1. Don McLean
American Pie

2. American Pie – A Time Line

3. American Pie – A Time Line
Each verse sums up chronological periods in time
the late 1950s
1969
1970

4. Verse 1
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 But something touched me deep inside The day the music died

5. Verse 1
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 But something touched me deep inside The day the music died

6. Chorus
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie 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 This'll be the day that I die

7. Chorus
Drove my Chevy to the levee But the levee was dry

8. Chorus
Drove my Chevy to the levee But the levee was dry
Drive your Chevrolet through the USA, America's the greatest land of all On a highway or a road along a levee... ..life is completer in a Chevy So make a date today to see the USA And see it in your Chevrolet

9. Chorus
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin' "this'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.

10. Chorus
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Singin' "this'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.
You say you're gonna leave You know it's a lie 'Cause that'll be the day when I die.
~Buddy Holly
“That’ll Be The Day”

11. Verse 2
Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock ’n 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.

12. Verse 2
Did you write the Book of Love

13. Verse 2 Did you write the Book of Love
Tell me, tell me, tell me Oh, who wrote the Book Of Love? I've got to know the answer Was it someone from above?
The Monotones
“The book of love”

14. Verse 2
Did you write the book of love, And do you have faith in God above, If the Bible tells you so? Do you believe in rock ’n 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.

15. Verse 3
Now for ten years we’ve been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin’ 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 And 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 lennon read a book of marx, The quartet practiced in the park, And we sang dirges in the dark The day the music died.

16. Verse 3
Now for ten years we’ve been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone, But that’s not how it used to be

17. Verse 3
Now for ten years we’ve been on our own And moss grows fat on a rollin’ stone, But that’s not how it used to be
How does it feel To be on your own With no direction home Like a rolling stone?
Bob Dylan

18. Verse 3
When the jester sang for the King and Queen In a coat he borrowed from James Dean And a voice that came from you and me

19. Verse 3
When the jester sang for the King and Queen In a coat he borrowed from James Dean And a voice that came from you and me
A Rebel Without a Cause
~James Dean

20. Verse 3
And while the King was looking down The jester stole his thorny crown The courtroom was adjourned No verdict was returned

21. Verse 3
And while Lennon read a book on Marx The quartet practiced in the park

22. Verse 4
Helter skelter in a summer swelter. The birds flew off with a fallout shelter, Eight miles high and falling fast. It landed foul on the grass. The players tried for a forward pass, With the jester on the sidelines in a cast. Now the half-time 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?

23. Verse 4
Helter Skelter in the summer swelter The Byrds flew off with a fallout shelter Eight miles high and falling fast

24. Verse 4
It landed foul out on the grass The players tried for a forward pass

25. Verse 4
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

26. Verse 4
Now the half-time 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.

27. Verse 4
Do you recall what was revealed

28. Verse 5
Oh, 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. Oh, 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

29. Verse 5
And there we were all in one place A generation Lost in Space With no time left to start again

30. Verse 5
So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick Jack Flash sat on a candlestick 'Cause fire is the Devil's only friend

31. Verse 5
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 moonlight the sacrificial rite

32. Verse 5
Oh, 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
Pleased to meet you Hope you guessed my name, oh yeah But what's confusing you Is just the nature of my game
Just as every cop is a criminal And all the sinners saints As heads is tails Just call me Lucifer 'Cause I'm in need of some restraint
The RollingStones
“Sympathy for the Devil”

33. Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news, But 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 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.

34. Verse 6
I met a girl who sang the blues And I asked her for some happy news But she just smiled and turned away

35. Verse 6
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

36. Verse 6
And 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

37. Verse 6
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

38. Verse 6
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
Buddy Holly
Ritchie Valens
The Big Bopper
John F. Kennedy
Robert Kennedy
Martin Luther King Jr.

39. and they were singin’

40. American Pie - Analytical Response

41. Assignment:
Write a Four Paragraph Response to “American Pie” by Don McLean

42. Standards Being Scored
9-10.W.4
Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
9-10.W.9
Draw evidence from literary or informational texts to support analysis, reflection, and research.

43. Aspects of Writing

44. Aspects of Writing
When referring to the Singer/Songwriter, you use their last name only: McLean
If doing a song where you only know the name of the band, you would use the band name each time

45. Aspects of Writing The title of the song goes in quotation marks
“American Pie”

46. 1st Paragraph - Introduction

47. 1st Paragraph - Introduction
1st Paragraph: Introduce the song and summarize the song
Focus on general ideas of the song – NOT specific details yet; those go on the body of your response

48. 2nd & 3rd Paragraphs

49. Aspects of Writing
When using lines from songs in your writing, if the lines are “broken up” in the song, you put them together in your paper using a back slash - / - keeping all other punctuation.

50. Quotes From the poem In your paper
So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie 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 This'll be the day that I die
“So, bye-bye, Miss American Pie / Drove my chevy to the levee / But the levee was dry ….”

51. 2nd & 3rd Paragraphs – Body
Explain what the song is about
Pick specific parts of the song to explain that you thought were the most interesting
Use the notes taken in class
Use Examples from the song
REMEMBER: Explain the examples and tie them back into your response

52. 4th Paragraph - Conclusion

53. 4th Paragraph - Conclusion
4th Paragraph: Reflection on the song:
Explain what makes it a good song
Use of Poetic Devices – Metaphor, Simile, Figurative Language – etc.
Explain how knowing the history of the time periods it covers helps with understanding the song