"It could be the greatest song in music history."
That praise comes from none other than Garth Brooks, one of the greatest songwriters and performers in music history. And he's talking about "America Pie," the richly textured tale from Don McClean about "the day the music died." And the song is undoubtedly one of the most well known in the history of American music. In fact, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone who, if prompted, could not finish the refrain of the song:
"Bye, bye, Miss American Pie; drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry; them good ol' boys drinkin' whiskey and rye, singing this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die."
McClean recently "took the stage to sing the song with another artist," something he has done only twice in fifty-five years. And Guitar Player magazine caught up with the legendary singer who revealed some interesting facts and insight into the song.
Don McLean scored more than a hit when he composed “American Pie,” the tune he released as a single in 1971. He also created an iconic cut that has continued to resonate with the public some 55 years later. Generations since its original release, “American Pie” is an anthem known and loved by members of every generation.The tune offers a kaleidoscopic ride through the social unrest and changes brought about in 1960s America. McLean was famously reluctant to discuss the song’s enigmatic lyrics for years, preferring to let its mystery endure. But even while he kept mum about the meaning behind its words, “American Pie” remained the centerpiece of his live performances, a showstopper that got everyone in the venue singing along.
Despite the song’s popularity — second only to that of his 1972 hit "Vincent" — McLean never sang it with another artist until his 1997 performance with country artist Garth Brooks. At the time, Brooks was at his peak, with Diamond-certified albums like No Fences (1990) and Ropin' the Wind (1991), playing major stadium tours, and holding a record-setting Central Park concert in 1997. Which is why singer Jessie Murph’s show on September 27 was such a big deal.
The rising star used her sold-out show at Los Angeles’s Shrine Auditorium as an opportunity to bring out McLean for a rare performance of “American Pie,” making her only the second artist in 55 years to perform the tune with him.
And, you may not be aware (I wasn't) that a documentary was released about the song back in 2022. It's an homage to the song, of course, an exploration of the lyrics and story behind the stories. And it is a testament to the career of Don McClean, who had one other widely known song with the elegiac Vincent, released in 1971.
Few songs are so easily identifiable and singable as:
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