The American Pie album has so many beautiful numbers - personally, I woldn't even rate the song American Pie as one of the five best on that record, though it is a great song. McLean was a brilliant songwriter and his simple guiter-voice combinations were wonderful to listen to.
The Jester is Bob Dylan.The King is Elvis. The Marching Band is The Beatles. The Sacred store is the Record Store. The lady who sang The Blues is Janis Joplin.
The girl who sang the blues was Janis. And the “fists of rage” reference and “Angles” refers to the Hells Angels at Altamant festival that ended in stabbing and was the official end of the 60’s and psychedelic revolution.
The sacred store was actually Fillmore West, a San Francisco music venue where nearly every famous rock group of the era performed. The "music wouldn't play" because the Fillmore later closed.
Jagger is "Jack Flash" in one place and Satan in another, the Beatles are also called the "Quartet" at one point. The "Jester on the sidelines in a cast" refers to Bob Dylan's motorcycle accident. “The father, son, and holy ghost” may to refer to Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper.
Don McLean auctioned the original handwritten lyrics for "American Pie" in 2015 for $1.2 million - it included the original manuscript with notes and revisions totalling about 16 pages
Vincent is in my top 1 of all time all about Vincent Van Gogh literally a mastepiece Killing Me Softly all about Don McLean first record i ever bought Roberta Flack Lust For Life with Kirk Douglas a great film of his life story
Vincent is an absolute gem of a song. I feel like it it's flipside of American Pie. AP is hard hitting folk asking questions about society and culture and a generations loss of innocence while Vincent is a soft reflection of how ones personal journey of life and artistry can both be effected by and effect others.
February made him shiver, February 3rd is the day the music died because that was when the plane carrying Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens crashed
There is a documentary on Prime video where Don McLean explains, in detail, the meaning of every line in this song. It's a recent one and very interesting to watch. He explains exactly why he wrote what he did in this song and what event/time in his life inspired it. It's called "The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean's American Pie"
"American Pie" is one of the greatest classic songs of our times. Don McLean is a great songwriter & storyteller. I remember this song growing up. "American Pie" pays tribute to the loss of 3 legends who died so young (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper). A lot of references in the song are made to many artists from the early days of music including Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Byrds & others. Don McLean did an awesome version with Home Free to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this song.
I will have to check on that 50th-anniversary version. I usually steer clear of the acapella versions because they don't resonate with me like the originals do & I end up missing the music.
@@lancelane979 I think Jagger was Jack Flash. The Stones having recorded Jumpin' Jack Flash would support that. Of course, there is the argument to be made that the Stones used Jack Flash as a pseudonym for the Devil, which would justify the interpretation that Jagger was both Jack Flash and the Devil in American Pie. I just choose the most on-the-nose interpretation.
@@proofprof50 He'll probably never admit it, lol. But it's so clear. Dylan going to England, singing to the Queen, "betraying" the folk movement became the "jester".
My sister and I had a hard time getting along. After a big argument while I was driving her somewhere, "American Pie" came on the radio and we both sang every word. It was the most united moment of our lives together. My sister died before the year was out and this song gives me the most beautiful memory of her, all but erasing the lifetime of difficulties.
The girl who sings the blues refers to Janice Joplin and the generation lost in space refers to LSD Era and angels born in hell refers to the hells angels bikers that were hired for security at Monterey pop festival where things got out hand. There are a million references in this song❤😂
The Rolling Stones hired the Hells Angels to do security for the festival at the Altamont Speedway in 1969, which was being promoted as the West Coast Woodstock, and that's where chaos erupted, not at the Monterey Festival in 1967.
Hi from Germany. It's a very sad song. Elvis, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Janis Joplin and others appear. But it's all about the decline of Rock'n'Roll and the generation of innocent youngsters. A sad and poetic reflection on times when things weren't so complicated. Don McLean mentioned some songs: Eight Miles High, Helter Skelter, Sympathy For The Devil... I first heard the song in 78 and I knew right away that this was something special. In 79 I went to the USA and I could see with my sixteen year old eyes what he meant. The dream was over... Could be the national anthem... Bye bye...
The song is a masterpiece basically recounting all the major events and change from the 50s to 60s. The day the music died is when the plane of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper crashed killing everyone on board. The jester is Bob Dylan and the cast was when he crashed his motorcycle and it halted his career. The king is Elvis Presley The quartet are the Beatles and they played their last concert together at Candlestick Park (another day the music died) Jack Flash is Mick Jagger as is Satan (referencing Rolling Stones songs Jumping Jack Flash and Sympathy For The Devil).. “no angel born in hell” are the Hells Angels who provided security for a concert and stabbed a young concertgoer. The “girl who say the blues” is Janis Joplin. Father, son, and Holy Ghost could be either Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, and Richie Valens OR JFK, MLK, and RFK who were all assassinated. Helter Skelter in the summer swelter is the Charles Manson killings who was inspired by the Beatles song. The sergeants and the marching band refer to Vietnam protesters. “And they were all in one place” is referring to Woodstock.
I'm pretty sure that a great majority of your listeners know the words to this song forward and backwards! 😅 I know that I have heard it hundreds of times and never tire of it. It is an anthem to the first of the rock and roll decades. It is a very important song and is cherished by millions of fans who love Don McLean. ❤
One of the last songs Buddy Holly sang was THAT'LL BE THE DAY THAT I DIE, a few hours before the plane he was on with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper crashed, killing the 3 men Don admired most - The Day The Music Died (Feb. 3rd, 1959). Play this on any Bar's jukebox and hear most everyone sing along when the chorus rolls around. VINCENT is another great song of his.
You just made my ENTIRE year! This is my favorite song of ALL TIME. I could go into it for paragraphs about the lyrics but here are a few, "His widowed bride" refers to Buddy Holly's wife who he'd married just 6 months prior to the crash, "Helter Skelter in a summer swelter" refers to the Charlie Manson murders he orchestrated in the summer of 1969. "The quartet" refers to the Beatles. "The King" refers to Elvis Presley. "The girl who sang the blues" refers to Janis Joplin.
You can go into details for me!! Or tell me where I can get that info. I've tried to research this stuff and can't find much!! Even some of what you said was new to me. 😊
The Jester is Dylan. The Devil is Mick Jagger. The 3 men he admires most are JFK, RFK, and MLK. It's the end of the 50s rock and the beginning of the 60s.
If you believe McLean none of what you said is true he said in the documentary that most of the interpretations of the lyrics of who he was writing about (Elvis and Dylan for example) aren’t who he was writing about. I agree that most of the interpretations make sense but I have to believe him if he says they weren’t about those people. He even said that if I wanted to talk about Elvis or Dylan I would have used their names. I didn’t have a problem using John Lennon’s name!
Vincent is one of THEE most beautiful songs ever written and recorded, in my opinion. It's a beautiful tribute to a troubled soul yet beautifully masterful artist Vincent Van Gogh. When you review it, please do the video that includes his paintings that go with the song ... I know eventually you're going to review it .. 😊😊😊 ... it's honestly THAT EXCELLENT ❤❤😊😊
Epic is the best word to describe this song. You just didn't hear songs this long on the radio then. There ended up eventually being a radio edit- but the long version is still the best. If you haven't already- check out his song Vincent....about the painter Vincent Van Gogh. Hauntingly beautiful, and one that makes me tear up everytime I hear it. It's widely speculated that the "jester" is Bob Dylan. I always used to think it was Mick Jagger. Lots of references to other singers and bands..."The quartet=The Beatles".
Issued at the end of 1971, American Pie hit No 1 by January of 72, where it stayed for a full month. For 49 years, it held the record for the longest song to hit No 1. This song is in the Library of Congress.
you said it held the record for being #1the longest for 49 years. it only held the record for 5 years, unless I miss understood your 49 years comment. @@bella-xp7qd
This song is about the plane crash that took the lives of three of the biggest names in rock at the time, The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. You cannot react to Don McLean without visiting his song "Vincent." It is a song about Vincent Van Gogh and it is such a beautiful song. I think that these were his two biggest hits. He gives a hat tip to a few other important groups in rock in this song when he says "8 Miles High" which was a song by The Byrds, he mentions "Rolling Stone" which could easily be Bob Dylan or perhaps just a nod to the Rolling Stones and he later gives a nod to "Friend Of The Devil" which was a song by Grateful Dead. There are others like his mention of "The King" which was and still is reference to Elvis. Of course this is just my take, McLean really never said. He is quite a clever songwriter.
The thing is about this song...in its context it was about Buddy Holly and the early rock and roll music. Of course music went on to evolve and become something else, something wonderful. But someday, the last of the Beatles will pass away, and then we will all sing this song anew, and mourn the passing of another set of incredible icons.
This song is about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, Jr. on February 3, 1959, or so I've heard and read. It's a sad song.
The other great Don McLean hit is "Vincent". It's amazing. Do yourself a favor before you listen, though; if you don't know anything about Vincent Van Gogh, Google him, scan his bio, and look at some of the images of his artwork. If you're already familiar, that's great. Enjoy! (btw, this was a great reaction! it so showed on your face, you were thinking, "omg, that is a GREAT chorus!")
My favorite part, for whatever reason is the line, "I knew a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news. But she just smiled and turned away". That line always hit me, even before I knew who he was speaking about. He is talking about Janis Joplin , who passed in 1970. But I would recommend looking into all of the references of this song. It will drastically enhance the listening experience the next time you hear it! Though on its own its an amazing song that is really enjoyable to sing along with. EDIT: So I was doing some reading of the lyrics, and on Genius they have the lyrics, but with the lyrics of a supposed deleted verse. Now I couldn't find ANY audio of it, but I did some research, and it seems to be confirmed. Either way I still find it interesting. lol "And there I stood alone and afraid, I dropped to my knees and there I prayed. And I promised Him everything I could give, If only He would make the music live. And He promised it would live once more, But this time one would equal four. And in five years four had come to mourn, And the music was reborn." I have to assume its about the Beatles, though I can't prove it. lol This would have been the last verse, and really ends the song on a wildly different tone. Again, I just found it interesting. lol Have a wonderful and positive day/night to anyone who happens to read this!
There is an updated version of this song that Don did a couple of years ago during Covid lockdown with Home Free. The guys & Don were not in the same place to record but thru the magic of editing the video was put together and it’s fantastic. Don still sounds great at 75! He later got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame & invited Home Free to be there & sing. Please check it out and react! Thank you!
The absolute pinnacle of Americana pop music. PRECIOUS FEW songs ever reach this level of musical immortality. I was 7 years old when this song was turned loose upon the world.....I can barely remember a time in my life without its presence.
I was 4 years old when it came out and I remember my Daddy playing it for me around that time and in later years. I still gives me goosebumps when I hear it.
Whenever I see a reactor choose this song, I’m always sure that once he hears the chorus he’ll say oh yes, I know this song! I’m still flabbergasted that anyone can live in this world and not have heard this song, lol. It was so prevalent everywhere. But just like TV, radio has split into different genres and doesn’t play everything on the same channel anymore like they used to. So if you grew up only listening to rap, for instance, I suppose it is possible for you to not have heard it before. Regardless, I’m glad you’ve heard it now. If you’d like, there is a documentary about the song that explains the references. I get some of them, but not all, even though I live through that period. If you do look into the references, reacting to each of the songs/artists referred to would keep your channel going for a long, long time. 😊
Great reaction! This is one of the top three songs of all time. Period. To this day everyone tries to figure out all the meanings of it and Don is not talking. Except for it's about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Amazing stuff.
this is a beyond a classic, classic. Awesome tune, filled with clever prose to replicate true life people and events that transpired in the years just after Buddy Holley, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson died in a plane crash.
I recall a car ride with my dad when this came on the radio & I had questions. Dad had answers. It was one of our first discussions of music. We discussed music many times, but I got the last word (sort of) when I picked up his cremains at the funeral home in his beautiful wooden box. I placed it in the passenger seat. When I turned the car on Zepplin came blasting from my car speakers, I said, "Guess you won't be complaining about the volume on this ride".
A landmark classic song. I remember as a kid when this song was released. So long. When I deejayed back in college, I would play this so I could run to the restroom..lol. seriously, an amazing song and a piece of musical history about that dreadful plane crash killing some of rock best talent and references to other events of the time. Great pick!
This song is a about the death of the early rockers, we had hit 30 plus thousand American dead from Vietnam, the Apollo moon shot and the loss Guss Grissim's team. It also talked about the Charles Manson murders, with Helter Skelter. We had to get our music at the music shops in town playing our favorite music on thousand watt sterios brought back from Vietnam War Vets. We lived the the era of muscle cars and 25 cent gasoline it was a heady time, the whole nation was hell on wheels just as the big interstate highways that the country never had before were connected, God almighty we were unstopable. You had to be there, Nascar on the big ovals pushing 220 mile an hour laps in moms hopped up sedans and in the first time in all the planets history we had the power to kill the planet with the push of one button. Now our president was not only the highest office in the United Stated, but also the nuclear power had anointed him the leader of the free world. Can you even imagine, we were all doing things that had never even been seen before, it was like were all as a society engaging magic. And here's the thing we were doing magic sending our boys up in mach 2 intersepters climbing at 30 plus thousand feet a minute.
For me, the best song ever written in english/american. 8 cheerful minutes about the sadness and dismay of a young man who lost so young what we all lose when we are older: people, artists who illuminated our lives with their talent. Fate is cruel but so is time.😢
When this song was released, most people assumed the Jester was Bob Dylan. It fits perfectly, the line about being on the sidelines in a cast refers to his motorcycle accident. And in a way, folk music replaced 50s rock n roll, so the Jester stole the crown of the King (Elvis). But Dylan reportedly said "I'm no jester". And years later, Don McLean himself denied that the Jester was Dylan. But I'm not sure I believe him...
Very overdue, but I am so very glad that you reacted to it now. "Crying" is beautiful and I LOVE "Vincent". I believe that "Satan" was a referal to Mick Jagger, from what I heard, and Janis Joplin was the girl that sang the blues.
Such an iconic song that brings me back to dancing with my dad in the living room, when I was 3-4 years old. My Dad passed away last year, and this song will always keep us together in memories.
The whole of the American Pie album is excellent with this song and "Vincent" the two best known. I particularly like two others "Till Tomorrow" and "Crossroads". Great reaction as usual.
The meaning behind almost EVERY SINGLE LINE in this song is nothing short of a phenomenal songwriter in action. Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, etc.
One of my favorite songs since 1971 -- incidentally, the year I met my husband. 🙂 We were lucky to hear Don McLean perform live in the mid-1980s, along with Scott McKenzie of "San Francisco" fame. One of the best concerts I've ever attended. (Fun fact: Back in the early 70s, none of the radio DJs here in Germany could figure out what "levee" meant. Guess they hadn't known of this nifty invention called "a dictionary" yet ...) Thanks for this reaction!
I was in high school when this song came out all those years ago! We all knew every word... it was played often on the radio and in the jukebox at our pizza restaurant hangout. (more song for our money lol) I had the pleasure of seeing Don McLean perform live a few years ago. He still put on an amazing show! And I still knew every word!
I was raised in a household with only ten non-classical albums…of which American Pie was one. I knew every word of these lyrics (minus a few misheard words due to my tender age) by age 7. It took quite a bit longer for me to have any idea at all what they meant, of course 🤦♀️🤷♀️😂💐
Don invited the GREATEST A-Cappella Group Home Free to collab with him on this song during Covid lockdown. All in different locations they recreated a BONUS Masterpiece!! 🔥🎶♥️
First, Vincent is a must! It's beautifully heartbreaking. As for this song, every line references a historical event and which ones have been debated from the time it was released. It's been studied in schools and so many other things. I remember when this came out; it was .... I don't even have the words. The references to JFK, MLK, RFK, God is dead in Time magazine, Vietnam, the draft, Kent State, the Cold War & Cuba, Woodstock, etc etc etc. I really enjoy your reactions to the music from the past. Keep up the great work!
I subcribed to your channel because you do your research on the music. These are songs from my childhood and it's nice to see how others would enjoy listening to them.
Valens is short for Valenzuela. Virtually every line of this song means something to baby boomers, correct or incorrect. A couple of very obscure examples- Chevrolet stands for America. Three years after this song was released, Chevrolet used the tagline, "baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Cheverolet". The constant references to dancing had to to with the fateful tour that ended tragically on Feb 3, 1959. It was known as the Winter Dance Party.
The song is an absolute masterpiece, written as a tribute to Buddy Holly, but with many references to other artists and events. The jester is Bob Dylan, and the line "the jester on the sidelines in a cast" refers to the motorcycle accident that halted Dylan's career. The king is Elvis Presley. The quartet are the Beatles, and the Park is Candlestick Park, Where they played their final concert (another day the music died) Jack flash is Mick Jagger, as is Satan (references to the Rolling stones songs, jumping Satan's spell" refers to a rolling stones concert where some hell's angels bikers stabbed a young concert goer to death. The girl who sang the blues is Janis Joplin. The father, son and the holy ghost have 2 references. The first being Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the big bopper, who all died in the plane crash. The second reference being to Martin Luther King Jr, JFK, and Bobby Kennedy, who were all assassinated in the 60s. "Helter skelter in the summer swelter" refers to the Charles Manson helter skelter. The sergeants and the marching band refer to the Vietnam war and protesters. "And there we were all in one place" refers to Woodstock. As I said before, the song is an absolute masterpiece This comment was on someone else's reaction page thought you would like to read I enjoy your reaction
I used to sit in my room as a little boy and listen to this song over and over on 8-track. Of course, I didn't understand the significance of the lyrics but I learned the words anyway. Love the song to this day.
Great reaction. There are so many cultural references of the time. The song Vincent is also on that album. His rendition of Crying is wonderful. Thanks.
Along with all the music references, the mood of the country during the Cold war and then the Vietnam war (I remember hiding under my school desk during a nuclear emergency drill) plays a part in the song.
It's such a classic song that holds a lot of history, both political and sentimental, of course. The song from this artist called Vincent, based on the artist Van Gough, is really the most beautiful song.
Nobody writes stories anymore. Don McClean wrote stories. It was of course about the plane crash that killed Richie Valence the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly was recently married. "I can't remember if I cried when I heard about his widowed bride" had to be about Holly. Vincent is phenomenal and I can't listen to it without crying.
American pie was my party piece when I was in my teens. I love Don Mclean. I saw him live in Glasgow a good few years ago. It was great! So glad you finally got to listen to this masterpiece.
Don McLean wrote two of the greatest songs ever written. "American Pie" is one. "Vincent" is the other. Both songs are MONUMENTAL.
"Vincent" is one of the most poignant songs ever written in modern music.
The American Pie album has so many beautiful numbers - personally, I woldn't even rate the song American Pie as one of the five best on that record, though it is a great song. McLean was a brilliant songwriter and his simple guiter-voice combinations were wonderful to listen to.
Vincent is a tear jerker! An immaculate song!
@@NoFinalWords Yes
His other big hit, Vincent, is an absolute MUST!
Absolutely love that song! Great suggestion!
You are right about that! What an amazing songwriter!
YES!
Absollutely!
The Jester is Bob Dylan.The King is Elvis. The Marching Band is The Beatles. The Sacred store is the Record Store. The lady who sang The Blues is Janis Joplin.
The girl who sang the blues was Janis. And the “fists of rage” reference and “Angles” refers to the Hells Angels at Altamant festival that ended in stabbing and was the official end of the 60’s and psychedelic revolution.
The sacred store was actually Fillmore West, a San Francisco music venue where nearly every famous rock group of the era performed. The "music wouldn't play" because the Fillmore later closed.
Jagger is "Jack Flash" in one place and Satan in another, the Beatles are also called the "Quartet" at one point. The "Jester on the sidelines in a cast" refers to Bob Dylan's motorcycle accident. “The father, son, and holy ghost” may to refer to Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper.
Satan is Mick Jagger. Helter Skelter is the Manson murders. The birds were, well, The Byrds.
And you're all just guessing.
Don McLean auctioned the original handwritten lyrics for "American Pie" in 2015 for $1.2 million - it included the original manuscript with notes and revisions totalling about 16 pages
Vincent is in my top 1 of all time all about Vincent Van Gogh literally a mastepiece Killing Me Softly all about Don McLean first record i ever bought Roberta Flack Lust For Life with Kirk Douglas a great film of his life story
Vincent is my 2nd favorite song on the album. After I heard it, I was obsessed with his life story and love his paintings.
Vincent is an absolute gem of a song. I feel like it it's flipside of American Pie. AP is hard hitting folk asking questions about society and culture and a generations loss of innocence while Vincent is a soft reflection of how ones personal journey of life and artistry can both be effected by and effect others.
Yes, a beautiful song.
Vincent is one of the most beautifully written songs ever recorded. It is a masterpiece from one master of his craft to another.
February made him shiver, February 3rd is the day the music died because that was when the plane carrying Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens crashed
"Vincent" is one of the greatest bits of lyric writing ever. This is another.
There is a documentary on Prime video where Don McLean explains, in detail, the meaning of every line in this song. It's a recent one and very interesting to watch. He explains exactly why he wrote what he did in this song and what event/time in his life inspired it. It's called "The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean's American Pie"
What a legendary song. OMG
"American Pie" is one of the greatest classic songs of our times. Don McLean is a great songwriter & storyteller. I remember this song growing up. "American Pie" pays tribute to the loss of 3 legends who died so young (Buddy Holly, Richie Valens & The Big Bopper). A lot of references in the song are made to many artists from the early days of music including Elvis, Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Byrds & others.
Don McLean did an awesome version with Home Free to celebrate the 50th anniversary of this song.
I will have to check on that 50th-anniversary version. I usually steer clear of the acapella versions because they don't resonate with me like the originals do & I end up missing the music.
Most everyone from the early 70’s knew this by heart, word for word. It’s a shout sing along song in the car.
Don re-released this song on the 50th anniversary. He asked the A Cappella group Home Free to join him! Worth reacting to as it is awesome! 🤠
Definitely Vincent about Vincent Van Gogh. I can’t listen to it without crying. It’s a beautiful, heartbreaking song.
This song is full of metaphors.
Elvis is the king, Bob Dylan is the jester, the Beatles are the quartet and do on.
Don denied that, and Dylan didn't want to be a jester.
@@lancelane979 I think Jagger was Jack Flash. The Stones having recorded Jumpin' Jack Flash would support that. Of course, there is the argument to be made that the Stones used Jack Flash as a pseudonym for the Devil, which would justify the interpretation that Jagger was both Jack Flash and the Devil in American Pie. I just choose the most on-the-nose interpretation.
@@proofprof50 He'll probably never admit it, lol. But it's so clear. Dylan going to England, singing to the Queen, "betraying" the folk movement became the "jester".
@@paulopinheirosc And on the sidelines in a body cast referred to his motorcycle crash
My sister and I had a hard time getting along. After a big argument while I was driving her somewhere, "American Pie" came on the radio and we both sang every word. It was the most united moment of our lives together. My sister died before the year was out and this song gives me the most beautiful memory of her, all but erasing the lifetime of difficulties.
What a beautiful story!
@@LadyIarConnacht If not a tragic one.
The girl who sings the blues refers to Janice Joplin and the generation lost in space refers to LSD Era and angels born in hell refers to the hells angels bikers that were hired for security at Monterey pop festival where things got out hand. There are a million references in this song❤😂
The Rolling Stones hired the Hells Angels to do security for the festival at the Altamont Speedway in 1969, which was being promoted as the West Coast Woodstock, and that's where chaos erupted, not at the Monterey Festival in 1967.
Altamont was the featival where the Hell's Angels went wild. Montery Pop went fine.
This song was played non-stop in 1972. I drove a VW bug to Washington DC and played it the whole trip.
This song played on the jukebox at the bar, everybody sang along. We all knew the words. Great song.
We spent hours in the dorm analyzing the lyrics of this song.
Vincent is a must-listen-to. About the troubled artist, Vincent Van Gogh, it plays to my soul and never fails to make me cry!
Hi from Germany. It's a very sad song. Elvis, The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Byrds, Janis Joplin and others appear. But it's all about the decline of Rock'n'Roll and the generation of innocent youngsters. A sad and poetic reflection on times when things weren't so complicated. Don McLean mentioned some songs: Eight Miles High, Helter Skelter, Sympathy For The Devil... I first heard the song in 78 and I knew right away that this was something special. In 79 I went to the USA and I could see with my sixteen year old eyes what he meant. The dream was over... Could be the national anthem... Bye bye...
The song is a masterpiece basically recounting all the major events and change from the 50s to 60s.
The day the music died is when the plane of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper crashed killing everyone on board.
The jester is Bob Dylan and the cast was when he crashed his motorcycle and it halted his career.
The king is Elvis Presley
The quartet are the Beatles and they played their last concert together at Candlestick Park (another day the music died)
Jack Flash is Mick Jagger as is Satan (referencing Rolling Stones songs Jumping Jack Flash and Sympathy For The Devil).. “no angel born in hell” are the Hells Angels who provided security for a concert and stabbed a young concertgoer.
The “girl who say the blues” is Janis Joplin.
Father, son, and Holy Ghost could be either Buddy Holly, Big Bopper, and Richie Valens OR JFK, MLK, and RFK who were all assassinated.
Helter Skelter in the summer swelter is the Charles Manson killings who was inspired by the Beatles song.
The sergeants and the marching band refer to Vietnam protesters.
“And they were all in one place” is referring to Woodstock.
I'm pretty sure that a great majority of your listeners know the words to this song forward and backwards! 😅 I know that I have heard it hundreds of times and never tire of it. It is an anthem to the first of the rock and roll decades. It is a very important song and is cherished by millions of fans who love Don McLean. ❤
It's an anthem to the first two decades of rock and roll, and it mourns for two days when the music died - the plane crash and Altamont.
You really need to listen to "Vincent". Art and poetry intermingled. ❤️
My creative writing teacher in high school had us listen to Vincent, as an example of metaphor and poetry. Now, one of my favorite songs of all time!
One of the last songs Buddy Holly sang was THAT'LL BE THE DAY THAT I DIE, a few hours before the plane he was on with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper crashed, killing the 3 men Don admired most - The Day The Music Died (Feb. 3rd, 1959). Play this on any Bar's jukebox and hear most everyone sing along when the chorus rolls around. VINCENT is another great song of his.
I love how much you love a great song. For a few minutes I kind of get to go back in time and experience a great song for the first time.
One of the best reactors fr. A faithful steward of music, history & culture.
Vincent is my favourite Don McLean song it always makes me cry. 😢
You just made my ENTIRE year! This is my favorite song of ALL TIME. I could go into it for paragraphs about the lyrics but here are a few, "His widowed bride" refers to Buddy Holly's wife who he'd married just 6 months prior to the crash, "Helter Skelter in a summer swelter" refers to the Charlie Manson murders he orchestrated in the summer of 1969. "The quartet" refers to the Beatles. "The King" refers to Elvis Presley. "The girl who sang the blues" refers to Janis Joplin.
You can go into details for me!! Or tell me where I can get that info. I've tried to research this stuff and can't find much!! Even some of what you said was new to me. 😊
@@sarahdixon1943 Read the comment from @marquisdelafayette1929. I can't find much more info either. What I wrote is pretty much common knowledge.
The Jester is Dylan. The Devil is Mick Jagger. The 3 men he admires most are JFK, RFK, and MLK. It's the end of the 50s rock and the beginning of the 60s.
Me too Jodi!
If you believe McLean none of what you said is true he said in the documentary that most of the interpretations of the lyrics of who he was writing about (Elvis and Dylan for example) aren’t who he was writing about. I agree that most of the interpretations make sense but I have to believe him if he says they weren’t about those people. He even said that if I wanted to talk about Elvis or Dylan I would have used their names. I didn’t have a problem using John Lennon’s name!
Vincent is one of THEE most beautiful songs ever written and recorded, in my opinion. It's a beautiful tribute to a troubled soul yet beautifully masterful artist Vincent Van Gogh. When you review it, please do the video that includes his paintings that go with the song ... I know eventually you're going to review it .. 😊😊😊 ... it's honestly THAT EXCELLENT ❤❤😊😊
I get what you’re saying. But let’s not go overboard. In truth Van Gogh was a nutcase.
Epic is the best word to describe this song. You just didn't hear songs this long on the radio then. There ended up eventually being a radio edit- but the long version is still the best. If you haven't already- check out his song Vincent....about the painter Vincent Van Gogh. Hauntingly beautiful, and one that makes me tear up everytime I hear it. It's widely speculated that the "jester" is Bob Dylan. I always used to think it was Mick Jagger. Lots of references to other singers and bands..."The quartet=The Beatles".
Issued at the end of 1971, American Pie hit No 1 by January of 72, where it stayed for a full month. For 49 years, it held the record for the longest song to hit No 1. This song is in the Library of Congress.
not correct just 5 years later Debbie Boones You Light Up My Life was #1 for 10 weeks in 1977.
@MrCome4numb what? I said 4 weeks number1 and 49 years as the longest.
you said it held the record for being #1the longest for 49 years. it only held the record for 5 years, unless I miss understood your 49 years comment. @@bella-xp7qd
American Pie is the greatest American written pop song of all time. A MASTERPIECE!!
This song is about the plane crash that took the lives of three of the biggest names in rock at the time, The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. You cannot react to Don McLean without visiting his song "Vincent." It is a song about Vincent Van Gogh and it is such a beautiful song. I think that these were his two biggest hits. He gives a hat tip to a few other important groups in rock in this song when he says "8 Miles High" which was a song by The Byrds, he mentions "Rolling Stone" which could easily be Bob Dylan or perhaps just a nod to the Rolling Stones and he later gives a nod to "Friend Of The Devil" which was a song by Grateful Dead. There are others like his mention of "The King" which was and still is reference to Elvis. Of course this is just my take, McLean really never said. He is quite a clever songwriter.
The thing is about this song...in its context it was about Buddy Holly and the early rock and roll music. Of course music went on to evolve and become something else, something wonderful.
But someday, the last of the Beatles will pass away, and then we will all sing this song anew, and mourn the passing of another set of incredible icons.
This song is about the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, Jr. on February 3, 1959, or so I've heard and read. It's a sad song.
The other great Don McLean hit is "Vincent". It's amazing. Do yourself a favor before you listen, though; if you don't know anything about Vincent Van Gogh, Google him, scan his bio, and look at some of the images of his artwork. If you're already familiar, that's great. Enjoy! (btw, this was a great reaction! it so showed on your face, you were thinking, "omg, that is a GREAT chorus!")
My favorite part, for whatever reason is the line, "I knew a girl who sang the blues, and I asked her for some happy news. But she just smiled and turned away". That line always hit me, even before I knew who he was speaking about. He is talking about Janis Joplin , who passed in 1970. But I would recommend looking into all of the references of this song. It will drastically enhance the listening experience the next time you hear it! Though on its own its an amazing song that is really enjoyable to sing along with.
EDIT: So I was doing some reading of the lyrics, and on Genius they have the lyrics, but with the lyrics of a supposed deleted verse. Now I couldn't find ANY audio of it, but I did some research, and it seems to be confirmed. Either way I still find it interesting. lol
"And there I stood alone and afraid,
I dropped to my knees and there I prayed.
And I promised Him everything I could give,
If only He would make the music live.
And He promised it would live once more,
But this time one would equal four.
And in five years four had come to mourn,
And the music was reborn."
I have to assume its about the Beatles, though I can't prove it. lol This would have been the last verse, and really ends the song on a wildly different tone. Again, I just found it interesting. lol Have a wonderful and positive day/night to anyone who happens to read this!
And the 3 men he admired the most, refers to the stars of the Brooklyn Dodgers leaving when the team moved to L.A.
There is an updated version of this song that Don did a couple of years ago during Covid lockdown with Home Free. The guys & Don were not in the same place to record but thru the magic of editing the video was put together and it’s fantastic. Don still sounds great at 75! He later got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame & invited Home Free to be there & sing. Please check it out and react! Thank you!
The absolute pinnacle of Americana pop music. PRECIOUS FEW songs ever reach this level of musical immortality. I was 7 years old when this song was turned loose upon the world.....I can barely remember a time in my life without its presence.
I was 4 years old when it came out and I remember my Daddy playing it for me around that time and in later years. I still gives me goosebumps when I hear it.
Whenever I see a reactor choose this song, I’m always sure that once he hears the chorus he’ll say oh yes, I know this song! I’m still flabbergasted that anyone can live in this world and not have heard this song, lol. It was so prevalent everywhere. But just like TV, radio has split into different genres and doesn’t play everything on the same channel anymore like they used to. So if you grew up only listening to rap, for instance, I suppose it is possible for you to not have heard it before. Regardless, I’m glad you’ve heard it now. If you’d like, there is a documentary about the song that explains the references. I get some of them, but not all, even though I live through that period. If you do look into the references, reacting to each of the songs/artists referred to would keep your channel going for a long, long time. 😊
Vincent is my next favorite. Then Sister Fatima. Over 50 years later, I can still remember all the words.
An amazing song. Not only one of the greatest Folk songs ever but one of the greatest songs ever.
This is such an awesome song, so amazing and iconic!!❤❤❤
Great reaction! This is one of the top three songs of all time. Period. To this day everyone tries to figure out all the meanings of it and Don is not talking. Except for it's about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. Amazing stuff.
The lyrics are a deep dive
Very deep😊
The day the music died refers to the plane crash that claimed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper.
this is a beyond a classic, classic. Awesome tune, filled with clever prose to replicate true life people and events that transpired in the years just after Buddy Holley, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson died in a plane crash.
I recall a car ride with my dad when this came on the radio & I had questions. Dad had answers. It was one of our first discussions of music. We discussed music many times, but I got the last word (sort of) when I picked up his cremains at the funeral home in his beautiful wooden box. I placed it in the passenger seat. When I turned the car on Zepplin came blasting from my car speakers, I said, "Guess you won't be complaining about the volume on this ride".
This is a great classic treasure; the lyrics are deep and Vincent is a masterpiece
Love this tribute song ! So glad you did this . . . Ty
This was the first album I bought with my own money (I'm old) and I played it constantly. "Vincent" would be my favorite track.
A landmark classic song. I remember as a kid when this song was released. So long. When I deejayed back in college, I would play this so I could run to the restroom..lol. seriously, an amazing song and a piece of musical history about that dreadful plane crash killing some of rock best talent and references to other events of the time. Great pick!
Both my brother and my uncle used this song for a rest room break and a slot to fetch stuff real quick.
It is a great song for those instances for sure..lol
This song is a about the death of the early rockers, we had hit 30 plus thousand American dead from Vietnam, the Apollo moon shot and the loss Guss Grissim's team. It also talked about the Charles Manson murders, with Helter Skelter. We had to get our music at the music shops in town playing our favorite music on thousand watt sterios brought back from Vietnam War Vets. We lived the the era of muscle cars and 25 cent gasoline it was a heady time, the whole nation was hell on wheels just as the big interstate highways that the country never had before were connected, God almighty we were unstopable. You had to be there, Nascar on the big ovals pushing 220 mile an hour laps in moms hopped up sedans and in the first time in all the planets history we had the power to kill the planet with the push of one button. Now our president was not only the highest office in the United Stated, but also the nuclear power had anointed him the leader of the free world. Can you even imagine, we were all doing things that had never even been seen before, it was like were all as a society engaging magic. And here's the thing we were doing magic sending our boys up in mach 2 intersepters climbing at 30 plus thousand feet a minute.
Along with what everyone is saying this song is also about the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and the guy who did LA Bamba.
For me, the best song ever written in english/american. 8 cheerful minutes about the sadness and dismay of a young man who lost so young what we all lose when we are older: people, artists who illuminated our lives with their talent. Fate is cruel but so is time.😢
My favorite song of all time.
When this song was released, most people assumed the Jester was Bob Dylan. It fits perfectly, the line about being on the sidelines in a cast refers to his motorcycle accident. And in a way, folk music replaced 50s rock n roll, so the Jester stole the crown of the King (Elvis). But Dylan reportedly said "I'm no jester". And years later, Don McLean himself denied that the Jester was Dylan. But I'm not sure I believe him...
Very overdue, but I am so very glad that you reacted to it now. "Crying" is beautiful and I LOVE "Vincent". I believe that "Satan" was a referal to Mick Jagger, from what I heard, and Janis Joplin was the girl that sang the blues.
Such an iconic song that brings me back to dancing with my dad in the living room, when I was 3-4 years old. My Dad passed away last year, and this song will always keep us together in memories.
I bought this on 45 when I was 8 years old......damn time flies❤
The whole of the American Pie album is excellent with this song and "Vincent" the two best known. I particularly like two others "Till Tomorrow" and "Crossroads". Great reaction as usual.
The meaning behind almost EVERY SINGLE LINE in this song is nothing short of a phenomenal songwriter in action. Buddy Holly, the Rolling Stones, The Beatles, Janis Joplin, etc.
One of my favorite songs since 1971 -- incidentally, the year I met my husband. 🙂 We were lucky to hear Don McLean perform live in the mid-1980s, along with Scott McKenzie of "San Francisco" fame. One of the best concerts I've ever attended. (Fun fact: Back in the early 70s, none of the radio DJs here in Germany could figure out what "levee" meant. Guess they hadn't known of this nifty invention called "a dictionary" yet ...) Thanks for this reaction!
I was in high school when this song came out all those years ago! We all knew every word... it was played often on the radio and in the jukebox at our pizza restaurant hangout. (more song for our money lol) I had the pleasure of seeing Don McLean perform live a few years ago. He still put on an amazing show! And I still knew every word!
I was raised in a household with only ten non-classical albums…of which American Pie was one. I knew every word of these lyrics (minus a few misheard words due to my tender age) by age 7. It took quite a bit longer for me to have any idea at all what they meant, of course 🤦♀️🤷♀️😂💐
Don invited the GREATEST A-Cappella Group Home Free to collab with him on this song during Covid lockdown. All in different locations they recreated a BONUS Masterpiece!! 🔥🎶♥️
First, Vincent is a must! It's beautifully heartbreaking. As for this song, every line references a historical event and which ones have been debated from the time it was released. It's been studied in schools and so many other things. I remember when this came out; it was .... I don't even have the words. The references to JFK, MLK, RFK, God is dead in Time magazine, Vietnam, the draft, Kent State, the Cold War & Cuba, Woodstock, etc etc etc.
I really enjoy your reactions to the music from the past. Keep up the great work!
Entire college dissertations have been written on those lyrics….
Every line has a musical reference..resear hjnv the song is a lot of fun..images in this video shed light once you know!
Singing this will be the day that I die... direct reference to Buddy Holly's That'll be the day that I die... Great reaction. 👍
I subcribed to your channel because you do your research on the music. These are songs from my childhood and it's nice to see how others would enjoy listening to them.
Valens is short for Valenzuela. Virtually every line of this song means something to baby boomers, correct or incorrect. A couple of very obscure examples- Chevrolet stands for America. Three years after this song was released, Chevrolet used the tagline, "baseball, hot dogs, apple pie and Cheverolet". The constant references to dancing had to to with the fateful tour that ended tragically on Feb 3, 1959. It was known as the Winter Dance Party.
You must listen to Vincent..one of the most beautiful songs ever written hands down
The song is an absolute masterpiece, written as a tribute to Buddy Holly, but with many references to other artists and events.
The jester is Bob Dylan, and the line "the jester on the sidelines in a cast" refers to the motorcycle accident that halted Dylan's career.
The king is Elvis Presley.
The quartet are the Beatles, and the Park is Candlestick Park, Where they played their final concert (another day the music died)
Jack flash is Mick Jagger, as is Satan (references to the Rolling stones songs, jumping Satan's spell" refers to a rolling stones concert where some hell's angels bikers stabbed a young concert goer to death.
The girl who sang the blues is Janis Joplin.
The father, son and the holy ghost have 2 references. The first being Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the big bopper, who all died in the plane crash.
The second reference being to Martin Luther King Jr, JFK, and Bobby Kennedy, who were all assassinated in the 60s.
"Helter skelter in the summer swelter" refers to the Charles Manson helter skelter.
The sergeants and the marching band refer to the Vietnam war and protesters.
"And there we were all in one place" refers to Woodstock.
As I said before, the song is an absolute masterpiece
This comment was on someone else's reaction page thought you would like to read
I enjoy your reaction
Vincent! As good as American Pie is, you got hear Vincent. His cover of Crying is also awesome!
Your curiosity sets you apart from other reactions!!! I love your passion for understanding and your RESPECT ❤
A crazy thing, on the night of the plane crash. Richie Valens was sick so Waylon Jennings gave him his seat on the plane.
I used to sit in my room as a little boy and listen to this song over and over on 8-track. Of course, I didn't understand the significance of the lyrics but I learned the words anyway. Love the song to this day.
"Vincent" will floor you!
Great reaction. There are so many cultural references of the time. The song Vincent is also on that album. His rendition of Crying is wonderful. Thanks.
After you get done tearing up over Vincent, you'll love the epic trubute, The Saga Begins. If you make it that far! Great reaction, today! Thank you!
LOVE Don McLean, One of the greatest songs ever written. He was soooooo young. I've seen him in concert many times and he was fantastic.
He said he wrote the song when he was 24 years old.
@@jodij6280 Isn't that amazing? I got to see him when he wasn't that much older, sothat was really exciting.
Along with all the music references, the mood of the country during the Cold war and then the Vietnam war (I remember hiding under my school desk during a nuclear emergency drill) plays a part in the song.
Vincent always brings tears to my eyes 😢. It's both very sad and very beautiful ❤
VINCENT. Also, saw McLean live a few zillion years ago . . .he held us in his hands. It was absolutely magical. Like your style.
There's a video that explains this song in front of your eyes. Absolutely fantastic! So much content in one song.
SalvoG you do an amazing job of reacting to songs. Love your Channel! The use of Google to share more info on the band is stellar. Keep it up bro!
A wonderful and compelling song telling a tragic story.
This song came out when I was a kid, didn't know anything about the lyrics until I was an adult.
It's such a classic song that holds a lot of history, both political and sentimental, of course. The song from this artist called Vincent, based on the artist Van Gough, is really the most beautiful song.
The three men he admired most and the inspiration for the song is the loss of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and the young young young Richy Valens.
Nobody writes stories anymore. Don McClean wrote stories. It was of course about the plane crash that killed Richie Valence the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly was recently married. "I can't remember if I cried when I heard about his widowed bride" had to be about Holly. Vincent is phenomenal and I can't listen to it without crying.
American pie was my party piece when I was in my teens. I love Don Mclean. I saw him live in Glasgow a good few years ago. It was great! So glad you finally got to listen to this masterpiece.
Once you've heard this song once you'll be cranking the radio up and signing every word at the top of your lungs.... legendary song..
This song was epic! I was a child when it came put and everyone was singing it, even my baby brother! Great reaction!
Very well put together song. Good very good!
The guitar and piano are part of what makes it great.
That day music died was the plane crash that killed Bubby Holly Big Bopper and Ricky Vallance
Excellent choice with some interesting allusions to other songs and stars. However, check out 'Vincent' which you will LOVE.
You are correct (I think.) A little mystery is nice. I have loved this song since I bought the 45 and had to turn it over half way through LMAO!
Should listen to "Vincent" with images of Van Gough's Paintings.