American Pie

       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 
       Then good old boys were drinkin' 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 and 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 rhythm and 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 started singin' (repeat *) 

       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 Lenin read a book of Marx the quartet practiced in the park 
       And we sang dirges in the dark , the day the music died 
       We were singing (repeat*) 

       Helter Skelter in the 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 with the jester on the sidelines in a cast 
       Now the half - time 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 
       We started singing 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 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 the 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 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