February 3, 1959 "American Pie"

[PC414 0]

Forty-nine years ago today was the "day the music died" in Clear Lake, Iowa when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson died in the crash of a Beechcraft Bonanza just minutes after take-off (an event which also took the life of pilot Roger Peterson).

Don McLean's song, "American Pie," has been floating around ALMOST as long as many of us have. One could reasonably say the tune has been woven into the fabric of our lives since its initial release in 1971, although I suspect there are many who are unaware of the story it tells.

"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

Them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singing 'This'll be the day that I die.'"

It's funny, isn't it, how we mark the days of our lives with such things?

Bob

[TR54 239]

"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

Them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

Singing 'This'll be the day that I die.'"

It's funny, isn't it, how we mark the days of our lives with such things?

Bob

Bob - Great song ! Wasn't the "levee" a real bar in New Rochelle NY ?

[x242Steve 1]

Them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye

...I always thought it was "Drinkin' whiskey IN Rye..." Who knew

[TL2L31 8]

...I always thought it was "Drinkin' whiskey IN Rye..." Who knew

That was always the rumor. He used to hangout in Rye, there was a bar in New Rochelle called The Levee and it shut down.Maybe someone a little older can shed some light on this topic.

[Guest]

In his 2000 'Starry Starry Night' video, Don says: I'm very proud of the song. It is biographical in nature and I don't think anyone has ever picked up on that. The song starts off with my memories of the death of Buddy Holly. But it moves on to describe America as I was seeing it and how I was fantasizing it might become, so it's part reality and part fantasy but I'm always in the song as a witness or as even the subject sometimes in some of the verses

I love that song

[PCFD ENG58 1,085]

What do you mean older, I resent that, played in my 65' Impalla SS396 at PCHS in 1971 !

[RescueKujo 130]

It's funny, isn't it, how we mark the days of our lives with such things?

I still remember getting ready for school or on my way to school the mornings that the deaths Jim Croce, Lynard Skynard and the lead singer of Chicago were announced.

[LTNRFD 266]

Bob - Great song ! Wasn't the "levee" a real bar in New Rochelle NY ?

The Levee referred to "The Beechmont Bar". Which is next to NRFD station 3 on North Ave.