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Song Details

American Pie Chords

by
Chords
DGCG
Key
G
bpm
143
Tuning
440 Hz
Genre
Classic rockPop
Artist
Don McLean
jam sessions
18873
Release year
1971
Last modified
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Loading the chords for 'Don McLean - American Pie (Good quality)'.
A long long time agoI can still remember howThat music used to make me smileAnd I knew if I had my chanceThat I could make those people danceAnd maybe they'd be happy for a whileBut February made me shiverWith every paper I'd deliverBad news on the doorstepI couldn't take one more stepI can't remember if I criedWhen I read about his widowed brideSomething touched me deep insideThe day the music diedSoBye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryAnd them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeSingin' this'll be the day that I dieThis'll be the day that I dieDid you write the book of loveAnd do you have faith in God aboveIf 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 gymYou both kicked off your shoesMan, I dig those rhythm and bluesI was a lonely teenage broncin' buckWith a pink carnation and a pickup truckBut I knew I was out of luckThe day the music diedI started singin'Bye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryThem good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeAnd singin' this'll be the day that I dieThis'll be the day that I dieNow, for ten years we've been on our ownAnd moss grows fat on a rolling stoneBut, that's not how it used to beWhen the jester sang for the king and queenIn a coat he borrowed from James DeanAnd a voice that came from you and meOh, and while the king was looking downThe jester stole his thorny crownThe courtroom was adjournedNo verdict was returnedAnd while Lennon read a book on MarxThe quartet practiced in the parkAnd we sang dirges in the darkThe day the music diedWe were singin'Bye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryThem good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeAnd singin' this'll be the day that I dieThis'll be the day that I dieHelter skelter in a summer swelterThe birds flew off with a fallout shelterEight miles high and falling fastIt landed foul on the grassThe players tried for a forward passWith the jester on the sidelines in a castNow the half-time air was sweet perfumeWhile the sergeants played a marching tuneWe all got up to danceOh, but we never got the chance'Cause the players tried to take the fieldThe marching band refused to yieldDo you recall what was revealedThe day the music died?We started singin'Bye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryThem good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeAnd singin' this'll be the day that I dieThis'll be the day that I dieOh, and there we were all in one placeA generation lost in spaceWith no time left to start againSo come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quickJack Flash sat on a candlestick'Cause fire is the devil's only friendOh, and as I watched him on the stageMy hands were clenched in fists of rageNo angel born in HellCould break that Satan's spellAnd as the flames climbed high into the nightTo light the sacrificial riteI saw Satan laughing with delightThe day the music diedHe was singin'Bye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryThem good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeSingin' this'll be the day that I dieThis'll be the day that I dieI met a girl who sang the bluesAnd I asked her for some happy newsBut she just smiled and turned awayI went down to the sacred storeWhere I'd heard the music years beforeBut the man there said the music wouldn't playAnd in the streets the children screamedThe lovers cried, and the poets dreamedBut not a word was spokenThe church bells all were brokenAnd the three men I admire mostThe Father, Son, and the Holy GhostThey caught the last train for the coastThe day the music diedAnd they were singingBye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryAnd them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeSingin' this'll be the day that I dieThis'll be the day that I dieThey were singingBye, bye Miss American PieDrove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dryThem good ole boys were drinking whiskey and ryeSingin' this'll be the day that I dieLyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind | By: Don McLean | Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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Silence

Intro

I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance

Verse

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

Chorus

Instrumental

The day the music died
So

Verse

Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' 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?
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

Chorus

With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The 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 ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Verse

Now, for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling 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 Lennon read a book on Marx

Chorus

The quartet practiced in the park
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 ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Verse

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 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

Chorus

The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
We started singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Verse

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

Chorus

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 ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the blues

Verse

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 singing
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
They were singing

Chorus

Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
By: Don McLean · Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind · Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
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