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 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 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? 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 I started singin' Bye-bye, Miss American Pie Drove my Chevy to the levee But the levee was dry Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And 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 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 Lenin read a book of 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 old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye And 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 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 And they were singing 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 Singing: This'll be the day that I die This'll be the day that I die