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Don McLean’s “American Pie” broke the songwriting rules.
At nearly nine minutes long, it was the lengthiest song to have ever entered the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released in late 1971.
In the last 50 years, the exact meaning of the lyrics has remained open to interpretation. Until now.
A new documentary streaming on Paramount Plus takes viewers beyond the phrase “the day the music died” and its association with a plane crash in 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.
Like the original song, the film covers a lot. From family tragedy to social change, to bust-ups in the recording studio and the song’s impact today.
Don McLean opens up about this latest project, the art of songwriting, and why the three men he admires most are “the father, son, and the holy ghost.”
At nearly nine minutes long, it was the lengthiest song to have ever entered the Billboard Hot 100 when it was released in late 1971.
In the last 50 years, the exact meaning of the lyrics has remained open to interpretation. Until now.
A new documentary streaming on Paramount Plus takes viewers beyond the phrase “the day the music died” and its association with a plane crash in 1959 that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens.
Like the original song, the film covers a lot. From family tragedy to social change, to bust-ups in the recording studio and the song’s impact today.
Don McLean opens up about this latest project, the art of songwriting, and why the three men he admires most are “the father, son, and the holy ghost.”
Don McLean's 'American Pie,' explained
Posted from the1a.orgPosted in these groups: 
Music
American History
Music American History
Edited 2 y ago
Posted 2 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
"What is the story behind American Pie?
“American Pie” presents an abstract story of McLean’s life from the mid-1950s until the end of the 1960s, and at the same time it represents the evolution of popular music and politics over these years, from the lightness of the 1950s to the darkness of the late 1960s, but metaphorically the song continues to evolve to the present time."
"What is the story behind American Pie?
“American Pie” presents an abstract story of McLean’s life from the mid-1950s until the end of the 1960s, and at the same time it represents the evolution of popular music and politics over these years, from the lightness of the 1950s to the darkness of the late 1960s, but metaphorically the song continues to evolve to the present time."
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The various theories put out there are now done. I never knew what it was about, just liked the song. The plane crash makes sense now that I know
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