American Pie Lyrics Chords

Tempo:
137.95 bpm
Chords used:

G

D

Em

C

Am

Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
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American Pie Lyrics chords
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[G] A [D] long, [Em] long time ago,
[Am] I can [C] still remember how that [Em] music used to make [D] me smile.
[G] And I [D] knew if I [Em] had my chance, [Am] that I could [C] make those people dance, [Em] and maybe they'd [C] be happy for a [D] while.
But
[Em] February [Am] made me shiver [Em] with every paper [Am]
I'd deliver.
[C] [G] Bad news on the [Am] doorstep, [C] I couldn't take one more [D] step.
[G] I [D] can't remember [Em] if I cried when [C] I read about [D] his widowed bride.
[G] [D] Something [Em] touched me deep inside [C] the day [D] the music [G] died.
So bye [C]-bye Miss [G] [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to [C] the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, [Em]
this'll be the day that I [D] die.
[G] Did you [Am] write the book of [C] love, and do you have faith [Am] in God above, [Em] if the [D] Bible tells you so?
And [G] how do you believe [Em] in rock and roll, [A] can music [Em] [C] save your mortal soul, [Em] and can you [A] teach me how to dance [D]
real slow?
[Em] Well I know that [D] you're in love with him, [Em] cause I saw you [D] dancing in the [C] gym, you [G] both kicked [A] off your shoes.
[C] Man I dig [Em] those [D] rhythm and blues, [G]
only [D] [Em] teenage bronkin' buck, with [Am] a pink carnation [C] and a pickup truck.
[G] But I knew I [Em] was out of luck [C] the day [D] the [G] music died.
[C] [G] I [D] started singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, but [G] the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and [Em] rye, singing,
This'll be the [A] day that I die, [Em] this'll be the day that [D] I die.
[G] Now for ten years [Am] we've been on our own, [C] and Moss grows [G] [Am] fat on a rolling stone, [Em] but that's not [D] how it used to be.
[G] When the jester [D] sang [Em] for the king and queen [Am] in a coat he [E] borrowed [C] from James Dean, [Em] and a voice that [A] came from you [D] and me.
[Em] Oh and while the king [D] was looking [Em] down, the jester [D] stole his thorny [G] crown, [C] the [G] courtroom [A] was adjourned,
[C]
[D] [G] and while Lennon read [Em] a book [G] on Marx, [Am] the quartet [Em] [C] practiced in the park, [G] and we [Bm] sang [Em] dirges in the dark.
[C] The day [D] the [G] music died, [C] [G] we [D] were singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy to the levee, but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and [Em] rye, singing,
This'll be the [A] day that I die, [Em] this'll be the day [D] that I die.
[G] Helped a [C] skelter in a summer swelter, the birds flew [Am] off with a fallout shelter, [Em] eight miles [D] high and falling fast.
[G] And landed [Em] foul on the grass, [Am] the players [Em] tried [C] for a forward pass, [Em] with the jester [A] on the sidelines in [D] a [G] cast.
[D] [Em] Now the halftime air [D] was sweet perfume, [Em] while the sergeants [D] played a [G] marching tune, we all got [Am] up to dance.
[C] We had [D] the chance, [G] as the players tried [Em] to take the field, [Am] the marching [Em] [C] band refused to yield, [G] do you [Bm] recall [Em] what was revealed [C] the day [D] the [G] music died?
[C] [G] We [D] started singing, [G] bye-bye Miss American [D] Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, [Em] this'll be the day [D] that I die.
Oh, [G] and there we [Am] were all in one [G] place, [C] a generation [Am] lost in [Em] space, with no time left [D] to start again.
So [G] come on [D] Jack, be nimble, [Em] Jack, be quick, [Am] Jack Flash [G] sat [C] on a candlestick, [Em] cause [A] fire is the devil's [D] only friend.
[Em] Oh, and as I watched [D] him on the stage, [Em] my hands were clenched [D] and fists of [G] rage, [C] no [G] angel born [Am] in hell,
[C] could break that [D] Satan's spell, [G] and as flames [D] climbed high [Em] into the night, [Am] to light the [Bm] [C] sacrificial rite, I [G] saw [Bm] Satan [Em] laughing with delight.
[C] Today, [D] the [G] music died.
[C] [G] He [D] was singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss American [D] Pie, drove [G] my Chevy [C] to the levee, but [G] the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old [C] [G] boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, [Em] this'll be the day [D] that I die.
[G] I met [D] a girl who [Em] sang the blues, [Am] and I asked her for [C] some happy news, [Em] but she just smiled [D] and turned away.
[G] I [Bm] went down to [Em] the sacred [G] store, [Am]
where I'd heard [G] the music [C] years before, [Em] but the man there said [C] the music [D] wouldn't play.
[G] [D]
[Em] And in the streets [A] the children [Am] screamed, [Em] the lovers [Am] cried and the poets [C] dreamed, but not [G] a word [Am] was spoken, [Bm] [C] the church bells [D] all were broken.
[G]
And the [D] three men [Em] I admire most, [G]
[C] the Father, Son, and [D] the Holy Ghost,
[C] [G] they caught [D] the last [Em] train for [Gm] the coast, [C] the day [D] the music [G] died.
And [Em] they were singing, bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy to [C] the [G] levee, but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old [C] boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die,
[Em] this'll be the day that [D] I die.
And [Am] they were singing, [G] bye-bye Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to the levee, but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [C] singing,
This'll be [D] the day that I [G] [C] die.
[G]
Key:  
G
2131
D
1321
Em
121
C
3211
Am
2311
G
2131
D
1321
Em
121
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Chords
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To start learning Don Mclean - (Single Version) American Pie chords, build your understanding on these basic chords - C, D, G, D, G, C, D, Em and D in sequence. Ease into the song by practicing at 68 BPM before reaching the track's full tempo of 138 BPM. Considering your vocal pitch and chord choices, adjust the capo in accordance with the key: G Major.

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[G] A [D] long, [Em] long time ago, _
[Am] _ I can [C] still remember how that [Em] music used to make [D] me smile. _
_ _ _ [G] And I [D] knew if I [Em] had my chance, [Am] that I could [C] make those people dance, [Em] and maybe they'd [C] be happy for a [D] while.
_ But _
_ _ [Em] _ _ February [Am] made me shiver [Em] with every paper [Am]
I'd deliver.
_ [C] _ [G] Bad news on the [Am] doorstep, _ [C] I couldn't take one more [D] step.
_ _ _ _ [G] I [D] can't remember [Em] if I cried when [C] I read about [D] his widowed bride. _
[G] _ [D] Something [Em] touched me _ deep inside [C] the day _ [D] the _ _ music _ [G] _ died.
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ So bye _ [C]-bye Miss [G] [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to [C] the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, _ _ _ _ [Em] _
this'll be the day that I [D] _ die. _
_ _ _ _ [G] _ Did you [Am] write the book of [C] love, and do you have faith [Am] in God above, [Em] if the [D] Bible tells you so?
_ _ And [G] how do you believe [Em] in rock and roll, [A] can music [Em] [C] save your mortal soul, [Em] and can you [A] teach me how to dance [D]
real slow?
_ _ [Em] Well I know that [D] you're in love with him, [Em] cause I saw you [D] dancing in the [C] gym, you [G] both kicked [A] off your shoes.
[C] Man I dig [Em] those [D] rhythm and blues, _ [G] _
only [D] [Em] teenage bronkin' buck, with [Am] a pink carnation [C] and a pickup truck.
[G] But I knew I [Em] was out of luck [C] the day _ [D] the _ [G] music died.
[C] _ [G] _ I [D] started singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, but [G] the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and [Em] rye, singing,
This'll be the [A] day that I die, _ _ [Em] this'll be the day that [D] I die. _ _ _
_ [G] Now for ten years [Am] we've been on our own, [C] and Moss grows [G] [Am] fat on a rolling stone, [Em] but that's not [D] how it used to be.
_ _ [G] When the jester [D] sang [Em] for the king and queen [Am] in a coat he [E] borrowed [C] from James Dean, [Em] and a voice that [A] came from you [D] and _ me.
_ _ _ [Em] Oh and while the king [D] was looking _ [Em] down, the jester [D] stole his thorny [G] crown, [C] the [G] courtroom [A] was adjourned,
_ [C] _ _
_ _ [D] _ _ [G] and while Lennon read [Em] a book [G] on Marx, [Am] the quartet [Em] _ [C] practiced in the park, [G] and we [Bm] sang [Em] dirges in the dark.
[C] The day _ [D] the _ [G] music died, [C] _ _ [G] we [D] were singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy to the levee, but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and [Em] rye, singing,
This'll be the [A] day that I die, _ _ [Em] this'll be the day [D] that I die. _ _ _
_ _ [G] _ Helped a [C] skelter in a summer swelter, the birds flew [Am] off with a fallout shelter, [Em] _ eight miles [D] high and falling _ _ _ fast.
[G] And landed [Em] foul on the grass, [Am] the players [Em] tried [C] for a forward pass, [Em] with the jester [A] on the sidelines in [D] a _ _ [G] cast.
[D] _ _ [Em] Now the halftime air [D] was sweet perfume, [Em] while the sergeants [D] played a [G] marching tune, we all got [Am] up to dance.
[C] We _ had [D] the chance, [G] as the players tried [Em] to take the field, [Am] the marching [Em] [C] band refused to yield, [G] do you [Bm] recall [Em] what was revealed [C] the day _ [D] the _ [G] music died?
[C] _ _ [G] We [D] started singing, [G] bye-bye Miss American [D] Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, _ [Em] this'll be the day [D] that I die. _ _ _
Oh, [G] and there we [Am] were all in one [G] place, [C] a generation [Am] lost in [Em] space, with no time left [D] to start again.
_ _ So [G] come on [D] Jack, be nimble, [Em] Jack, be quick, [Am] Jack Flash [G] sat [C] on a _ candlestick, [Em] cause _ [A] fire is the devil's [D] only _ friend.
_ _ _ [Em] Oh, and as I watched [D] him on the stage, [Em] my hands were clenched [D] and fists of [G] rage, [C] no [G] angel born [Am] in hell,
_ [C] could break that [D] Satan's spell, [G] and as flames [D] climbed high [Em] into the night, [Am] to light the [Bm] _ [C] sacrificial rite, I [G] saw [Bm] Satan [Em] laughing with delight.
[C] Today, _ _ [D] the _ [G] music died.
[C] _ [G] _ He [D] was singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss American [D] Pie, drove [G] my Chevy [C] to the levee, but [G] the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old [C] [G] boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, _ _ [Em] this'll be the day [D] that I die. _ _ _
_ _ _ [G] _ I met [D] a girl who [Em] sang the blues, [Am] and I asked her for [C] some happy news, _ [Em] but she just smiled [D] and turned away. _ _ _
[G] I [Bm] went down to [Em] the sacred [G] store, [Am]
where I'd heard [G] the music [C] years before, [Em] but the man there said [C] the music _ _ [D] wouldn't _ play.
[G] _ [D] _
_ _ [Em] And in the streets [A] the children [Am] screamed, _ [Em] the lovers [Am] cried and the poets [C] dreamed, but not [G] a word [Am] was spoken, _ [Bm] _ [C] the church bells [D] all were broken.
_ _ _ [G]
And the [D] three men [Em] I admire most, [G] _
[C] the Father, Son, and [D] the Holy Ghost, _
[C] _ [G] they caught [D] the last [Em] train for [Gm] the coast, [C] the day _ [D] the _ music _ _ [G] _ died.
_ _ And [Em] they were singing, _ _ bye _ [C]-bye [G] Miss _ [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy to [C] the [G] levee, but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old [C] boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and rye, _ [Em] singing,
This'll be the day that [A] I die, _
[Em] _ _ _ this'll be the day that [D] I die.
_ _ _ And [Am] they were singing, [G] _ bye-bye Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to the levee, but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [C] singing,
This'll be [D] the day that I [G] [C] die.
_ [G] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

Facts about this song

This song was authored by Don McLean.

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