A long, long time ago I can still remember how that music used to make me smile And, I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance, and... Maybe they'd be happy for a while But, February made me shiver with every paper I'd deliver Bad news on the doorstep - I couldn't take one more step I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride Something touched me deep inside the day the music died So, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die Did you write the Book of Love and do you have faith in God, above? If the Bible tells you so Now, do you believe in Rock and Roll? Can music save your mortal soul? And... Can you teach me how to dance real slow? Well, I know that you're in love with him, 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym You both kicked off your shoes - man, I dig those rhythm and blues I was a lonely, teenage broncin' buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck, but... I knew I was out of luck the day the music died I started singing, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die Now, for ten years we've been on our own and moss grows fat on a Rolling 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 In 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 practiced in the park, and... We sang dirges in the dark the day the music died We were singing, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die Healter Skealter in the summer swelter - the Birds flew off with a fallout shelter Eight Miles High and falling fast It landed foul on the gra** The players tried for a forward pa** with the Jester on the sidelines in a cast Now, the halftime air was sweet perfume while the Sergeants played a marching tune We all got up to dance, oh, 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 singing, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die And, there we were, all in one place - a generation Lost in Space With no time left to start again So, come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick - Jack Flash sat on a Candlestick, 'cause... Fire is the Devil's only friend And, as I watched him on the stage my hands were clenched in fists of rage No angel born in Hell could break that satan's spell And, as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite, I saw... Satan laughing with delight the day the music died He was singing, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die I met a girl who sang the Blues, and I asked her for some happy news She just smiled and turned away I went down to the sacred store where I'd heard the music years before, but... The man there said the music wouldn't play And, in the streets the children screamed, the lover's 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 singing, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die They were singing, bye bye Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee was dry Them good ol' boys were drinking whiskey and rye, singing... This'll be the day that I die