American Pie

Key: GDon McLean

Chords and lyrics for American Pie by Don McLean

Playing settingsGuitar · Original key

Instrument

Key & capo

Text

Metronome

Rhythm & accompaniment

VERSE

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

Something touched me deep inside

the day

CHORUS

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 rye

Singin' this'll be the day that I die

VERSE

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.

Now do you believe in rock and roll?

Can music save your mortal soul?

And can you teach me how to dance

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.

CHORUS

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 rye

And singin' this'll be the day that I die.

VERSE

This'll be the day that I die.

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.

CHORUS

And we sang dirges in the dark

the day the music died.

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

VERSE

This'll be the day that I die

Helped a skelter in a summer swelter

the summer swell.

Little 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,

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

CHORUS

The music died.

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.

VERSE

This'll be the day that I die.

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

CHORUS

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

VERSE

This'll be the day that I die

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

CHORUS

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

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.

How would you rate this song?

0:000:00

American Pie chords by Don McLean