Don McLean Trivia

1. What month does this song take place?

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: February

"February made me shiver...." Note: Don McLean said that he would never reveal his interpretation of the lyrics. It is left up to each one of us. This is one of the things that makes this song a pleasure to listen to, and keeps it a classic.

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Plane crash

On 3 February, 1959, a plane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J P Richardson (the 'Big Bopper') crashed in Iowa during a snowstorm. It is generally considered that the lyric "The day the music died" is McLean's tribute to the influence that these three performers had on the early stages of Rock and Roll.

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Newspaper delivery

"February made me shiver...With every paper I deliver..." Apparently, Don McLean really was a paperboy during the time this song takes place.

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: February

"But February made me shiver With every paper I'd deliver Bad news on the doorstep I couldn't take one more step" According to www.songfacts.com: "McLean was a paperboy when Holly died. He learned about the plane crash when he cut into his stack of papers and saw the lead story".

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Something touched me deep inside

"...but something touched me deep inside...The Day the Music Died..."

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Chevy

"Drove my Chevy to the levee...but the levee was dry..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Chevrolet

"So bye bye, miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee" According to www.wikipedia.com: "The chorus is simple, with most reviewers equating "Miss American Pie" with all types of American music or everything that is good about the country. There is also an unconfirmed rumor that McLean dated a Miss America contestant for a time. The chorus ends with "this'll be the day that I die." Holly had a popular song called "That'll Be The Day", in which the line "that'll be the day that I die" is repeated in the chorus. "Bye, bye Miss American Pie" may also refer to the loss of innocence caused by the assassination of John F. Kennedy, since "American pie" may be an oblique reference to apple pie, a symbol of traditional American values and morality".

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: A pink carnation and a pickup truck

"...I was a lonely teenaged bronking buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Whiskey & Rye

"Drove my Chevy to the levee But the levee was dry And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin' "this'll be the day that I die"

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: James Dean

...When the Jester sang for the king and queen...In a coat he borrowed from James Dean..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Eight Miles High

"Helter skelter in a summer swelter The birds flew off with a fallout shelter Eight miles high and falling fast" According to www.songfacts.com: "The line "Eight miles high and falling fast" is likely a reference to The Byrds' hit "Eight Miles High".

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: The king's crown

"....and while the king was looking down...The Jester stole his thorny crown..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Helter Skelter

"Helter skelter in a summer swelter The birds flew off with a fallout shelter Eight miles high and falling fast" Regrettably, "Helter Skelter" had been immortalised for all the wrong reasons by Charles Manson and his cohorts.

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: The quartet practiced

"...and while Lennon/Lenin read a book on Marx...The quartet practiced in the park..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: In the gym

"Well, I know that you're in love with him `Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym You both kicked off your shoes Man, I dig those rhythm and blues" According to www.wikpedia.com: "Rock and roll from the 1950s included frequent slow songs, played at sock hops and other dances. Sock hops are referenced later in the second verse, with "I saw you dancing in the gym" (sock hops were frequently held in gyms) and "You both kicked off your shoes" (shoes would scuff the floor of gyms, hence teens danced in socks)".

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Flew off with a fallout shelter

"Helter-skelter in the summer swelter...The birds flew off with a fallout shelter..."

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: The marching band refused to yield

"'Cause the players tried to take the field...The marching band refused to yield..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Music

"Do you believe in rock and roll Can music save your mortal soul And can you teach me how to dance real slow"

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Start again

" Now there we are all in one place...A generation lost in space...With no time left to start again..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Shoes

"Well, I know that you're in love with him 'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym You both kicked off your shoes Man, I dig those rhythm and blues"

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Sat on it

"So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick...Jack Flash sat on a candle stick..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Blues Brothers

"Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye" In the Blues Brothers, Ackroyd and John Belushi (Elwood & Jake Blues) turn up early to 'Bob's Country Bunker' and impersonate the attraction for that night, 'The Good Old Boys'. To their horror, the crowd expects them to play Country and Western, which leads to the classic exchange on stage: "Who knows a country song"? "What about 'The Wreck Of The Ol' 97'"? "Okay, what key do we play it in"? "F. Good country key"

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Satan

"...I saw Satan laughing with delight...The Day the Music Died..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Penalty

"It landed foul on the grass The players tried for a forward pass With the jester on the sidelines in a cast" It is widely conjectured that the 'jester' in the lyrics is a refernce to Bob Dylan. According to wikipedia: "The jester returns to the song and is "on the sidelines in a cast", referring to Dylan's 1966 motorcycle crash that badly injured him".

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: Smiled and turned away

"I met a girl who sang the blues...and I asked her for some happy news...and she just smiled and turned away..."

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Pink

"I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck With a pink carnation and a pickup truck"

From Quiz American Pie

Answer: The music wouldn't play

"...I went down to the Sacred Store...Where I heard the music years before...But the man said the music wouldn't play..." Note: For a while, there were some university courses where students were asked to analyze the lyrics of "American Pie".

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: They were broken

"But not a word was spoken The church bells all were broken"

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: The marching band was still on it

"'Cause the players tried to take the field" The marching band refused to yield" 16 April 1977, Leeds United vs Ipswich Town, at Elland Road. This exact scenario happened following the half-time break. Presumably the band leader was a Don McLean fan! I could not find any web references to the incident itself but recall seeing it with my own eyes on the news. According to www.wikipedia.com: "The following two lines ("Cause the players tried to take the field/The marching band refused to yield") may bring back the DNC of 1968, with the marching band being the protestors and the players being the Chicago police and Illinois National Guard. The players may also be the Ohio National Guard, referring to the infamous shootings of unarmed protestors at Kent State University. More generally, some have interpreted it as an indictment of the military-industrial complex's refusal to heed the desires of the people of the United States on the subject of the Vietnam War. Others intepret this line as the rivalry between intelligent, art rock (such as the Beatles) and fun, dance rock (such as the Beach Boys)".

From Quiz Anatomy of a Song: "American Pie"

Answer: Lost In Space

"Oh, and there we were all in one place A generation lost in space With no time left to start again" Ah! Lost In Space! How could we ever forget the immortal words from Professor John Robinson: "Man first landed on the Moon in 1970"! Hmmm, this incompetence could explain how they ended up helplessly marooned! I swear, they should have put the Robot in charge, he was the only one that made any sense! (Yes, I know the date error was because the show was made prior to the moon landing and so therefore they had to estimate).

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Last Updated Apr 22 2024 11:02 AM

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