Analyzing Don Mclean's Song 'American Pie'

American Pie is a song that made a huge impact on Americans in any time period. Don McLean sang about the events from the nineteen fifties through nineteen seventies after Buddy Holly’s death. Many events from those years are controversial. McLean also stated how music changed from these decades. Rock ‘n Roll used to be popular since the fifties. American Pie by Don McLean describes the transition in Rock ‘n Roll music from the iconic history of the mid nineteen hundred.

The Sixties were an exciting revolutionary period with great cultural change. Some people called it the “decade of discontent” (Britannica) due to the race riots in Detroit and La, and the demonstrations against the Vietnam War. Other people called it the decade of “peace, love, and harmony” (Woodstock 69). This decade was identified as such as a result of the peace movement and the emergence of the flower children. (Britannica) The sixties were about assassination, unforgettable fashion, new styles of music, civil rights, gay and women’s liberation, Vietnam, Neil Armstrong landing on the moon, peace marches, sexual freedom, drug experimentation, and Woodstock. All of these components caused a revolutionary change in the

When songwriters begin to pen the lyrics of a song, I believe their ultimate goal is to transcend time in hopes of reaching listeners for generations to come. J.R. Cash, professionally known as Johnny Cash, wrote a song that did just that. “Ragged Old Flag” is a patriotic song that speaks to every generation. Written in 1974, “Ragged Old Flag” was meant to tell the story of our country. Johnny Cash recorded “Ragged Old Flag” live at the House of Cash. Cash wanted the song to be recorded live because it was raw, untouched, and unapologetically real. The basis of this analysis is to show how patriotism spans generations, but also why a song such as, “Ragged Old Flag” is an important part of patriotism in the United States of America.

In the song American Pie, by Don McLean, produced in 1971, McLean uses this song to commemorate the death of singer Buddy Holly but he is able to also describe what he thinks is one of the most influential periods of American history; 1959-1970. The speaker in the song is Don because he’s telling what has happened since the death of Buddy holly and how much has influenced a change in society. In the song “bye bye mrs American pie” there to represent the innocence of American that Holly took when he died. I chose this song because it was one of my father’s favorite songs. And since the main idea of the song is about death, after my father died I felt a connection with the song. American pie relates to an old saying "as American as apple pie".

The Sixties, by Terry H. Anderson, takes the reader on a journey through one of the most turbulent decades in American life. Beginning with the crew-cut conformity of 1950s Cold War culture and ending with the transition into the uneasy '70s, Anderson notes the rise of an idealistic generation of baby boomers, widespread social activism, and revolutionary counterculture. Anderson explores the rapidly shifting mood of the country with the optimism during the Kennedy years, the liberal advances of Johnson's "Great Society," and the growing conflict over Vietnam that nearly tore America apart. The book also navigates through different themes regarding the decade's different currents of social change; including the anti-war movement, the civil

The song American Pie is a representation of loss during the transition into the 1970s. It was written in 1971 by Don McLean and filled with his views on the state of society, political changes, and cultural changes. The cultural changes and the loss of everything society knew produced the lost generation that McLean was apart of. He demonstrated his disapproval of the direction of the country by using music, faith, and war as examples of the changes and loss his generation faced.

The song “Brother Can You Spare a Dime?” perfectly represents the economic issues during the twenties. I interpreted this song about how men in the labour force, specifically who work in factories during the time of when the industrial revolution continued to boom in a rapid pace are putting in so much work at their jobs that their being paid very low due to companies not having enough money that they have to take out credit from others to support themselves, in which the song states “Once I built a railroad, Now it’s done. Brother, can you spare a dime?” This song clearly represents the tactics used to survive in American during this collapse. This also shows how people question the American Dream because it is known for opportunity and a better life for all but what these individuals have endured is far from the dream they wished or heard

The song highlights these peoples’ views in regard to the war, by illustrating the immense urge to not go and fight, that “it ain’t me”. I feel as if this song shows us a turning point in the US government’s approach to the war itself. With its release closely following Nixon’s silent majority speech, the song was able to go against what Nixon said by screaming to the American people that we as a country need to end this conflict, despite whatever our elected officials

There is a lot I have learned from the text, Mystery Train: Images of America in Rock ‘n’ Roll Music. Greil Marcus’ narratives of musicians, such as Elvis Presley, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, etc., introduces the readers to a deeper meaning behind their song lyrics and allows them to perceive American history through the eyes of the composers. However, it is important to discuss songs reflecting on current events affect on modern day society. I have found that most of the songs I reviewed were inspired by events occurring at the time and the impact it had on the American people. There is rich history and complexity in rock ‘n’ roll music that should be analyzed thoroughly to gain a better understanding of the American culture and the United States.

Billie Holiday was an iconic singer in the jazz scene. She was a woman who lived her life the way she wanted to, and did not take anyone’s opinion on how to live it. She made a lot of money from her work, and she spent it all in the ways that pleased her. She was a free soul, one that had been badly hurt at the beginning of her life. The hurt she experienced makes many appearances in her music, and inspires some of her greatest music.

Taking only just a little over two minutes in length, the “troublemaking” song was an easy way to vocalize beliefs during this time against the Americas role overseas fighting and the corrupt political establishment with held in the United States. The entire song is constructed upon the impression

The lyrical content of American Pie is very heavy and involves many different references to the time period. There are six verses and one ever so famous chorus that make up the song. The first verse sets up the song bringing a nostalgic feel talking about McLean’s childhood. It even brings reference to the day McLean was handing out the newspapers featuring Buddy Holly’s death. He ends the first verse with the famous lyric “The day the music died”.

In verse 1, “A long long time ago I can still remember How that music used to make me feel” Don McLean is looking back nostalgically on the music that he loved so much as a child and how simple it was but also how joyous it made him feel

When people ask Don McLean what does American Pie really mean, he likes to reply: “It means I never have to work again.”

The song “American Pie” by Don McLean has sparked controversy over its meaning since it was released in 1971. Some people believe that McLean’s work is nothing more than simple rhymes, while others believe there is much deeper meaning. McLean refuses to directly answer questions about the lyrics, so we are left to make our own assumptions.