Lyle's Blog

American Pie was an iconic song of my generation. I’ve heard some explanation of what the song means and I’m sure that is more or less correct. I thought I would offer a more nuanced opinion. This may take more than one post as reading long articles has become burdensome. There is just too much to read, view and consider anymore.

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

Way back, in my young years, music was good; I haven’t forgotten how sweet it was.
Music had entered a new level, it had crossed the threshold of a new future
It made me “smile”, I spent hours listening to the pied pipers of the new, brave world
Everyone wanted to be a rock star, at least I did and I just knew if people could hear me
I could make them happy, they would smile just like me.

But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step

But there was this chill in the air, the television was parked right at the dinner table.
We watched the daily reporting of the Vietnam War while eating supper.
It was bad news. I had a friend from high school that volunteered; don’t know what happened to him.
Not that I was a kid with any goals, but what step should I take? Was I going to be called?

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

There were widows, plenty of widows, moms, dads, brothers, sisters, friends, left with only a memory of a life that was too short. I don’t remember my reaction to any of this; as a young man of nineteen years, my mind was kind of numb.
You block out, don’t think about the next step. Maybe you only have one step left which might place you in a body bag. Boys my age were dying every day. Deep inside, something was dying; my future was dying. The music of the day was a distraction from what seemed an inevitable fate. The songs I listened catered to my emptiness. I was trying to use it to save my mortal soul.

Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin’ this’ll be the day that I die
This’ll be the day that I die

So, goodbye to all my lovely world. It wasn’t perfect but it had promise. I mindlessly drove around; where was there to go. The good old boys were drinking whiskey whilst planning our deaths. They sing a melody so sweet and commemorate our passing. Pretty words, pretty flowers, pretty lonely. I remember a less compassionate drill sergeant told all of us, you’re all going to Vietnam and you’re all going to die. So I thought, why go? That will be the day that I die.