G D/F# Em A long, long time ago Am C Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D I can still remember how that music used to make me smile G D/F# Em And I knew if I had my chance Am C Em C D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D That I could make those people dance and maybe they'd be happy for a while Em Am Em Am But February made me shiver, with every paper I'd deliver C G/B Am C D Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step G D/F# Em C D I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride G D/F# Em Something touched me deep inside C D G The day the music died
G C G D So bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 D7sus2 D7 D7sus4 D7 D7sus2 D7 * * * Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
G Am Did you write the book of love C Am Em D And do you have faith in God above, if the bible tells you so? G D/F# Em Do you believe in rock and roll Am7 C Em A7 D Can music save your mortal soul and can you teach me how to dance real slow? Em D Em D * * * * Well I know that you're in love with him 'cuz I saw you dancin' in the gym C G/B Am C D7 You both kicked off your shoes, man I dig those rhythm and blues G D/F# Em Am C I was a lonely teenage bronckin' buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D But I knew I was out of luck the day the music died, I started singin'
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 * * * Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
G Am Now for ten years we've been on our own C Am Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D and moss grows fat on a rolling stone but that's not how it used to be G D/F# Em When the jester sang for the king and queen Am7 C Em A7 D in a coat he borrowed from James Dean in a voice that came from you and me Em D Em D * * * * Oh, and while the king was looking down, the jester stole his thorny crown C G/B A7 C D7 The courtroom was adjourned, no verdict was returned G D/F# Em Am C And while Lennin read a book on Marx, the quartet practiced in the park G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D And we sang dirges in the dark the day the music died, we were singin'
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 * * * Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
G Am Helter skelter in a summer swelter C Am Em D the birds flew off with a fallout shelter, eight miles high and fallin' fast G D/F# Em It landed foul on the grass Am7 C Em A7 D the players tried for a forward pass, with the jester on the sidelines in a cast Em D Em D * * * * Now the half-time air was sweet perfume, while sergeants played a marching tune C G/B A7 C D7 We all got up to dance, but we never got the chance G D/F# Em Am Cm C 'Cuz the players tried to take the field, the marching band refused to yield G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died, we started singin'
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 * * * Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
G Am And there we were all in one place C Am Em D Dsus4 D Dsus2 D a generation lost in space, with no time left to start again G D/F# Em Am7 C So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick Em A7 D 'cause fire is the devil's only friend Em D Em D * * * * And as I watched him on the stage, my hands were clenched in fists of rage C G/B A7 C D7 No angel born in Hell could break that Satan's spell G D/F# Em Am C And as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite G D/F# Em C D7 G C G D I saw Satan laughing with delight the day the music died, he was singin'
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 * * * Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die
G D/F# Em I met a girl who sang the blues Am C Em D And I asked her for some happy news, but she just smiled and turned away G D/F# Em I went down to the sacred store Am C Em C Where I'd heard the music years before, but the man there said the music D wouldn't play Em Am Em Am * * * * And in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed C G/B Am C D But not a word was spoken, the church bells all were broken G D/F# Em C D And the three men I admire most, the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost G D/F# Em C D G They caught the last train for the coast the day the music died, N.C. And they were singin'
G C G D Bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 D7sus2 D7 D7sus4 D7 D7sus2 D7 * * Singin' this will be the day that I die, this will be the day that I die G C G D They were singin' bye, bye Miss American Pie G C G D Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry G C G D And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye C D7 G C G Singin' this will be the day that I die
American Pie by Don McLean uses 15 chords: G, D/F#, Em, Am, C, D, Dsus4, Dsus2, G/B, A7, D7, D7sus2, D7sus4, Am7, Cm.
No, it is played without a capo.
The original key is G.