Mclean Don - American Pie guitar tab
e: Tue, 3 Mar 1998 16:51:51 +1100 (EST)
American Pie
Don McLean
"American Pie"
Performance Notes:
Acoustic guitar, with open position chords.
Chords
G 320033
D xx0232
Em7 022030
Am x02210
C x32010
Em 022000
D7 xx0212
Am7 x02010 or x02213
A7 x02020 or x02223
Prologue (Strum Freely / Slowly usu. only the once per chord)
G D Em7 Am C
A | long, long time ago | I can still remember how that |
Em D G D Em7 (G)
| music used to make me smile | And | I knew if I had my chance that |
Am (G) C Em C
| I could make those people dance and | maybe they'd be happy for a |
D Em Am Em Am
| while | But February made me shiver | with every newspaper I'd deliver |
C G Am C D
| Bad news on the doorstep I | couldn't take one more step I |
(C) (D7)
G D Em (G) Am7 D
| can't remember if I cried when I | read about his widowed bride, But |
G D Em C (Am7) D7 G C G (D7)
| something touched me deep in-side the | day the music | died | |
Del Segna al Coda
(Play from Segna till it says to go to the Coda)
Chorus ( in a slightly faster tempo )
(SEGNA)
|*G C G D G C
So |* bye-bye, Miss A_|_merican Pie Drove my Chevy | to the levee but the |
G D G C G D TO CODA
| 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 | |
Verses 1,2,3,4.
|G |Am |C |Am |Em |D | % |G D |Em |Am7 |C |Em |
|A7 |D | % |Em |D |Em |D |C G |A7 |C |D7 |G D |
_______
| 1.2.3.
*|
|Em |Am |C |G D |Em |C |D7 |G C |G D7 *|
______
| 4.
|G D |D C |G D |G C |G D |G C |G D |
| He was singing | etc.
|Em |A7 |Em |D7 |
For the 5th verse, play the prologue, adding the chords in (x) in and
substituting a chord for a previousey written one when you see (C)
Am7
(Ie: play a C instaid of, not as well as, the Am7)
Also remember to go back to the slow strumming for the 5th verse.
Coda
C D7 G C G
| This'll be the day that I die | |
Verse Lyrics
2.
Now for ten years we've been on our own and moss grows fat on a rolling 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 come form 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 on Marx the quartet practised in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
3.
Helter Skelter in the summer swelter the birds flew off with a fallout
shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast, it lounded foul 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 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
4.
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 id the devil's only friend
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 higher into the night to light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
5.
I met a girl who sang the blues and I asked her for some happy news
But she just smile and turned away
I went down to the sacred store where I heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn'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 Hoy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
Written out by The Loan Arranger c9609436@alinga.newcastle.edu.au
20/11/96 (rev 11/97)
#----------------------------------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 submitted by:
Don McLean Dave Waite
INTRO:
G D/F# Em7 Am C
A long, long time ago, I can still remember how that
Em D
music used to make me smile.
G D/F# Em7 Am C
I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance and
Em C D
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 Am7 D
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride,
G D/F# Em C D7 G C G
Something touched me deep inside, the day, the music, died.
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
Them good ole' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin'
Em A7 Em D7
This'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.
VERSE:
G Am C Am
Did you write the book of love and do you have faith in God above?
Em D
If the Bible tells you so.
G D/F# Em
Now do you believe in rock and roll
Am7 C
Can music save your mortal soul and
Em A7 D
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Em D
Well, I know that you're in love with him,
Em D
Cause I saw you dancing in the gym,
C G A7
You both kicked off your shoes,
C D7
Man I dig those rhythm and blues.
G D/F# Em
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck with a
Am C
Pink carnation and a pick up truck,
G D/F# Em C D7 G C
But I knew I was out of luck the day, the music, died.
G D7 D7
I started singing, Bye - bye..........die
VERSE:2
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 on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day, the music, died. We were singin' Bye - bye.....die.
VERSE:3
Helter-skelter in the summer swelter,
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter.
Eight miles high and fallin' fast,
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.
Now that halftime air was sweet perfume,
While the sergeants 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 revealed,
The day, the music, died. We started singin'...........die.
VERSE:4
And there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space.
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick.
Cause fire is the devil's only friend.
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 sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day, the music, died.
He was singin'....................die.
OUTRO:
G D/F# Em
I met a girl who sang the blues and I
Am C
Asked her for some happy news,
Em D
But she just smiled and turned away.
G D/F# Em G
I went down to the sacred store where I
Am G/B C
Heard the music years before, but the
Em C D
man there said the music wouldn't play.
Em Am
And in the streets the children screamed,
Em Am
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed.
C G/B Am
But not a word was spoken,
C D
The church bells all were broken.
G D/F# Em G/B
And the three men I admire most,
C D7
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost,
G D/F# Em
They caught the last train for the coast,
C Am7 D7 G
The day, the music, died.
D7
And they were singin'...............
C D7 G C G
This'll be the day that I die________.
END (finally!)
I'm _not_ going back through that to check the spelling, so I hope it's
okay. If you're a beginner, try playing the D/F# as just a D for now,
but that's the only chord that could possibly be a problem. Other than
that, a pretty easy song! enjoy!
--
***************************************************************************
DAVE S. WAITE # "Watch out where the huskies go
dwaite@uoguelph.ca # And don't you eat that yellow snow."
GO LEAFS # Frank Zappa
***************************************************************************
--
***************************************************************************
DAVE S. WAITE # "Watch out where the huskies go
dwaite@uoguelph.ca # And don't you eat that yellow snow."
GO LEAFS # Frank Zappa
***************************************************************************
Please note that even when I used your lines, I shuffled some of them around!
I included the chords as I know them... there are three sets... the one for
the first and last verses, the one for the others, and the one for the chorus.
The chords aren't definitive, but the lyrics pretty much are.
I also interspersed the references that I know of, and included some commentary
on the lyric content at the end. Have fun!
A long, long time ago
G D Em
I can still remember
C Am
How that music used to make me smile
Em D
And I knew if I had my chance
G D Em
I could make those people dance, and
C Am
maybe they'd be happy for awhile
Em A7 D
But February made me shiver
Em Am
with every paper I'd deliver
Em Am
bad news on the doorstep
C G Am
I couldn't take one more step
C D
I can't remember if I cried when I
G D Em
read about his widowed bride [buddy holly]
C D
but something touched me deep inside
G D Em
the day the music died.
C D GCG
(Chorus)
GCGD GCGD GCGD EmAm EmDDDDCDGDCD (some other verses Em D D7)
So bye bye, Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry
and them good ol' boys was drinkin' whiskey and rye
singing "This'll be the day that I die,
This'll be the day that I die"
Did you write the book of love?
G Am
and do you have faith in God above
C Am
If the Bible tells you so?
Em D
Now do you believe in rock and roll
G D Em
can music save your (im)mortal soul [sounds like mortal, but I've seen lyrics
C Am with immortal, and makes sense if you
catch the drift of the song. You can
also hear it once you know it.]
and can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Em A7 D
Well I know that you're in love with him
Em D
cause I saw you dancing in the gym
Em D
You both kicked off your shoes
C G Am
Lord I dig them rhythm and blues, Ooo
Em D
I was a lonely teenage bronkin' buck
G D Em
with a pink carnation and a pickup truck
C Am
but I knew I was out of luck
G D Em
the day the music died
C D G
I started singing
(Chorus)
Now for ten years we've been on our own, and
moss grows fat on a rolling stone [Rolling stones...]
but that's not how it used to be
When The Jester played for the King and Queen [Dylan, Elvis?]
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean [in Rebel without a Cause]
and a voice that came from you and me
And while the King was looking down
the Jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned
And while Lenin (Lennon?) read a book on Marx [possible "Imagine" reference]
The quartet practiced in the parks [Beatles]
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died
We were singing
Helter Skelter in a summer swelter [Manson]
the birds[Byrds] flew off for the fallout shelter
eight miles high and falling fast [and when you touch down...]
to land foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
with the Jester on the sidelines in cast [Dylan's cycle crash]
Now the halftime air was sweet perfume [Summer of Love]
while the sergeants played a marchin tune [Pepper/Beatles done practicing]
We all got up to dance
Oh but we never got the chance [well, "good morning" rocked a little...]
The players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was the deal the day
the music died?
They were singing...
(chorus)
And there we were all in one place
a g-g-generation lost in space [Who song -- TV show with robot]
with no time left to start again
So come on >Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack flash sat on candle stick [Stones --- in fact it's a gas]
Cause fire is the devil's only friend
And while 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 sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
and he was singing
(chorus)
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 wouldn'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 admired the most
the Father, Son and Holy Ghost
They caught the last plane for the coast
the day the Music Died
and they were singin' (Chorus)
As far as I can get it, this is a fairly conservative song about
how music used to be great in the fifties, then some interesting stuff
started happening, but musicians got out of line -- preaching morality
(Dylan with the thorny crown) preaching politics (the Beatles refusing
to yeild the field to the "players" -- who, the politicians?) and
preaching immorality (the Stones, who he REALLY rags on). All this
religous stuff is not just allegorical, I got one of his albums and he's
majorly religous. I don't know, I went to all the trouble learning this
song then I found out it made a point I didn't agree with --- music shouldn't
have serious content. As if the sixties started that trend anyway; only
a baby boomer could have written this song! Still, it's a good song,
and it's fun at parties.
Joanna
===== Things are only impossible until they're not. =====
joanna@gargoyle.uchicago.edu ===== Star Trek: the Next Generation
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Justin T. Huang | jthuang@eniac.seas.upenn.edu
University of Pennsylvania | Kennett Track rules.
Moore School of Electrical Engineering | "America first."
Electrical Engineering '94 | S. O. D. elite
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMERICAN PIE
G Bm Em
A long, long time ago
C D
I can still remember how that
Em D
Music used to make me smile
G Bm Em
And I knew if I had my chance
C D
That I could make those people dance
Em C D
And maybe they'd be happy for awhile
Em C
But February made me shiver
Em C
With every paper I'd deliver
C Bm Am
Bad news on the doorstep
C D
I couldn't take one more step
G Bm Em
And I can't remember if I cried
C D
When I read about his widowed bride
G Bm Em
But 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 levy but the levy was dry
G C G D
Them good ol' boys was drinkin whiskey and rye
Em A
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
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
Now do you believe in rock and roll
Can music save your mortal soul
And cay you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Well I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage bronkin' buck
With a pink Carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died. And I was singin'
CHORUS
Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling 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 Lennin read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.
And we were singin'
CHORUS
Helter skelter in the summer swelter
The birds flew off the fallout shelter
Eight miles high and fallin' fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now the halftime air was sweet perfume
While the sergents 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 revealed
The day the music died.
And we were singin'
Chorus
And in 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 because
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 climed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died.
And he was singin'
CHORUS
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news.
She just smiled and turned away.
So I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music once before
But the man there said the music wouldn'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 the most--
The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost--
Well they took the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
And they were singin'
CHORUS (slowly)
CHORUS (build up to full speed)
