The quartet practiced in the park
This'll be the day that I die

And singing this'll be the day that I die
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singing this'll be the day that I die
That I could make those people dance

I saw Satan laughing with delight
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck

Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye

We all got up to dance

And they were singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
I started singing bye, bye Miss American Pie

The day the music died
And as the flames climbed high into the night
Eight miles high and falling fast
To light the sacrificial rite
I went down to the sacred store
No angel born in hell
And we sang 'Dirges In The Dark'
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend
If the Bible tells you so?
But something touched me deep inside the day the music died
This'll be the day that I die

This'll be the day that I die

And a voice that came from you and me
When the jester sang for the king and queen

And singing this'll be the day that I die
The jester stole his thorny crown
Do you recall what was revealed
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
And I asked her for some happy news
A generation lost in space
But she just smiled and turned away
No verdict was returned
Can music save your mortal soul?
So bye, bye Miss American Pie

And I knew if I had my chance

With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
They were singing, bye, bye Miss American Pie
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
Now, for ten years we've been on our own
The day the music died
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye

But I knew I was out of luck
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
The day the music died?
The courtroom was adjourned
Oh, and there we were all in one place
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
You both kicked off your shoes
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry

And the three men I admire most
Now the half time air was sweet perfume
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
The day the music died

We started singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter

Singing this'll be the day that I die
Now do you believe in rock and roll?

And do you have faith in God above
But that's not how it used to be
Landed foul on the grass
The day the music died
While sergeants played a marching tune
Did you write the book of love
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Could break that Satan's spell
We were singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
They caught the last train for the coast
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
This'll be the day that I die
Oh, but we never got the chance
And while Lenin read a book on Marx
Well, I know that you're in love with him
Oh, and while the king was looking down
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage

Helter skelter in a summer swelter
And singing this'll be the day that I die
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
The players tried for a forward pass

This'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
Where I'd heard the music years before

'Cause I saw you dancing in the gym
The marching band refused to yield
I met a girl who sang the blues
Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
With no time left to start again
But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry

He was singing bye, bye Miss American Pie
I can't remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause the players tried to take the field
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
Singing this'll be the day that I die
And in the streets the children screamed
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this'll be the day that I die