On the 26th of May 1971, the track was released. The track was written by Don McLean.
Chords Info
- Tuning: Standard(E A D G B E)
- Key: G
- Chords: G, D/F#, Em7, Am, C, Em, D, G/B, Am7, D7, A7, Cm
- BPM: 136
- Suggested Strumming: DU DU DU D
- D= Down Stroke, U = Upstroke, N.C= No Chord
Track Info
- Song: American Pie
- Artist: Don McLean
- Written by Don McLean
- Produced by Ed Freeman
- Album: American Pie
- Released Date: 26 May 1971
[Verse]
G D/F# Em7 A long, long time ago Am C I can still remember how that
Em D
music used to make me smile G D/F# Em7 And I knew if I had my chance Am C That I could make those people dance and
Em C D
maybe they'd be happy for a while Em Am But February made me shiver,
Em Am
with every paper I'd deliver C G/B Am Bad news on the doorstep,
C D
I couldn't take one more step G D/F# Em I can't remember if I cried when
Am7 D
I read about his widowed bride G D/F# Em Something touched me deep inside C D7 G The day the music died [Chorus]
G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were drinkin'
G D
whiskey and rye Em Singin' this will be the day that
A7
I die,
Em D7
this will be the day that I die [Verse 2] G Am Did you write the book of love C Am And do you have faith in God above,
Em D
if the bible tells you so? G D/F# Em Do you believe in rock and roll Am7 C Can music save your mortal soul
Em
and can you teach me
A7 D
how to dance real slow? Em D Well I know that you're in love with him
Em D
'cuz I saw you dancin' in the gym C G/B Am You both kicked off your shoes, man
C D7
I dig those rhythm and blues G D/F# Em I was a lonely teenage bronckin'
buck with a
Am C
pink carnation and a pickup truck G D/F# Em But I knew I was out of luck the
C D7 G C
day the music died,
G D
I started singin' [Chorus] G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were drinkin'
G D
whiskey and rye Em A7 Singin' this will be the day that I die,
Em D7
this will be the day that I die [Verse] G Am Now for ten years we've been on our own C Am Em and moss grows fat on a rolling stone but
D
that's not how it used to be G D/F# Em When the jester sang for the king and queen Am7 C in a coat he borrowed from James Dean in a
Em A7 D
voice that came from you and me Em D Oh, and while the king was looking down,
Em D
the jester stole his thorny crown C G/B A7 The courtroom was adjourned,
C D7
no verdict was returned G D/F# Em And while Lennin read a book on Marx,
Am C
the quartet practiced in the park G D/F# Em C And we sang dirges in the dark the day
D7 G C
the music died,
G D
we were singin' [Chorus]
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were
G D
drinkin' whiskey and rye Em Singin' this will be the day that
A7
I die,
Em D7
this will be the day that I die [Verse]
G Am Helter skelter in a summer swelter C Am the birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Em D
eight miles high and fallin' fast G D/F# Em It landed foul on the grass Am7 C the players tried for a forward pass,
Em A7 D
with the jester on the sidelines in a cast Em D Now the half-time air was sweet perfume,
Em D
while sergeants played a marching tune C G/B A7 We all got up to dance, but
C D7
we never got the chance G D/F# Em 'Cuz the players tried to take the field,
Am Cm C
the marching band refused to yield G D/F# Em C Do you recall what was revealed the day
D7 G C
the music died,
G D
we started singin' [Chorus] G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were
G D
drinkin' whiskey and rye Em Singin' this will be the day that
A7
I die,
Em D7
this will be the day that I die [Verse]
G Am And there we were all in one place C Am a generation lost in space,
Em D
with no time left to start again G D/F# So come on Jack be nimble,
Em
Jack be quick,
Am7 C
Jack Flash sat on a candle Em stick, 'cuz fire is
A7 D
the devil's only friend Em D And as I watched him on the stage,
Em D
my hands were clenched in fists of rage C G/B A7 C No angel born in Heck could break that
D7
Satan's spell G D/F# Em And as the flames climbed high into the
Am C
night to light the sacrificial rite G D/F# Em C I saw Satan laughing with delight the day
D7 G C
the music died,
G D
he was singin' [Chorus] G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were
G D
drinkin' whiskey and rye Em Singin' this will be the day that
A7 Em
I die, this will be
D7
the day that I die [Verse]
G D/F# Em I met a girl who sang the blues Am C And I asked her for some happy news, but
Em D
she just smiled and turned away G D/F# Em I went down to the sacred store Am C Where I'd heard the music years before,
Em C
but the man there said the music D wouldn't play Em Am But in the streets the children screamed,
Em
the lovers cried and
Am
the poets dreamed C G/B Am But not a word was spoken,
C D
the church bells all were broken G D/F# Em And the three men I admire most,
Am7 C
the Father, Son,
D7
and the Holy Ghost G D/F# Em They caught the last train for the
C D7 G
coast the day the music died, N.C. And they were singin' [Chorus]
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were drinkin'
G D
whiskey and rye Em Singin' this will be the day that
A7 Em
I die, this will be
D7
the day that I die G C They were singin' bye, bye
G D
Miss American Pie G C Drove my Chevy to the levy but
G D
the levy was dry G C And them good old boys were drinkin'
G D
whiskey and rye C D7 Singin' this will be the day that
G C G
I die
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