Posted on 02/06/2013 7:14:17 AM PST by navysealdad
Songs like “Revolution” by The Beatles, which was clearly suspicious of violent revolution and uprisings, as well as “American Pie” by Don McLean.
Many people think that the song “American Pie” is about the death of Buddy Holly and other musicians in a plane crash, but Glenn presented a reading of the lyrics on radio and showed how it could also be seen as a warning against the danger of violent uprisings.
“ I’ve never understood I drove the Chevy to the levee, I didn’t know what that was. Let’s just start there on the simple part because Chevy, just think of Chevy and mom and apple pie. He’s making a point here. Chevy, I drove my Chevy to the levee. This actually goes back into the 1950s and a Dinah Shore commercial for Chevy,”
“So America is the greatest country of all and it was an era that believed in America. I drove my Chevy to the levee. I drove the Chevy. I bought into the idea that America was the greatest.”
“So in the second verse he goes back to his childhood and he goes back to sock hops in the gym and the pickup trucks and… and here he’s talking about the book of love, which was a song by the Monotones in 1957 and he asked her about faith. He asked her about faith and whether she believes, no matter what, if the Bible tells her so. That is the representation of the faith in the Fifties. He then talks about, do you have faith in rock and roll, that music will save your mortal soul.”
(Excerpt) Read more at angelfire.com ...
Who cares? As far as I’m concerned, he slapped together lines of disjointed thoughts that perhaps rhymed, and then drove people nuts trying to figure out what he meant.
Put it to bed, please.
I believe you are correct.
Now that we’ve put that behind us, who was “... so vain ...”?
how he missed the ‘helter skelter’ reference to charles manson and the tate/labianca murders is telling...
Carly's record producer.
But where does the flute fit in?
I heard it was Mick Jagger.
I think I got the gist of “American Pie” the first time. The pubescent males, the naked girls, the warm apple pie...
As my brother said, “It used to be relevant, but now it’s just a song DJs play when they want a bathroom break”.
Jagger sang background on the song. Its about Warren Beatty.
Yep. It’s only “explained” if Don is doing the explaining.
He was originally a folkie and is lifelong pals with apparently and unfortunately immortal Pete Seeger..
and yes..American Pie which came out in 1971 when i turned 14 is allegorical as all hell and was a major AM radio soundtrack to my own youth..which could be grating when compared to say Led Zepplin III or Allman Bros Filmore East both peaking about the same time
but whatever McLean meant I think we can bet it was not flattering to America or a traditional view of Christendom
The school of thought is that nobody wants a violent uprising, we have peaceful means to address our grievances. If our representatives no longer represent us, we have another peaceful means to remove/change them. And the justice system, ultimately the supreme court will be the safeguard of our rights and liberty.
In case you slept through the past few years, the Left had driven us to the inevitable point of ‘civil war’. Unless we just meekly accept whatever comes our way.
I heard that once it became a big hit ($$$$$) someone asked McLean “What does it mean?” and he answered “It means I’ll never have to work again.”
Supposedly, it was Shirley McClain's brother, whatzhizname.
there was also a rumour it was about Kristofferson too...I think Carly banged both
not a bad gig for them back then...girl had some legs and lips
she always seemed vulnerable and less catty than the other Borscht Belt folkie cum soft rock chicks...i don’t think she was a Brillstein girl like King and Nyro?
anyhow ..I liked her a lot..so did chicks..which helped
Carole King was too moany groany folkie...if I wanted folkie I would listen to Joni Mitchell
I thought this song meant “your disc jockey had a bad experience last night at the Dollar Burrito Bar and will be indisposed for the next 8 minutes and 33 seconds”.
Well that’s not how it used to be.
Good song but that was some tripping when he wrote it.
I mean it's just so obvious.
If you play it backwards it says ‘you better enjoy this because 40 years from now music is going to suck’.
I thought it was James Taylor. Forty years later and he’s still a smug piece of work. My wife insisted we see him perform a couple of years ago. It was the longest ninety minutes I’ve experienced in a while...
Does any one know the words to Louie Louie (Kingsmen)?This is another riddle wrapped in an enigma.
It’s a brilliant song by a brilliant songwriter. “Vincent”....”On The Amazon.....”And I Love You So”......”Narcissisma”.....”Castles In The Air”.....deep, thoughtful lyrics. I don’t have much use for most modern music, but if you’re going to say something, then do it well, and he does.
All that is pretty much how I understood the song. I didn't think it disjointed at all - a beautiful tapestry of lyrics and music. And very strong religious undertones. I sure Satan is laughing with delight watching a country murder its children by the millions.
I'd have to say that without a doubt there is some kind of way to see that there is something to be said regarding the way that things occurred. If not in the first place then certainly upon looking at what anyone would consider a sensible viewpoint. Any serious person can conclude that the absolute bottom line is that there is something to the idea that we would know that there is substance to what we are talking about. Don't get sidetracked on the notion that if this was not exactly what everyone thought then it would not be the thing being discussed. Nobody that looks at either way we agree on can be worried about that.
“Louie, Louie” is the state song of Washington State. Figures.
Last year Carly Simon gave an interview which she claimed the “vain” one was David Geffen. He was her producer way back when.
I always thought the line “drove my Chevvie to the levee but the levee was dry” was a reference to the murdered civil rights workers Goodman, Cheney, & Schwerner because their bodies were found in a levee.
Dunno, but he probably thinks the song is about him.
Except that the Beatles had already broken up by 1971 when American Pie was released.
And, “Them good ol’ boys drinking whiskey and rye” referred to the Klansmen who killed the three activists.
Yeah . . . uh . . . yeah
A vile metal squirrel
Mates for knees...
Is this really Don Maclean’s explanation? or someone’s attempt at explaining it (again ?).
People have been badgering him (till today) to give his interpretation of it and he has REFUSED to do it.
Why is he explaining it now? (if true)
RE: As far as I’m concerned, he slapped together lines of disjointed thoughts that perhaps rhymed, and then drove people nuts trying to figure out what he meant.
What about HOTEL CALIFORNIA?
Like American Pie, I’ve been trying to discover what this song is all about.
Is it about drugs? Is it about the founding of the Church of Satan in 1969?
It’s driving me nuts and nobody even attempted to contact anyone from the Eagles to ask them this question...
RE: Now that we’ve put that behind us, who was “... so vain ...”?
We now know who Carly Simon was referring to.
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You’re_So_Vain
A representative for Simon confirmed that the name whispered during the song is “David”.
Multiple media outlets quickly reported that the subject was actually Simon’s former boss at Elektra, David Geffen, and that the song had been inspired by her jealousy of the attention Geffen had lavished on label-mate Joni Mitchell.
The following day, Jim Hart, Simon’s ex-husband and close friend, denied that the song was about Geffen.
Simon’s publicist confirmed that the song was not about Geffen, but that there was indeed “a David who is connected to the song in some way, shape, or form,” and Simon noted that when she first wrote the song in 1971, she hadn’t even met David Geffen yet.
Vanity Fair noted that in addition to “David”, “Warren” and an unintelligible name are whispered during the recording, revealing it was at least partially influenced by him all along.
Having said that, can someone trace who the mysterious ELEANOR RIGBY was?
Journalists have been pestering Paul and Ringo ( the last two living Beatles ), but they refused to give them an answer.
I once read, according to Don Mclean, that “American Pie” meant he never had to work again :-)
Any message that cryptic falls on deaf ears. Thus, the song is just noise, signifying nothing.
“A vile metal squirrel
Mates for knees...”
That’s what I thought followed by:
And picks up turds
Along the way...
Could be. When my father was stationed in Mississippi he said that the counties which had levees were the only ones that WEREN’T dry.
Personally I think Starry, Starry Night is a better example of McLean’s talent. Not a word nor a syllable wasted there. A very fine piece of music.
Big Don McLean fan here.
David Geffen with the wife of a close friend???
Naw, I don't think so.
Well, ok...it was Budewiser ... but close! :)
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