From the moment Don McLean’s song “American Pie” entered the public’s collective consciousness, it became an instant classic. The complexity of the lyrics has been the subject of debate and discussion for more than four decades and remains an integral part of American history and culture. In “American Pie,” McLean’s continuous use of metaphor, change in time period after each chorus, and recurring symbol equating music to happiness create a song indicative of the societal and political conflicts of the ‘50s and ‘60s in America.
Throughout the entire song, McLean uses metaphors in a way that has left listeners confused as to the true meaning of the song since it came out. Even the chorus, with its mention of “Miss American Pie,” is a metaphor (16). Long believed to be the name of the plane that crashed on February 3, 1959, killing Buddy Holly, the rumor has been confirmed as false. Miss American Pie symbolizes the ‘50s version of the American Dream, which deteriorated and disappeared into the ‘60s. McLean later describes himself, saying “I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck / With a pink carnation and a pickup truck” (31-32). He describes himself as a wild teen stuck in the ‘50s, pining after a ‘60s girl. He is “out of luck” because she has moved on to the next decade, and what brought him …show more content…
McLean wonders, “Can music save your mortal soul?” (25). Music has become less of a hobby or a pleasure activity, and is now a way for the people to express and save themselves. The meaning of music has changed with the times. Right at the end of the song, McLean says, “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” (104-106). This indicates that the happy music of before is gone, as is the happiness of earlier. Music no longer equals happiness in McLean’s mind, similar to the societal conflict that took the happiness out of the younger
Throughout the entire song, McLean uses metaphors in a way that has left listeners confused as to the true meaning of the song since it came out. Even the chorus, with its mention of “Miss American Pie,” is a metaphor (16). Long believed to be the name of the plane that crashed on February 3, 1959, killing Buddy Holly, the rumor has been confirmed as false. Miss American Pie symbolizes the ‘50s version of the American Dream, which deteriorated and disappeared into the ‘60s. McLean later describes himself, saying “I was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck / With a pink carnation and a pickup truck” (31-32). He describes himself as a wild teen stuck in the ‘50s, pining after a ‘60s girl. He is “out of luck” because she has moved on to the next decade, and what brought him …show more content…
McLean wonders, “Can music save your mortal soul?” (25). Music has become less of a hobby or a pleasure activity, and is now a way for the people to express and save themselves. The meaning of music has changed with the times. Right at the end of the song, McLean says, “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” (104-106). This indicates that the happy music of before is gone, as is the happiness of earlier. Music no longer equals happiness in McLean’s mind, similar to the societal conflict that took the happiness out of the younger