Added: Nov 18, 2008
From: lonestarsound
Duration: 8:46
This is a revision to previously posted videos. I was fortunate enough to go to the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake IA and speak firsthand with many who were there including Tommy Allsup who flipped the coin with Ritchie Valens. This version corrects some factual errors and includes new footage from the SURF
Channel: Music
Tags: 50's 60's altamont american angels bob buddy don dylan hell's history holly janis joplin mclean music pie rolling stones
Rating: 4.89 (1871 ratings) Views: 572915' favoriteCount='4915 Comments: 25
hungoverkitty Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Oh man...I cried. I honestly cried. I've heard the song so many times...I always wondered what it was about...I never knew 'til now...It's so beautiful. I believe...Without a doubt...This is the best song ever written. In all of ever- this really tops them all. Yeah. Thank you so much for this- you have no idea.
alenaduhur88 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - no it wasnt^^
Marcotsu Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Was there a typo on Buddy holly's grave?the grave stone at 4:57 says: Buddy Holley???
Drpepper11M Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - look up the Lyrics it does not say! "lennon Read a Book on Marx"it says:"Lenin read a Book on marz"meaning in thc Communist 'John Lenin' During the time....
beaniehampton Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Listen to the song, it definitely says "Lennon read a book on Marx" ... taking into account that the song is about the questionable music of the 60s - "Imagine" has Marxists themes - and that Lennon was considered a Marxist by the FBI, there is no other reasonable conclusion.
sonofslash456 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - miss american pie was the plane that buddy and the others were killed in
racer123897 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - How you do that?!?Put a message on my profile telling me pleaseI mean the link to the time of the song.
rmar67 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - For the last time, no it wasn`t. That`s just an urban legend.
DarthEthong467 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - You people are all fighting and debating about the meaning of this song and what meaning is right or what McLean meant, when you all fail to see what McLean said himself."It was a story about America. The fact that people were drawn into the song as a result of symbols I chose to use was the reason I chose to use those symbols in the first place."I'm not sure, but I think this song was meant to have multiple meanings. It was a song that anyone could relate to... to draw them together.
justwoozynow Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - it doesn't mean shit
alenaduhur88 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - @sonofslash456: no it wasnt...
mooseboy18 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Lonestarsound,You've done impressive research and editing, and created what I now consider the definitive video of AMERICAN PIE!(The only other version I could see being better would actually include actors interspersed with the historical references, but there's already so much information coming at you in this song, it might be too much)
KingzInkorporated Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I am not sure if this is all correct but i cant stop watching this video i really think it does a good job of giving some of these meanings.
turqouisegecko Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - god bless rock n' roll
ailahtain Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Such a Good Times!!!!!
Horatio4444 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - When I hear this song, and especially when I watch this video, I cry.
mooseman817 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - american:Performers InEntertainmentthats what i was always told.
barkleyray Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - great video and explanation of meaning. . it makes sense to me.
Hari909 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I always thought american pie was the name of the plane the 3 singers were on when it crashed. Am i wrong? Im not sure.
Sapphirilla Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I heard somewhere that American Pie was the name of the plane, but that could be rumor, this song makes me cry too. The last day of marching band, at the end, we all sang this together.
Hari909 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I just looked it up, and the plane had no name actually. So I think American pie symbolizes the fact that american pie is the symbol of the 50s, and when they all 3 died, it was the end of it.
ickate036 Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Great explanation of song, but I always thought the phrase "Lennon read a book on Marx" was "Lenin read a book on Marx" referring to Vladimir Lenin and Karl Marx.
Slyboom Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - Thats a good point, never noticed that
Tanutra Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - I've always liked this song, but I had no clue the lyrics held so much hidden references.
almightymaggott Says:
Nov 18, 2008 - i think this song was writting about merideth hunter, who was stabbed altamont free concert on 6 dec 1969. by a hells angel named alan passaro. the rolling stones were playing under my thumb at the time.