Such as Don McClain’s “American pie”.
That is one of my favorite songs of all time. It only happens rarely, but whenever I figure out the meaning of one of the obscure lyrics, I always feel a sense of accomplishment. The father, the son, and the holy ghost clearly refer to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper, but so many of the other lyrics remain obscure. Don McLean has always been very mysterious about that song, never giving a clue as to what all of its lyrics refer to.
Actually Don spilled the beans awhile back, and your interpretation seems fairly spot on. I always gave the song a more Apocalyptic meaning.
“MacArthur Park” always puzzled me.
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Mainly it's musicians and groups that came after Holly's death mentioned in the song. Helter Skelter in the summer swelter likely referring to the Beatles song named same recorded in September 1968 or the Berkley riots. He then mentions The Birds and Eight Miles High {a hit by The Byrds}. Other words like The Jester on the sidelines in a cast. Dylan was in a motor cycle wreck that sidelined him either by injury or a choice to leave touring a few years. Bob Dylan points back again to The Byrds of which Dylan had previously been a member. Dylan's back up band when he went out on his own was "The Band" whom later went out on their own with huge success. Possibly it's all about many things going on in kind hidden in the words but it's not that hard to decipher most of it.
Folk music {Dylan{ was also becoming popular and later rock bands began using {Brass} instruments marching bands used such as Chicago, Blood, Sweat, and Tears, The Beatles on the Sgt Pepper album, and a few others. Music was changing radically from Rhythm & Blues, Rockabilly, and the rock & roll Don McClean likely grew up on and Holly was a part of was fading away. McClean was born in 1945 and Holly died Died: February 3, 1959 making McClean 14 old enough for the musical influence and even a paper route. Even Marty Robbins enters in. Robbins hit was "A white sport coat and a pink carnation" was released in early 1957 and considered Rock at that time.
It seems to be a song about the changes in music and the world in general. I can understand why he would write it. I don't care for any rock written after the early 1980's LOL. I hated Disco, Rap, and Hip Hop as well. As Bob Seger says I like that old time rock and roll.
What all started me thinking on this was I was just reading up on The Band and found out they were Dylan's back up band about the time of his wreck and I remembered this thread and somebody mentioning American Pie. I also knew Dylan was with The Byrds and remember Eight miles high. LOL