But then Dylan came along, and closed the chapter on the 1950s for good, ushering in a new style for the 1960s, a style that he himself shaped. The full Holly song refers to his life metaphorically ending in regards to lost love, giving it its own meaning in American Pie. McLean was more partial to the music of the 1950s and in particular, the work of Elvis Presley, otherwise known as the king. It may also be true that McLean felt a bit of resentment towards Dylan for his success and the way he changed music in the 1960s.

If McLean shared that belief, all the more reason for him to consider Dylan somewhat of a… well-jester. The meaning behind the famously enigmatic pop hit ‘American Pie’ has finally been revealed by its author Don McLean, after his original manuscript for the song went up for auction and fetched. It was rumored, American Pie was the name of the plane that took Buddy Holly life. The American Pie lyrics meaning has been debated ever since the song first came out. McLean mentions how the jester wears a coat borrowed from James Dean, almost certainly a nod to how Dylan donned a jacket on the cover of his 1963 album Freewheelin, which closely resembles a jacket worn by Dean in the 1955 film Rebel Without a Cause.Īnd then McLean says the jester was in a cast on the sideline, an apparent reference to Dylan’s mysterious 1966 motorcycle accident near Woodstock, New York, which led Dylan to cancel all of his upcoming public appearances thereafter while he nursed his injuries.īut then again, there are those skeptics who believe Dylan’s motorcycle accident was staged, little more than an excuse to get out of those upcoming public appearances. There are two theories on why the song was called American Pie. American Pie Lyrics & Meaning (Don McLean). The first reason is that simply put, the descriptions of the jester match up to the persona and image of Dylan at the time.

American pie song lyrics meaning