American Pie
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* = strum once
The C minor chord which is played in verse 4 may be a mistake but it is on the recording.
[Verse 1]
A Glong, D/F#long timEme ago
AmI can still reCmember how that musEmic used to make me sDmileDsus4 D Dsus2 D
And GI knew D/F#if I haEmd my chance
That AmI could make those Cpeople dance and Emmaybe they'd be Chappy for a wDhileDsus4 D Dsus2 D
EmBut February Ammade me shiver, Emwith every paper AmI'd deliver
CBad news G/Bon the Amdoorstep, I couCldn't take one more stepD
I Gcan't rememD/F#ber if I Emcried when I Cread about his Dwidowed bride
GSomething D/F#touched me Emdeep inside
The Cday the Dmusic Gdied
[Chorus]
So Gbye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Em* A7* Em* D7 D7sus2 D7 D7sus4 D7 D7sus2 D7
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 2]
GDid you write the Ambook of love
And do Cyou have faith in AmGod above, Emif the bible Dtells you so?
GDo you D/F#believe in rEmock and roll
Can Am7music save your Cmortal soul anEmd can you teach me A7how to dance Dreal slow?
Em* D* Em* D*
Well I know that you're in love with him 'cuz I saw you dancin' in the gym
You Cboth kicked G/Boff your Amshoes, man I Cdig those rhythm and D7blues
I was a Glonely D/F#teenage bEmronckin' buck with a Ampink carnation and a Cpickup truck
But GI knew D/F#I was oEmut of luck the dCay the mD7usic dGiedC, GI started Dsingin'
[Chorus]
GBye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Em* A7* Em* D7
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 3]
Now for tGen years we've been Amon our own
and moCss grows fat on a roAmlling stone Embut that's not how it uDsed to beDsus4 D Dsus2 D
When the jGester D/F#sang for the kinEmg and queen
in a Am7coat he borrowed frCom James Dean in a vEmoice that came A7from you and Dme
Em* D* Em* D*
Oh, and while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown
The cCourtroom G/Bwas adA7journed, Cno verdict was reD7turned
And while GLennin reaD/F#d a boEmok on Marx, the Amquartet pracCticed in the park
And Gwe sang D/F#dirges Emin the dark the dCay the mD7usic dGiedC, Gwe were Dsingin'
[Chorus]
GBye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Em* A7* Em* D7
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 4]
GHelter skelter in a Amsummer swelter
Cthe birds flew off with Ama fallout shelter, Emeight miles high and fDallin' fast
It lanGded D/F#foul oEmn the grass
the plAm7ayers tried for a fCorward pass, Emwith the jester on the sidelineA7s in a Dcast
Em* D* Em* D*
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume, while sergeants played a marching tune
CWe all got G/Bup to danA7ce, but Cwe never got the chD7ance
'Cuz the Gplayers tD/F#ried to tEmake the field, Amthe marching band reCmfused to yCield
GDo you recD/F#all what wEmas revealed the dCay the mD7usic dGiedC, Gwe started Dsingin'
[Chorus]
GBye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Em* A7* Em* D7
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 5]
And tGhere we were all Amin one place
a Cgeneration Amlost in space, with Emno time left to sDtart againDsus4 D Dsus2 D
So come on JGack be D/F#nimble, EmJack be quick, Am7Jack Flash sat on a Ccandlestick
'cause Emfire is the A7devil's only frDiend
Em* D* Em* D*
And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage
No Cangel bG/Born in A7Hell could Cbreak that Satan's D7spell
And as the Gflames climbeD/F#d high intEmo the night to Amlight the sacrifCicial rite
I saw GSatan D/F#laughing Emwith delight the dCay the mD7usic dGiedC, Ghe was Dsingin'
[Chorus]
GBye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Em* A7* Em* D7
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 6]
GI met a D/F#girl who Emsang the blues
And I Amasked her for some Chappy news, but Emshe just smiled and Dturned away
GI went dowD/F#n to the Emsacred store
Where IAm'd heard the musCic years before, but the Emman there said the mCusic
wouldn't pDlay
Em* Am* Em* Am*
And in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But Cnot a G/Bword was Amspoken, the Cchurch bells all were Dbroken
And the Gthree men D/F#I admiEmre most, the CFather, Son, and the HoDly Ghost
GThey caught the D/F#last train Emfor the coast the Cday the Dmusic Gdied,
N.C.
And they were singin'
[Chorus]
GBye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Em* A7 Em* D7 D7sus2 D7 D7sus4 D7 D7sus2 D7
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
They were singin' Gbye, Cbye Miss GAmerican DPie
Drove my GChevy to the Clevee but the Glevee was Ddry
And them Ggood old Cboys were drinkin' Gwhiskey and Drye
Singin' Cthis will be the D7day that I GdieC G
The story behind the song
"American Pie" is a notable song by American singer-songwriter Don McLean, released in 1971 on the album of the same name. This folk rock song, clocking in at over eight minutes, is recognized for its extensive and often ambiguous lyrics that reflect on America's changing society during the 1950s and 1960s. It quickly became a commercial success, topping charts in multiple countries and establishing itself as a cultural touchstone.
AI-written from these sources:American Pie (song) — Wikipedia ↗Don McLean — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗
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American Pie
by Don McLean
* = strum once
The C minor chord which is played in verse 4 may be a mistake but it is on the recording.
[Verse 1]
G D/F# Em
A long, long time ago
Am C Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile
G D/F# Em
And I knew if I had my chance
Am C Em C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
That I could make those people dance and 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 C D
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride
G D/F# Em
Something touched me deep inside
C D G
The day the music died
[Chorus]
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
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Em A7 Em D7 D7sus2 D7 D7sus4 D7 D7sus2 D7
* * *
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 2]
G Am
Did you write the book of love
C Am Em D
And do you have faith in God above, if the bible tells you so?
G D/F# Em
Do you believe in rock and roll
Am7 C Em A7 D
Can music save your mortal soul and can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Em D Em D
* * * *
Well I know that you're in love with him 'cuz I saw you dancin' in the gym
C G/B Am C D7
You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythm and blues
G D/F# Em Am C
I was a lonely teenage bronckin' buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck
G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D
But I knew I was out of luck the day the music died, I started singin'
[Chorus]
G C G D
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
G C G D
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Em A7 Em D7
* * *
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 3]
G Am
Now for ten years we've been on our own
C Am Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
and moss grows fat on a rolling stone but that's not how it used to be
G D/F# Em
When the jester sang for the king and queen
Am7 C Em A7 D
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean in a voice that came from you and me
Em D Em D
* * * *
Oh, and while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown
C G/B A7 C D7
The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned
G D/F# Em Am C
And while Lennin read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park
G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D
And we sang dirges in the dark the day the music died, we were singin'
[Chorus]
G C G D
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
G C G D
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Em A7 Em D7
* * *
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 4]
G Am
Helter skelter in a summer swelter
C Am Em D
the birds flew off with a fallout shelter, eight miles high and fallin' fast
G D/F# Em
It landed foul on the grass
Am7 C Em A7 D
the players tried for a forward pass, with the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Em D Em D
* * * *
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume, while sergeants played a marching tune
C G/B A7 C D7
We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance
G D/F# Em Am Cm C
'Cuz the players tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield
G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D
Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died, we started singin'
[Chorus]
G C G D
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
G C G D
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Em A7 Em D7
* * *
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 5]
G Am
And there we were all in one place
C Am Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D
a generation lost in space, with no time left to start again
G D/F# Em Am7 C
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
Em A7 D
'cause fire is the devil's only friend
Em D Em D
* * * *
And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage
C G/B A7 C D7
No angel born in Hell could break that Satan's spell
G D/F# Em Am C
And as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite
G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D
I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died, he was singin'
[Chorus]
G C G D
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
G C G D
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Em A7 Em D7
* * *
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
[Verse 6]
G D/F# Em
I met a girl who sang the blues
Am C Em D
And I asked her for some happy news, but she just smiled and turned away
G D/F# Em
I went down to the sacred store
Am C Em C
Where I'd heard the music years before, but the man there said the music
D
wouldn't play
Em Am Em Am
* * * *
And in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed
C G/B Am C D
But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken
G D/F# Em C D
And the three men I admire most, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
G D/F# Em C D G
They caught the last train for the coast the day the music died,
N.C.
And they were singin'
[Chorus]
G C G D
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
G C G D
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Em A7 Em D7 D7sus2 D7 D7sus4 D7 D7sus2 D7
* *
Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
G C G D
They were singin' bye, bye Miss American Pie
G C G D
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
C D7 G C G
Singin' this will be the day that I die
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About American Pie Chords by Don McLean
Learn how to play American Pie by Don McLean with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “American Pie chords”, “American Pie guitar chords”, or “Don McLean American Pie chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy American Pie chords and for experienced players who want accurate American Pie lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include C, G, D/F#, Em, A, Am.
FAQ — American Pie by Don McLean
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