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Don McLean - American Pie
G D Em
Am C
A long, long time ago, I can still remember how
Em
D D7
that music used to make me smile.
G D Em
Am
C
I knew if I had my chance 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
Am
C
D
Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step.
G D
Em
Am
C
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride,
G
D
Em
C D7
G
Something touched me deep inside, 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 levee but the levee was dry,
G
C
G
D
Them good ole' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye, singin'
Em
A7 Em
D
D7
This'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.
G
Am
C
Am
Did you write the book of love and do you have faith in God above,
Em
D
D7
if the Bible tells you so?
G
D Em
Now do you believe in rock and roll,
Am
C
Can music save your mortal soul and
Em
A7
D
Can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Em
Am
Well, I know that you're in love with him,
Em
Am
`cause I saw you dancing in the gym.
C
G A7
C
D7
You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythm and blues.
G
D Em
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
Am
C
with a pink carnation and a pick up truck,
G
D Em
C D7
G C G
but I knew I was out of luck the day, the music, died.
D G
C
G D
I started singing...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
D
D7
This'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.
Repeat chords for remaining verses
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 practised in the park,
and we sang dirges in the dark the day, the music, died.
We were singin'...
CHORUS
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'...
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 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 Holy Ghost,
they caught the last train for the coast, the day, the music, died.
And they were singin'....
CHORUS