Weeks ago, I rediscovered this epic song. ‘American Pie’ was released over fifty years ago. Younger generations are more familiar with Madonna’s 90s rendition. I’ve heard the original version before. Didn’t realise that it was over eight minutes long. Lost in the catchy airplay were the stories. American tackles the sixties with a plethora of pop culture references and metaphors. A postmodern tour de force. I feel inspired whenever I hear the song. One day, I hope to write a piece as epic as Don Maclean’s. So far, my lengthiest poem is nine pages, still shy of his sixteen sheets. The song resembles a short story in form. A unique narrative that transcends genres and time.

Topnotcher

In 1971, American topped the Billboard charts for four weeks. When it hit the top hundred, it was the lengthiest piece to do so at the time. Held the distinction of the lengthiest song to reach number one, until Taylor Swift eclipsed him fifty years later. Too epic was American that it was split into two cd’s. The song, at least fifteen stanzas long, exemplifies the hopes and dreams of a generation. He ends some vignettes, with ‘The day the music died’.

This refers to the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens et al. Closed the book on the early rock era.

This shows their disillusionment at the way the decade panned out. Losing their youthful idealism. He references such monoliths as Elvis Presley (the king) and Bob Dylan (the court jester). JFK’s assassination is likewise explored. The moon landing and Chicago protests are included. The song became an anthem for soldiers and cowboys, musicians and magicians. Permeated schools and clubs, joints and proms. Even in the nineties, the song meant something as its reissue charted in 91.

Fave

My fave lines are these:

‘The players tried for a forward pass 
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Now the halftime air was sweet perfume 
While the sergeants played a marching tune 
We all got up to dance 
Oh, but we never got the chance 
‘Cause the players tried to take the field 
The marching band refused to yield 
Do you recall what was revealed 
The day the music died?’

Nostalgic

There’s so much to love about this. The ‘forward pass’ and ‘the jester…in a cast’.

‘The players try to take the field…the marching band refused to yield’.

Makes me nostalgic. Memories of college hoops and NBA game winners, where crowds would storm the field. The forward pass, illegal in rugby league.

He also mentions ‘…with a coat borrowed from James Dean’.

This elucidates the court jester, as Dylan posed in a mag cover with said coat. Likewise, the jester stole the king’s thorny crown reveals how Dylan stole Elvis’s thunder.

Through the decades, people tried to decipher the song’s cryptic meaning. Maclean stayed out of it. They’ll get answers, just not from him.

When asked what his lyrics meant, Maclean jestingly replied that it meant he could forget about work from then on. For him, a songwriter shouldn’t show his full deck. They mustn’t focus on their highs. Make a bold statement and on to the next project.

Legacy

No doubt, this is a masterclass. A lesser mind could not produce his piece de resistance. Hence, why it stood alone atop the Billboard perch for five decades. Maclean was in his midtwenties when he penned this. In case you’re wondering, he’s still alive. American has been described as ‘a monumental accomplishment of lyric writing’.

Nominated for song and record of the year at the 15th Grammy’s. Won neither. Perhaps its length was the issue.

He’s written other songs, like Vincent – a tribute to Van Gogh. Make no mistake: American Pie remains his obra.

Metaphysician

Someday, I hope they’ll say the same thing of my output. They’ll call me a metaphysician…of verses. Writing a poetic tome ain’t easy. Even harder? A meaningful epic poem. Where every word stands for something. Will leave people thinking for decades. As Sean Connery put it, ‘They’ve been talking about it for years. They just haven’t been saying anything.’

All was revealed when he auctioned off his manuscript. Sixteen pages, with annotations and notes. Sold, for $1.2 m. We’d learn, among others, that Dylan was the court jester.

Still, American is no Iliad. The latter clocks in at an astounding 704 pages! By comparison, John Milton’s Paradise Lost is 453 pages.

There have been parodies and covers. As mentioned, Madonna gave a valiant effort but nothing’s like the original. The raunchy American Pie film series takes its name from the song.

‘American Pie’ has been dubbed as a most debated and successful song of the 20th century. A fixture in best songs of the 1900s. It has also been described as a ‘cultural touchstone’. American proves that Maclean is the storyteller par excellence. In his time, no one wrote songs like him, save perhaps Dylan himself. In being untouchable for fifty years, he’s a once in a generation talent.

Rating: 5/5