A Slice of "American Pie"
In its wake, it has mystified, thrilled, consumed, enlightened, and even prognosticated the future. "American Pie", known to most as a song sung by Don McLean, is at heart something of an epic poem, which has been analyzed by millions for 30 years. It has been suggested by some that the song is an explanation of McLean's departure from Rock and Roll or as a warning from God to America. It has been translated into several parodies. The New Standard Encyclopedia defines an art epic poem as "... built up about some great theme or thought that is universal, or at least of national, importance." (E-190) Buddy Holly died on February 3,1959 in a plane crash, and, for a moment, the United States grieved. McLean once suggested that the song is biographical in nature and that it was a look at the death of Buddy Holly through
He had been touring for about a year with Pete Seeger. However McLean had this to say about his song in his "Starry Starry Night" video in 2000, "I've never analyzed the lyrics to the song. For over 30 years people have been analyzing, questioning, and seeking meaning in the song that McLean calls poetry and has not sought to analyze himself. Another is a year 2000 computer scare version, called "Y2K Version", by Anonymous. If that is true, then Don McLean is a man who has been flattered time and time again. They say imitation is the highest form of flattery. His performance of the song is almost uncanny in that it sounds so much like Don McLean. Several parodies have been written to the tune of "American Pie". The parody written by Weird Al, called "The Saga Begins", tells the story of "The Phantom Menace" to the tune of "American Pie".
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