While Don McLean‘s 1971 hit “American Pie” may have been inspired by a tragedy, it’s usually viewed as a celebratory or patriotic song, played during the Fourth of July, weddings, and funerals.
In a 2022 interview with The Project, McLean, now 80, acknowledged that penning “American Pie” was a way of expressing his emotions about the 1959 plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., better known as The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. McLean explained that he was a massive fan of Holly, who died when he was 22, and his passing impacted him as a young teenager.
“My guy was Buddy Holly. I really related to his music, but all of a sudden one day, I opened the papers. And there I see that this plane crash had happened. And I mean, it really rocked me,” said McLean during the 2022 interview.
He also said that “American Pie” is a commentary on historical events throughout the ’60s, specifically the Vietnam War and John F. Kennedy‘s 1963 assassination.
“I now was moving into the realm of really growing as a songwriter and thinking I want to do something that captures everything that I had been experiencing in these 10 years. And these good things and bad things that were happening, the fractured insane nature of America, also the greatness of America,” said the musician.
He also clarified that he couldn’t provide a “clear-cut” explanation of all of the song’s lyrics. McLean explained that he wants younger listeners to start researching the tune’s many references.
“I think the good part about it is that it gets a young person thinking about ‘What was that Vietnam thing? About, ‘Well that Kennedy thing was terrible.’ ‘Oh yeah, who was Buddy Holly? Who was Ritchie Valens? I think I’ll go listen to some of that music.’ Ah, I’ve got you,” said McLean while speaking to The Project.
During the Project interview, McLean referenced that “American Pie” became a No. 1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 charts in early 1972 and said he didn’t expect the song to be so successful. In addition, he said he was glad “American Pie” was his biggest hit, as he couldn’t handle being in the limelight.
“It was a very unsettling experience for me. I am very, very happy that I didn’t have to live at that level of success because I wasn’t cut out for it. When you’re famous, you don’t earn friendship, everybody wants to be your friend,” said McLean.
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