Music & Lyrics by Don McLean 

Intro 
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 

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 dancin' 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 singin' 

Chorus 
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye 
Singin' 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 
But she just smiled and turned away 
Then 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 
Well now 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 
We started singing 

- Chorus (2x) - 

We started singing 
We started singing