American Pie by Don McLean Tabbed by: Brian Jenkins G 320033 D xx0232 D7 xx0121 Em 022000 Am x02210 Am7 x02010 1st Verse: G D Em A long, long time ago, Am C Em D I can still remember how that music used to make me smile G D Em And I know if I had my chance, Am C Em C D that I could make those people dance and maybe they'd be happy for a while Em Am Em Am But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver C G Am C D Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step G D Em Am7 D I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride, G D Em something touched me deep inside, C D7 G the day the music died Chorus: G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die 2nd Verse: G Am Did you write the book of love C Am Em D and do you have faith in god above, if the bible tells you so G D Em Do you believe in rock and roll, Am7 C Em A7 D can music save your mortal soul and can you teach me how to dance real slow Em D Em D Well I know that you're in love with him 'cause I saw you dancin' in the gym C A7 C D7 You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythm and blues G D Em Am C I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck G D Em C D7 G C G but I knew I was out of luck the day the music died I started singin' Chorus: G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die 3rd Verse: G Am Now for ten years we've been on our own, C Am Em D and moss grows fat on a rolling stone but that's not how it used to be G D Em When the jester sang for the king and queen Am7 C Em A7 D in a coat he borrowed from James Dean in a voice that came from you and me Em D Em D And while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown C A7 C D7 The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned G D Em Am C And while Lenin read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park G D Em C D7 G C G and we sang dirges in the dark the day the music died We were singin' Chorus: G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die 4th Verse: G Am Helter skelter in a summer swelter, C Am Em D the birds flew off with a fallout shelter, eight miles high and fallin' fast, G D Em it landed foul on the grass Am7 C Em A7 D the players tried for a forward pass, with the jester on the sidelines in a cast Em D Em D Now at halftime there was sweet perfume, while sergeants played a marching tune C A7 C D7 We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance G D Em Am C 'cause the players tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield G D Em C D7 G C G Do you recall what was the feel the day the music died We started singin' Chorus: G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die 5th Verse: G Am And there we were all in one place, C Am Em D a generation lost in space, with no time left to start again G D Em Am7 C So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick, Em A7 D 'cause fire is the devil's only friend Em D Em D And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage C A7 C D7 No angel born in Hell could bread that Satan's spell G D Em Am C And as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite G D Em C D7 G C G I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died He was singin' Chorus: G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die 6th Verse: G D Em I met a girl who sang the blues Am C Em D and I asked her for some happy news, but she just smiled and turned away G D Em I went down to the sacred store Am C Em C where I'd heard the music years before, but the man there said the music D wouldn't play Em Am Em Am But in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed C Am C D But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken G D Em Am7 C D7 And the three men I admire most, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost G D Em Am7 D7 G They caught the last train for the coast the day the music died, And they were singin' Chorus/Outro: G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye C D7 G Singin' this will be the day that I die