Talk:American Pie/Archive
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That separation is similar to the one feared by the guy with his gal in the Buddy Holly and The Crickets' song "That'll Be The Day". [Dearborn, Kulawiec, Fann, Levitt]
Some mistakenly believe that "Miss American Pie" is the name of the airplane that crashed. This is an urban legend as the plane had no name, rather just the registration number, N3794N.[1]
"American Pie" includes a number of Christian religious elements that includes an allusion to Jesus wearing his Crown of Thorns and the Trinity; and the mentioning of "angels born in hell", Satan, and titles of two songs with lyrics that allude to God. In addition, some people believe that "American Pie" alludes to the Apocalypse. The purpose of these elements probably is not to promote a Christian theme because in December 2005, McLean explained that he is a pantheist, not a Christian.[2]
The conflict between the sergeants and players may allude to competition between the newer, now classic rock, music style represented by The Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band and the earlier rock and roll style that invited dancing represented by groups like The Beach Boys. In "American Pie", the marching music is victorious, meaning McLean thought that the era of rock and roll dance music was over [Dearborn, Kulwiec].
In this case, McLean might be alluding to Germany, since Marx could mean Karl Marx, a German, and meaning that Lennon read about communism [Kulawiec, Fann], creating a pun for the political theory Marxist-Leninism.
The jester is mentioned again in the fourth verse line ... with the jester on the sidelines in a cast. Assuming the jester is Dylan, this refers to his July 29, 1966, motorcycle crash that left him badly injured. [Dearborn, Kulawiec, Fann]
In music, "the king" generally refers to Elvis Presley, who was known as the "king of rock 'n' roll". "Looking down" refers to Presley's reduced success as a recording artist after 1963. The thorny crown, a Christian symbol for suffering, represents the price of fame and power — specifically, Presley's struggle to cope with celebrity. The jester stealing the king's crown probably refers to Dylan overtaking Presley in record sales by the mid-1960s and also suffering the side effects of celebrity. McLean's line, The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned, may refer to America's continued regard for Presley as "The King" even though Dylan was in the limelight. [Kulawiec, Fann].
Also in music, "the queen" of rock and roll in the late 1950s was Connie Francis. As with Elvis Presley, Francis' music recording successes were used to launch a successful movie career. [one alternative of Dearborn, Kulawiec, Fann]
Many radio stations banned the recording when some thought it was about drug consumption ("it landed foul on the grass" - literally, a term from the American game of baseball). [Dearborn, Kulawiec, Fann]
With the fourth verse mentioning the songs "Helter Skelter" (1968) and "Eight Miles High" (1966), and 1966 as the "halftime" of the 1960s decade (1961-1970), and alluding to The Beatles' "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" (1967), McLean addressed the period, 1966 to early 1969, since the fifth verse alludes to two music concerts that took place in the second half of 1969. The lines, The players tried for a forward pass with the jester, on the sidelines in a cast, probably refers to Dylan's prolonged absence from recording after a serious motorcycle accident. [Dearborn, Kulawiec, Fann]
[edit] Janis Joplin
The final verse opens with I met a girl who sang the blues, which probably alludes to Janis Joplin. Her death through an accidental heroin overdose in October 1970, is alluded to in the third line: But she just smiled and turned away. [Dearborn, Kulawiec, Fann, Levitt]
