A long long time ago
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance
and maybe they'd be happy for a while.
But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside The day the Music Died

So bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die.

Did you write the book of love And do you have faith in God above?
If the Bible tells you so.
Do you believe in Rock 'n Roll? Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him 'cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes Man, I dig those rythmny blues

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck.
But I knew I was out of luck The day the music died

I stared singin' bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die.

Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the King was looking down The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned No verdict was returned
And while Lennon read a book of Marx The court kept practice in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the Music Died.

We were singing bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die.

Helter-Skelter in a summer swelter The Byrds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight Miles High and falling fast
It landed foul out on the grass The players tried for a forward pass
But the jester's on the sidelines in a cast

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume While the sargeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance 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 reveiled
the day the Music Died?

We stared singing bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die.

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation Lost in Space
With no time left to start again
So come on, Jack be nimble Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'cause fire is the Devil's only friend

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in hell Could break that Satan's spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrifical rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the Music Died

He was singing bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die.

I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music woudn't play

And in the streets the children screamed The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken The Church bells all were broken
And three men I admire most The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast The Day the Music Died.

And they were singing bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die.

They were singing bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die.