#-------------------------------PLEASE NOTE-------------------------------------#
# This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
# song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
#-------------------------------------------------------------------------------#
American Pie chords
Don McLean
G D Em
A long, long time ago,
Am C Em D
I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile.
G D Em Am C
And I knew if I had my chance, that I could make those people dance,
Em C D
and maybe they'd by happy for a while.
Em Am Em Am
But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver.
C G Am C D
Bad news on the doorstep; I couldn't take one more step
G D Em Am D
I can't remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride;
G D Em C D7 G C G
something touched me deep inside, the day the music died.
G C G D G C
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
Em A7 Em D7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die.
G Am, C Am
Did you write the book of love, and do you have faith in God above,
Em D G D Em
if the Bible tells you so? Now do you believe in rock and roll,
Am C Em A7 D7
can music save your mortal soul? And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Em Am Em Am
Well I know that you're in love with him, 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym
C G A7 C D7
You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythm and blues!
G D Em Am C
I was a lonely teenage bronching buck, with a pink carnation and a pick-up truck.
G D Em C D7 G C G
But I knew I was out of luck the day, the music died.
G D7
I started singing....
G C G D G C
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
Em A7 Em D7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die.
G Am C Am
Now for ten years, we've been on our own; and moss grows fat on a rolling stone,
Em D G D Em
but that's not how it used to be. When the jester sang for the King and
Am C Em A7 D7
Queen, in a coat he borrowed from James Dean, and a voice that came from you and me
Em Am Em Am
Oh, and while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown;
C G A7 C D7
the court room was adjourned, no verdict was returned.
G D Em Am C
And while Lennon read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park;
G D Em C D7 G C G
and we sang dirges in the dark, the day the music died,
D7
we were singing
G C G D G C
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
Em A7 Em D7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
[ Tab from: https://www.guitartabs.cc/tabs/d/don_mclean/american_pie_crd_ver_8.html ]
G Am C Am
Helter skelter in the summer swelter, the birds flew off with a fallout shelter;
Em D G D Em
eight miles high and falling fast. It landed foul on the grass,
Am C Em A7 D7
the players tried for a forward pass; with the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Em Am Em Am
The half time air was sweet perfume, while the sergeants played a marching tune;
C G A7 C D7
we all got up to dance, but we never got the chance. 'Cause
G D Em Am C
the players tried to take the field, but the marching band refused to yield
G D Em C D7 G C G
Do you recall what was revealed, the day the music died?
D7
We started singing
G C G D G C
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
Em A7 Em D7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
G Am C Am
Oh, and there we were all in one place, a generation lost in space;
Em D G D Em
with no time left, to start again. So come on, Jack be nimble, jack be quick,
Am C Em A7 D7
Jack flash sat on a candlestick, 'cause fire is the devil's only friend.
Em Am Em Am
And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage.
C G A7 C D7
No angel born in hell, could break that Satan’s spell
G D Em Am C
And as the flames climbed high into the night, to light the sacrificial rite;
G D Em C D7 G C G
I saw Satan laughing with delight, the day the music died.
D7
We were singing
G C G D G C
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
Em A7 Em D7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
G D Em
I met a girl who sang the blues so,
Am C Em D
I asked her for some happy news; but she just smiled and turned away.
G D Em Am C
I went down to the sacred store, where I heard the music years before,
Em C D Em
but the man there said the music wouldn't play. And in the streets
Am Em Am
the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed.
C G Am C D
But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken.
G D Em Am D
And the three men I admire most: the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
G D Em C D7 G
They caught the last train for the coast the day, the music died.
D7
And they were singing
G C G D G C
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
Em A7 Em D7
this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die..
D7
And they were singing
G C G D G C
Bye-bye, Miss American Pie, drove my Chevy to the levee but the
G D G C G D
levee was dry. Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing
C D7 G C G
this'll be the day that I die
Set8
