American Pie

G D Em7 А long, long time ago, Am C Em I can still remember how that music D Used to make me smile G D Em7 And I know if I had my chance, Am C That I could make those people dance Em C D And maybe they'd be happy for a while Em Am But February made me shiver, Em Am With every paper I'd deliver C G Am Bad news on the doorstep, C D I couldn't take one more step G D Em I can't remember if I cried Am7 D When I read about his widowed bride G D Em Something touched me deep inside C D7 G C 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 Singin' this will be the day that I die, Em D7 This will be the day that I die G Am Did you write the book of love C Am And do you have faith in god above, Em D If the bible tells you so? G D Em Do you believe in rock and roll Am7 C Can music save your mortal soul Em A7 D And can you teach me how to dance real slow? Em D Well I know that you're in love with him Em D 'Cuz I saw you dancin' in the gym C G A7 You both kicked off your shoes, C D7 Man I dig those rhythm and blues G D Em I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck Am C With a pink carnation and a pickup truck G D Em C But I knew I was out of luck the day D7 G C G 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 Singin' this will be the day that I die, Em D7 This will be the day that I die G Am Now for ten years we've been on our own, C Am and moss grows fat on a rolling stone Em D But that's not how it used to be G D Em When the jester sang for the king and queen Am7 C in a coat he borrowed from James Dean Em A7 D In a voice that came from you and me Em D And while the king was looking down, Em D The jester stole his thorny crown C G A7 C D7 The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned G D Em And while Lenin read a book on Marx, Am C The quartet practiced in the park G D Em C And we sang dirges in the dark the day D7 G C G 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 Singin' this will be the day that I die, Em D7 This will be the day that I die G Am Helter skelter in a summer swelter C Am The birds flew off with a fallout shelter, Em D Eight miles high and fallin' fast G D Em It landed foul on the grass Am7 C The players tried for a forward pass, Em A7 D With the jester on the sidelines in a cast Em D Now at halftime there was sweet perfume, Em D While sergeants played a marching Tune C G A7 C D7 We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance G D Em 'Cuz the players tried to take the field, Am C The marching band refused to yield G D Em C Do you recall what was the feel the day D7 G C G 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 Singin' this will be the day that I die, Em D7 This will be the day that I die G Am And there we were all in one place, C Am Em D А generation lost in space, with no time left to start again G D Em So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Am7 C Jack Flash sat on a candle Em A7 D Stick, 'cuz fire is the devil's only friend Em D And as I watched him on the stage, Em D My hands were clenched in fists of rage C G A7 C D7 No angel born in Hell could bread that Satan's spell G D Em And as the flames climbed high into the night Am C To light the sacrificial rite G D Em C I saw Satan laughing with delight the day D7 G C G The music died, he was singin' Chorus: G D Em I met a girl who sang the blues Am C And I asked her for some happy news, Em D But she just smiled and turned away G D Em I went down to the sacred store Am C Where I'd heard the music years before, Em C But the man there said the music D Wouldn't play Em Am But in the streets the children screamed, Em Am The lovers cried and the poets dreamed C G Am C D But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken G D Em And the three men I admire most, Am7 C D7 The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost G D Em They caught the last train for the coast Am7 D7 G The day the music died, D7 And they were singin' Chorus: G D Em I met a girl who sang the blues Am C And I asked her for some happy news, Em D But she just smiled and turned away G D Em I went down to the sacred store Am C Where I'd heard the music years before, Em C But the man there said the music D Wouldn't play