A long, long time ago
I can still rememberHow that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chanceThat I could make those people dance
And, maybe, theyd be happy for a while
But february made me shiverWith every paper Id deliver
Bad news on the doorstep;I couldnt take one more step
I cant remember if I criedWhen I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep insideThe day the music died
So bye-bye, miss american pieDrove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dryAnd them good old boys were drinkin whiskey and rye
Singin, thisll be the day that I dieThisll 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 youre in love with him`cause I saw you dancin in the gym
You both kicked off your shoesMan, I dig those rhythm and blues
I was a lonely teenage broncin buckWith a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luckThe 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 ryeAnd singin, thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
Now for ten years weve been on our ownAnd moss grows fat on a rollin stone,
But thats not how it used to beWhen the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james deanAnd 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 darkThe 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 ryeAnd singin, thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
Helter skelter in a summer swelterThe birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fastIt 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 perfumeWhile 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 revealedThe 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 ryeAnd singin, thisll be the day that I die
Thisll 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 againSo come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestickCause fire is the devils only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stageMy hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hellCould break that satans spell
And as the flames climbed high into the nightTo light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delightThe 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 ryeAnd singin, thisll be the day that I die
Thisll be the day that I die
I met a girl who sang the bluesAnd I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned awayI went down to the sacred store
Where Id heard the music years before,But the man there said the music wouldnt 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 coastThe 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 ryeSingin, thisll be the day that I die
Thisll 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 ryeSingin, thisll be the day that I die