Year: 1971 -
Written by Don McLean
G D/F# Em Am C 1. A long long time ago I can still remember Em D How that music used to make me smile G D/F# Em And I knew if I had my chance Am C That I could make those people dance Em C D 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 Em Am D I can't remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride G D Em C D7 G C G But something touched me deep inside, the day the music diedG Am C Am 2. 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 Em Do you believe in Rock 'n Roll? Am C Can music save your mortal soul? Em A D And 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 dancin' in the gym C G/B Am You both kicked off your shoes, C D Man, I dig those rhythm and blues G D/F# Em I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck Am C With a pink carnation and a pickup truck. G D/F# Em C D7 G C G But I knew I was out of luck the day the music died I started singin' (Chorus) G Am 3. Now for ten years we've been on our own C Am Em D And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone, but that's not how it used to be G D Em When the jester sang for the King and Queen Am C In a coat he borrowed from James Dean Em A D And 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 Am C D The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned G D Em Am C And while Lenin read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park G D Em C D7 G C G And we sang dirges in the dark, the day the music died. We were singing (Chorus) G Am 4. Helter-Skelter in a summer swelter, C Am The birds flew off with a fallout shelter Em D Eight miles high and falling fast G D/F# Em It landed foul on the grass Am C The players tried for a forward pass Em A7 D With the jester on the sidelines in a cast Em D Now the half-time air was sweet perfume Em D While the sergeants played a marching tune C G Am C D We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance G D/F# Em 'Cause the players tried to take the field Am C The marching band refused to yield G D Em C D7 G C G Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died? We stared singing (Chorus) G Am 5. Oh, and there we were all in one place C Am A generation lost in space Em D With no time left to start again. G D Em So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick Am C Jack Flash sat on a candlestick Em A7 D 'Cause fire is the Devil's only friend Em D Oh, and as I watched him on the stage, Em D My hands were clenched in fists of rage C G/B Am C D No angel born in hell could break that Satan's spell G D/F# Em And as the flames climbed high into the night Am C To light the sacrificial rite G D/F# Em C D7 G C G I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died He was singing (Chorus) G D Em Am C I met a girl who sang the blues and I asked her for some happy news Em D But she just smiled and turned away G D Em I went down to the sacred store Am C Where I'd heard the music years before Em A D But the 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 Am C D But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken G D Em Am C And the three men I ad -mire most, the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost G D/F# Em They caught the last train for the coast, C D G D The day the music died And they were singingG 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 drinking whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 Singin' this'll be the day that I die, this'll be the day that I die.bisG C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the Levy but the levy was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye C D G C G singin' this will be the day that I die.