal government of “Jewish-Soviet spies” but the 200 or so Jews he could not bring to trial, he banned from making subversive movies and songs until about 1965. That was exactly when the '60s Revolution began producing murderers such as Charles Manson, who was more than willing to change the system and bring down 'the establishment.'

In the late '40s a group called the Weavers, a quartet, folk group, came about and were imitated later by people like Bob Dylan, The Kingston Trio and Peter Paul & Mary. In the same vein and doing some of the Weavers' songs are Woody Guthrie and Pete Seeger. Seeger was an original member of the Weavers and along with band mate Lee Hays and Woody Guthrie, they formed the Weavers.

When Seeger, who had communist affiliations, refused to testify regarding his political affiliation, his popularity waned. He was vocally against Senator McCarthy. He managed to help inspire a generation of Folk troubadours, including protegee Bob Dylan. Seeger is now affiliated with the Clearwater Festival, which raises money for environmental preservation.

This quartet managed to have a career that spanned four years and over four million in record sales. Their members were brought before the House Commitee on Un-American Activities during the McCarthy era of the 1950s, and disbanded soon after. This band enjoyed some popularity on the radio until their leftist "subversive" tunes resulted in the questioning of their popularity.

So, Don McLean hinted at all the subversiveness happening in music and politics during the '40s '50s by weaving together all those incidents that lead to the music dying and becoming subversive. He also noticed the American “inability to form a consensus on anything” as it changed. Neither did the White Russians.

"American Pie"

by Don McLean

[Intro]
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

[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"

[Verse 1]
Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Now do you believe in rock and 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

[Chorus]
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 rye
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

[Verse 2]
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 Lenin read a book on Marx
A quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died

[Chorus]
We were 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 rye
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

[Verse 3]
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 halftime 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?

[Chorus]
We 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 rye
And singin' "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

[Verse 4]
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

He was 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 rye
And singin' "This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die"

[Outro]
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

And they were singin' 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]
They were 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 rye
And singin' "This'll be the day that I die"