Throughout the song, McLean unpacks and explores many major events of the 60s including moon landings, the rise and fall of Bob Dylan, The Beatles fame and the death of Janis Joplin.įor years, McLean refused to admit or reveal the song’s meaning, and insisted that every listener have their own unique interpretation of the song.

The track discusses the evolution of music, particularly rock and roll through the 60’s, as well as the 1959 plane crash that led to the devastating death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. Lyrically, the song speaks on nostalgia and is full to the brim of pop-culture references from that time. McLean also revealed that the song made its debut in Philadelphia at Temple University, where McLean opened for Laura Nyro on the 4th March 1971. “Tin & Lint”, a bar on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs claims the song was written there and has a plaque that marks the table. However, McLean disputed these claims by stating that the song was only written in Cold Spring in New York and Philadelphia. The song’s origins were debated for many years, with employees from Caffè Lena in Saratoga Springs in New York claiming that the start of McLean’s song writing process for “American Pie” began there. “American Pie” is Don McLean’s most popular hit from the American singer-songwriter Don McLean from his second studio album of the same name in 1971. Written by McLean himself with production done by Ed Freeman for The Rainbow Collection, Ltd.

Don McLean’s iconic 1971 song “American Pie” which was originally released on the 24th October 1971 through United Artists, and re-released in November 1991.

American pie song lyrics meaning