AMERICAN PIE Don McLean INTRO: G D/F# Em7 Am C A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that Em D music used to make me smile. G D/F# Em7 Am C I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance and Em C D maybe they'd be happy for a while. Em Am Em Am But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver. C G/B Am C D Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step. G D/F# Em Am7 D I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride, G D/F# Em C D7 G C G Something touched me deep inside, the day, the music, died. G C G D So bye - bye, Miss American Pie, G C G D Drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry, G C G D Them good ole' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin' Em A7 Em D7 This'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die. VERSE: G Am C Am Did you write the book of love and do you have faith in God above? Em D If the Bible tells you so. G D/F# Em Now do you believe in rock and roll Am7 C Can music save your mortal soul and Em A7 D Can you teach me how to dance real slow? Em D Well, I know that you're in love with him, Em D Cause I saw you dancing in the gym, C G A7 You both kicked off your shoes, C D7 Man I dig those rhythm and blues. G D/F# Em I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck with a Am C Pink carnation and a pick up truck, G D/F# Em C D7 G C But I knew I was out of luck the day, the music, died. G D7 D7 I started singing, Bye - bye..........die VERSE:2 G Am Now for ten years we've been on our own, C Am And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone Em D But 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 Em A7 D And a 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 A7 The courtroom was adjourned, C D7 No verdict was returned. G D/F# Em And while Lenin read a book on Marx Am C The quartet practiced in the park G D/F# Em C D7 G C G And we sang dirges in the dark, The day, the music, died. D7 D7 We were singin' Bye - bye.....die. VERSE:3 G Am Helter-skelter in the 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 that halftime air was sweet perfume, Em D While the sergeants played a marching tune. C G A7 We all got up to dance, but we C D7 Never got the chance G D/F# Em Cause the players tried to take the field, Am C The marching band refused to yield, G D/F# Em C D7 G C G Do you recall what was revealed, The day, the music, died. D7 D7 We started singin'...........die. VERSE:4 G Am And there we were all in one place, C Am A generation lost in space. Em D --------------------------- G D/F# Em So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Am7 C Jack Flash sat on a candlestick. Em A7 D Cause fire is the devil's only friend. Em D And as I watched him on the stage my Em D Hands were clenched in fists of rage. C G A7 No angel born in hell, C D7 Could break that Satan's spell G D/F# Em And as the flames climbed high into the night Am C To light the sacrificial rite G D/F# Em C D7 G C G I saw Satan laughing with delight The day, the music, died. D7 D7 He was singin'....................die. OUTRO: G D/F# Em I met a girl who sang the blues and I Am C Asked her for some happy news, Em D But she just smiled and turned away. G D/F# Em G I went down to the sacred store where I Am G/B C Heard the music years before, but the Em C D man there said the music wouldn't play. Em Am And in the streets the children screamed, Em Am The lovers cried and 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 G/B And the three men I admire most, C D7 The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, G D/F# Em They caught the last train for the coast, C Am7 D7 G The day, the music, died. D7 And they were singin'............... C D7 G C G This'll be the day that I die________.