Tag Archives: whiskey and rye

Don McLean- American Pie



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.

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.”

Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so? 
Do you believe in rock ‘n 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.

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.
“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 lennon read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.

We were singing,
“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.”

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;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died? 

We started singing,
“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.”

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 singing,
“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.”

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 singing,
“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 singing,
“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.”

 

Don Mclean American Pie 1972 (……….the day the music died……….)


Songwriters: MCLEAN, DON
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 the music died 

So, bye bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
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 dancing 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 

I started singing, bye bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
This’ll be the day that I die 
This’ll be the day that I die 

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 
In 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 the quartet practiced in the park, and… 
We sang dirges in the dark the day the music died 

We were singing, bye bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
This’ll be the day that I die 
This’ll be the day that I die 

Healter Skealter in the 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? 

We started singing, bye bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
This’ll be the day that I die 
This’ll be the day that I die 

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 
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 singing, bye bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
This’ll be the day that I die 
This’ll be the day that I die 

I met a girl who sang the Blues, and I asked her for some happy news 
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 lover’s 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 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
This’ll be the day that I die 
This’ll be the day that I die 

They were singing, bye bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry 
Them good ol’ boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing… 
This’ll be the day that I die