In the autumn of 1970 I had a job singing in the school system, playing my guitar in classrooms. Don McLean More Quotes by Don McLean More Quotes From Don McLean When people ask me what 'American Pie' means, I tell them it means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to. Don McLean music song funny Do you believe in rock 'n roll? Can music save your mortal soul? Don McLean rocks hippie believe Hills of forest green where the mountains touch the sky, a dream come true, I'll live there til I die. Don McLean dream sky philosophy I've always been on the outside of all that political stuff so I just sort of watch it and I'm appalled and I think people should be screaming about a lot of things right now and they're not. They're just letting everything happen. I don't know. At some point the wheels are going to come off and we're going to have a real problem. The people are going to get angry and it's going to be too late. Don McLean real people thinking Each thread of life that you leave, will spin around your deeds and dictate your needs. Don McLean adages deeds needs There's enough ugliness - you know, we got wars going on and people dying and sickness and everything. We don't need to have our art be ugly. But it is, in a lot of it. And these people justify this crap by saying, "Oh we're just representing what's out there, man". Basically, you're making it worse and number one, the artist's job is to elevate people and to lift people up and to give them a place to go, something to hold on to. Don McLean men war art I met a girl who sang the blues Don McLean girl song father A long long time ago, I can still remember how that music use to make me smile. Don McLean rock-and-roll use long My face on every coin engraved, the anarchists are all enslaved. My flag is forever waved, by the grateful people I have saved. Don McLean grateful forever people How did the land of Jefferson, how did the land of King, become the land of hamburgers and raisins that can sing? Roosevelt was cripple, Lincoln was a geek, they'd never get elected, their clothes were never chic. Don McLean clothes land kings I was always just into my music and maybe into trying to save the world a little bit. I never really thought I'd have a hit record or anything like that. I was prepared to travel around all over the country, kind of like a Johnny Appleseed, and sing. Don McLean trying country world The society that produced The Who, The Stones, Dylan, Paul McCartney and later on people, like myself, is over. The materialistic society that produces these kinds of bombastic performances that don't have any value or musical meaning, is very conspicuous, look at me, I'm rich, dig my brand. That's what missing, Bob Dylan made us feel worthy, I try to do the same thing. Respect for the audience with music that is meaningful and soulful. Go for what moves you and not necessarily what you think will be commercial. Don McLean meaningful moving thinking Drove my chevy to the levee but the levee was dry. Don McLean american-pie chevy dry When writing I just go with the song. I go with the song and try to tell the story. So the story may be "Wonderful Baby", which is a little song. Or it might be a gentle song, "Empty Chairs". Or it might be a rock and roll song like "Prime Time" or "Run, Diana, Run", or "American Pie". I don't know where it's gonna go. I don't have any idea what I'm doing. I just do it. I just keep doing it. I keep taking adva Don McLean running song baby Starry Starry night Don McLean eye summer song I'm glad that my music has helped other people as it's helped me. It makes me glad that I did what I did with my life. Don McLean gratitude glad people I'm gonna say this and I really mean it - I'm very thankful that I'm not a huge star. I've all the stardom and celebrity that I can handle. But I also have peace and quiet. I am left alone. And I am not recognized everywhere I go and it's perfect. I can come and fill the theatres and I get on stage ... people say: "Well, oh yeah, that must be him," you know? Don McLean perfect mean people Bye, Bye Miss American Pie, drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry. Good old boys drinking whiskey and rye, singing, this'll be the day that I die. Don McLean drinking bye boys Every pulse of your heartbeat is one liquid moment that flows through the veins of your being. Like a river of life flowing on since creation, approaching the sea with each new generation. Don McLean sea rivers philosophy And as the players tried to take the field, the Marching Band refused to yield. Don McLean yield music player
