American Pie (song)#Madonna version

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|footer=Early rock and roll musicians killed in the February 3, 1959 plane crash alluded to in the song

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Don McLean drew inspiration for the song from his childhood experience delivering newspapers during the time of the plane crash that killed early rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper:

{{Blockquote|text=I first found out about the plane crash because I was a 13-year-old newspaper delivery boy in New Rochelle, New York, and I was carrying the bundle of the local Standard-Star papers that were bound in twine, and when I cut it open with a knife, there it was on the front page.|author=Don McLean{{Cite magazine |last=Cott |first=Jonathan |date=February 5, 2009 |title=The Last Days of Buddy Holly |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-last-days-of-buddy-holly-93571/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |issue=1071 |access-date=2023-05-02 |archive-date=April 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407071050/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-last-days-of-buddy-holly-93571/ |url-status=live }}}}

McLean reportedly wrote "American Pie" in Saratoga Springs, New York, at Caffè Lena, but a 2011 New York Times article quotes McLean as disputing this claim.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/nyregion/don-mclean-sets-record-straight-on-american-pie-origins.html|title='American Pie' Still Homemade, but With a New Twist|date=November 30, 2011|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 30, 2017|archive-date=March 31, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170331205000/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/30/nyregion/don-mclean-sets-record-straight-on-american-pie-origins.html|url-status=live}} Some employees at Caffè Lena claim that he started writing the song there, and then continued to write the song in both Cold Spring, New York,{{cite web|url=http://www.christies.com/about/press-center/releases/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=7743|title=Release: Don Mclean's Original Manuscript For "American Pie" To Be Sold At Christie's New York, 7 April 2015|website=Christie's|date=February 13, 2015|access-date=February 14, 2015|archive-date=February 14, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214163437/http://www.christies.com/about/press-center/releases/pressrelease.aspx?pressreleaseid=7743|url-status=live}} and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. McLean claims that the song was only written in Cold Spring and Philadelphia. Tin & Lint, a bar on Caroline Street in Saratoga Springs, claims the song was written there, and a plaque marks the table. While a 2022 documentary on the history of the song claims Saint Joseph's University as where the song was first performed,{{Citation |title=The Day The Music Died: American Pie – Watch Movie Trailer |work=Paramount Plus |url=https://www.paramountplus.com/movies/trailer/video/h85zhVsuh_P3O8kWVXJRg5_LHDGVKSsh/ |access-date=July 29, 2022 |archive-date=October 5, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005061143/https://www.paramountplus.com/movies/trailer/video/h85zhVsuh_P3O8kWVXJRg5_LHDGVKSsh/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web|last=McDonald|first=Shannon|url= http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local//the-feed-feature/30460-don-mclean-american-pie-was-written-in-philly-and-first-performed-at-saint-josephs |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151222083351/http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/local//the-feed-feature/30460-don-mclean-american-pie-was-written-in-philly-and-first-performed-at-saint-josephs |url-status=dead|archive-date=December 22, 2015|title=Don McLean: 'American Pie' was written in Philly and first performed at Saint Joseph's University|website = Newsworks |date=November 28, 2011 |access-date=December 19, 2015}} McLean insists that the song made its debut in Philadelphia at Temple University when he opened for Laura Nyro on March 14, 1971.{{cite news|date=August 12, 2012|title=Memory Bank's a Little Off, But Sentiment Still Holds | work = Philly |url = http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20120812_Memory_banks_a_little_off__but_the_sentiment_holds.html | access-date=August 14, 2012}}

The song was produced by Ed Freeman and recorded with a few session musicians. Freeman did not want McLean to play rhythm guitar on the song but eventually relented. McLean and the session musicians rehearsed for two weeks but failed to get the song right. At the last minute, the pianist Paul Griffin was added, which is when the tune came together. McLean used a 1969 or 1970 Martin D-28 guitar to provide the basic chords throughout "American Pie".{{cite web|url=https://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation/acoustic-nation-don-mclean-revisits-his-tasty-classic-american-pie-0|title=Don McLean Revisits His Tasty Classic, "American Pie"|last=Coen|first=Jim|work=Guitar World|date=April 23, 2015|access-date=September 3, 2021|archive-date=September 3, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210903104119/https://www.guitarworld.com/acoustic-nation/acoustic-nation-don-mclean-revisits-his-tasty-classic-american-pie-0|url-status=live}}

The song debuted in the album American Pie in October 1971 and was released as a single in November. The song's eight-and-a-half-minute length meant that it could not fit entirely on one side of the 45 RPM record, so United Artists had the first {{Duration|m=4|s=11}} taking up the A-side of the record and the final {{Duration|m=4|s=31}} the B-side. Radio stations initially played the A-side of the song only, but soon switched to the full album version to satisfy their audiences.{{Sfn|Schuck|Schuck|2012|p=15}}

Upon the single release, Cash Box called it "folk-rock's most ambitious and successful epic endeavor since 'Alice's Restaurant.'"{{cite magazine|magazine=Cash Box|date=November 20, 1971|accessdate=April 10, 2023|title=Cashbox Single Picks|page=22|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-11-20.pdf|archive-date=April 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230428121930/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Cash-Box/70s/1971/Cash-Box-1971-11-20.pdf|url-status=live}} Record World called it a "monumental accomplishment of lyric writing".{{cite magazine|title=Picks of the Week|magazine=Record World|date=November 20, 1971|page=1|accessdate=April 10, 2023|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-11-20.pdf|archive-date=January 31, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131040039/https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-Music/Record-World/70s/71/RW-1971-11-20.pdf|url-status=live}}

{{Quote box|quote=The sense of disillusion and loss that the song transmits isn't just about deaths in the world of music, but also about a generation that could no longer believe in the utopian dreams of the 1950s... According to McLean, the song represents a shift from the naïve and innocent '50s to the darker decade of the '60s |author=Alva Yaffe, Musicholics |source=|align=right|salign=right|width=50%}}

{{Quote box|quote=Don called his song a complicated parable, open to different interpretations. "People ask me if I left the lyrics open to ambiguity. Of course I did. I wanted to make a whole series of complex statements. The lyrics had to do with the state of society at the time."|author=Super seventies |source={{Cite web|url= https://www.superseventies.com/1972_1singles.html|title= "American Pie" – Don McLean|website= Super seventies|access-date= June 18, 2021|archive-date= June 22, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210622210237/https://superseventies.com/1972_1singles.html|url-status= live}}|align= right|salign=right|width=50%}}

The song has nostalgic themes,{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3y4d-kAcP80C&pg=PA102|title=Continuities in Popular Culture: The Present in the Past & the Past in the Present and Future|first1=Ray Broadus|last1=Browne|first2=Ronald J.|last2=Ambrosetti|date=May 11, 1993|publisher=Popular Press|isbn=978-0-87972-593-8|access-date=May 11, 2019|via=Google Books|archive-date=November 29, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129222345/https://books.google.com/books?id=3y4d-kAcP80C&pg=PA102|url-status=live}} stretching from the late 1950s until late 1969 or 1970. Except to acknowledge that he first learned about Buddy Holly's death on February 3, 1959 – McLean was age 13 – when he was folding newspapers for his paper route on the morning of February 4, 1959 (hence the line "February made me shiver/with every paper I'd deliver"), McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song's lyrics; he has said: "They're beyond analysis. They're poetry."{{cite web|url= http://www.don-mclean.com/?p=68|page=68|title=American Pie|website= Don-McLean.com|access-date=February 10, 2009|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090212174758/http://don-mclean.com/?p=68|archive-date=February 12, 2009|url-status=dead}} He also stated in an editorial published in 2009, on the 50th anniversary of the crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson (all of whom are alluded to in the final verse in a comparison with the Christian Holy Trinity), that writing the first verse of the song exorcised his long-running grief over Holly's death and that he considers the song to be "a big song... that summed up the world known as America".{{cite news|last=McLean|first=Don|title=Commentary: Buddy Holly, rock music genius|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/01/mclean.buddy.holly/|access-date=November 28, 2011|work=CNN|date=February 1, 2009|archive-date=March 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306194143/http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/Music/02/01/mclean.buddy.holly/|url-status=live}} McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Holly.

Some commentators have identified the song as outlining the darkening of cultural mood, as over time the cultural vanguard passed from Pete Seeger and Joan Baez (the "King and Queen" of folk music), then from Elvis Presley (known as "the King" of Rock and Roll), to Bob Dylan ("the Jester" – who wore a jacket similar to that worn by cultural icon James Dean, was known as "the voice of his generation" ("a voice that came from you and me"),Maslin, Janet in Miller, Jim (ed.) (1981), The Rolling Stone History of Rock & Roll, p. 220 and whose motorcycle accident ("in a cast") left him in reclusion for many years, recording in studios rather than touring ("on the sidelines")), to The Beatles (John Lennon, punned with Vladimir Lenin, and "the Quartet" – although McLean has stated the Quartet is a reference to other people{{Cite web|date=March 29, 2017|title=Don McLean explains why he won't reveal the meaning of "American Pie"|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/don-mclean-explains-why-he-wont-reveal-the-meaning-of-american-pie/|website=CBS News|access-date=March 30, 2017|quote="But the quartet practicing in the park, that's not the Beatles?" Axelrod asked. "No," McLean replied.|archive-date=March 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170330024905/http://www.cbsnews.com/news/don-mclean-explains-why-he-wont-reveal-the-meaning-of-american-pie/|url-status=live}}), to The Byrds (who wrote one of the first psychedelic rock songs, "Eight Miles High", and then "fell fast" – the song was banned, band member Gene Clark entered rehabilitation, known colloquially as a "fallout shelter", and shortly after, the group declined as it lost members, changed genres, and alienated fans), to The Rolling Stones (who released Their Satanic Majesties Request and the singles "Jumpin' Jack Flash" and "Sympathy for the Devil" ("Jack Flash", "Satan", "The Devil"), and used Hells Angels – "Angels born in Hell" – as Altamont event security, with fatal consequences, bringing the 1960s to a violent end{{Cite web|url= https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-altamont-festival-brings-the-1960s-to-a-violent-end|title= Murder at the Altamont Festival brings the 1960s to a violent end|website= History.com|date= November 13, 2009|access-date= June 20, 2021|archive-date= June 29, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210629003230/https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/the-altamont-festival-brings-the-1960s-to-a-violent-end|url-status= live}}), and to Janis Joplin (the "girl who sang the blues" but just "turned away" – she died of a heroin overdose the following year).

It has also been speculated that the song contains numerous references to post-World War II American political events, such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy (known casually as "Jack"), First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy ("his widowed bride"),{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/08/gloomy-don-mclean-reveals-meaning-of-american-pie-and-sells-lyrics-for-1-2-million/ |title=Gloomy Don McLean reveals meaning of 'American Pie' |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=May 4, 2023 |archive-date=March 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180309034527/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/04/08/gloomy-don-mclean-reveals-meaning-of-american-pie-and-sells-lyrics-for-1-2-million/ |url-status=live }} and subsequent killing of his assassin (whose courtroom trial obviously ended as a result ["adjourned"]),{{Cite web|url= http://www.whrc-wi.org/americanpie.htm|title= "American Pie" Lyrics – What Do They Mean?|website= WHRC WI|access-date= June 18, 2021|archive-date= July 17, 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210717023541/http://www.whrc-wi.org/americanpie.htm|url-status= live}} the Cuban Missile Crisis ("Jack be nimble, Jack be quick"),{{Cite web|url=https://www.tonybarrell.com/the-american-pie-enigma/|title=The American pie enigma|first=Tony|last=Barrell|date=March 26, 2015|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=July 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710112437/https://www.tonybarrell.com/the-american-pie-enigma/|url-status=live}} the murders of civil rights workers James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner,{{cite web|url = http://www.rareexception.com/Garden/Pie.php| title= Understanding the lyrics of American Pie: The analysis and interpretation of Don McLean's song lyrics |access-date=July 20, 2013|last=O'Brien|first=P.|date=March 3, 1999|work=The Octopus's Garden|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130407124608/http://www.rareexception.com/Garden/Pie.php|archive-date=April 7, 2013}} and elements of culture such as sock hops ("kicking off shoes" to dance, preventing damage to the varnished floor), cruising with a pickup truck,{{cite web|url=http://www.edlis.org/twice/threads/american_pie.html|title=American Pie|work=Edlis|access-date=March 30, 2017|archive-date=April 14, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414174229/http://www.edlis.org/twice/threads/american_pie.html|url-status=live}} the rise of the political protest song ("a voice that came from you and me"), drugs and the counterculture, the Manson Family and the Tate–LaBianca murders in the "summer swelter" of 1969 (the Beatles' song "Helter Skelter") and much more.

Apparent allusions to notable 50s songs include Don Cornell's The Bible Tells Me So ("If the Bible tells you so?"), Marty Robbins' A White Sport Coat, the lonely teenager ("With a pink carnation") mirroring Robbins' narrator who is rejected in favor of another man for the prom, and The Monotones' The Book of Love ("Did you write the book of love").{{cite book|last1=Shuck|first1=Raymond|title=Do You Believe in Rock and Roll?: Essays on Don McLean's "American Pie" |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ri4TR522ONQC|year=2012|isbn=978-0-786-47105-8|pages=55, 56 & 57|publisher=McFarland & Company}}

Many additional and alternative interpretations have also been proposed.

For example, Bob Dylan's first performance in Great Britain was also at a pub called "The King and Queen", and he also appeared more literally "on the sidelines in a (the) cast" – as one of many stars at the back far right of the cover art of the Beatles' album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band ("the Sergeants played a marching tune").

The song title itself is a reference to apple pie, an unofficial symbol of the United States and one of its signature comfort foods,{{cite web |last1=D'Aiutolo |first1=Olivia |title=A Pinch of History: Amelia Simmons's Apple Pie |url=https://hsp.org/blogs/fondly-pennsylvania/a-pinch-of-history-amelia-simmonss-apple-pie |website=Fondly, Pennsylvania |publisher=Historical Society of Pennsylvania |access-date=June 11, 2018 |date=August 17, 2015 |archive-date=November 12, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112033656/https://hsp.org/blogs/fondly-pennsylvania/a-pinch-of-history-amelia-simmonss-apple-pie |url-status=live }} as seen in the popular expression "As American as apple pie".{{cite journal| url=http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/as-american-as-apple-pie| title=Definition of "as American as apple pie"| journal=Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus| author=Cambridge University Press| year=2011| access-date=June 20, 2021| archive-date=August 11, 2015| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150811010020/http://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/british/as-american-as-apple-pie| url-status=live}} By the twentieth century, this had become a symbol of American prosperity and national pride.

The original United Artists Records inner sleeve featured a free verse poem written by McLean about William Boyd, also known as Hopalong Cassidy, along with a picture of Boyd in full Hopalong regalia. Its inclusion in the album was interpreted to represent a sense of loss of a simplistic type of American culture as symbolized by Hopalong Cassidy and by extension black and white television as a whole.{{cite web|last=Fann|first=James M.|title=Understanding AMERICAN PIE|date=December 10, 2006|access-date=April 3, 2013|url=http://understandingamericanpie.com/hoppy.htm|archive-date=October 16, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016143326/http://understandingamericanpie.com/hoppy.htm|url-status=dead}}

Mike Mills of R.E.M. reflected: "'American Pie' just made perfect sense to me as a song and that's what impressed me the most. I could say to people this is how to write songs. When you've written at least three songs that can be considered classic that is a very high batting average and if one of those songs happens to be something that a great many people think is one of the greatest songs ever written you've not only hit the top of the mountain but you've stayed high on the mountain for a long time."{{cite AV media|title=Don McLean: An American Troubadour|medium=Television production|publisher=Sky Arts 1|location=UK|year=2013}}

{{Quote box|quote=For McLean, the song is a blueprint of his mind at the time and a homage to his musical influences, but also a roadmap for future students of history:

"If it starts young people thinking about Buddy Holly, about rock 'n' roll and that music, and then it teaches them maybe about what else happened in the country, maybe look at a little history, maybe ask why John Kennedy was shot and who did it, maybe ask why all our leaders were shot in the 1960s and who did it, maybe start to look at war and the stupidity of it — if that can happen, then the song really is serving a wonderful purpose and a positive purpose." |source=Mark Kennedy, "Don McLean looks back at his masterpiece, 'American Pie'" (2022) |align=right|salign=right|width=50%}}

When asked what "American Pie" meant, McLean jokingly replied, "It means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to."{{cite web|url= http://www.don-mclean.com/articles/play.asp?p=15|title=The Don McLean Story: 1970–1976|website=Don-McLean.com|author=Howard, Dr. Alan|access-date =June 3, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070711220735/http://www.don-mclean.com/articles/play.asp?p=15|archive-date=July 11, 2007}} Later, he stated, "You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me... Sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence."{{cite web|url= http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_398b.html|title=What is Don McLean's song "American Pie" all about?|website=The Straight Dope|date=May 14, 1993|access-date =June 3, 2007|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20070528162305/http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_398b.html|archive-date=May 28, 2007}} He also commented on the popularity of his music, "I didn't write songs that were just catchy, but with a point of view, or songs about the environment."

In February 2015, however, McLean announced he would reveal the meaning of the lyrics to the song when the original manuscript went for auction in New York City, in April 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31451271|title=Don McLean to reveal meaning of American Pie lyrics|work=BBC News|date=February 13, 2015|access-date=February 13, 2015|archive-date=February 13, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213113510/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-31451271|url-status=live}} The lyrics and notes were auctioned on April 7, 2015, and sold for $1.2 million.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32208584|title=American Pie lyrics sell for $1.2m|work=BBC News|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=June 21, 2018|archive-date=August 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180820184703/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-32208584|url-status=live}} In the sale catalogue notes, McLean revealed the meaning in the song's lyrics: "Basically in 'American Pie' things are heading in the wrong direction. It [life] is becoming less idyllic. I don't know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song in a sense."{{cite news|title=American Pie: 6 crazy conspiracy theories|url= https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11518980/American-Pie-6-crazy-conspiracy-theories.html |archive-url= https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/music-news/11518980/American-Pie-6-crazy-conspiracy-theories.html |archive-date=January 12, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|first=Rupert|last=Hawksley|date=April 7, 2015|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}} The catalogue confirmed that the song climaxes with a description of the killing of Meredith Hunter at the Altamont Free Concert, ten years after the plane crash that killed Holly, Valens, and Richardson, and did acknowledge that some of the more well-known symbols in the song were inspired by figures such as Elvis Presley ("the king") and Bob Dylan ("the jester").

In 2017, Bob Dylan was asked about how he was referenced in the song. "A jester? Sure, the jester writes songs like 'Masters of War', 'A Hard Rain's a-Gonna Fall', 'It's Alright, Ma' – some jester. I have to think he's talking about somebody else. Ask him."{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylans-surprise-new-interview-9-things-we-learned-w473397|title=Bob Dylan's Surprise New Interview: 9 Things We Learned|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=March 23, 2017|access-date=March 26, 2017|archive-date=March 25, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325174348/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/bob-dylans-surprise-new-interview-9-things-we-learned-w473397|url-status=live}}

In 2022, the documentary The Day the Music Died: The Story of Don McLean's American Pie, produced by Spencer Proffer, was released on the Paramount+ video on-demand service. Proffer said that he told McLean: "It's time for you to reveal what 50 years of journalists have wanted to know." McLean stated that he "needed a big song about America", and the first verse and melody ("A long, long time ago...") seemed to just come to mind.{{cite news |url= https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-iowa-07402e6a24c1773ddcec57b1a1f0575f |title= Don McLean looks back at his masterpiece, 'American Pie' |first= Mark |last= Kennedy |date= July 20, 2022 |work= AP |access-date= July 24, 2022 |archive-date= July 24, 2022 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220724205237/https://apnews.com/article/entertainment-music-iowa-07402e6a24c1773ddcec57b1a1f0575f |url-status= live }}

McLean also answered some of the long-standing questions on the song's lyrics, although not all. He revealed that Presley was not the king referenced in the song, Joplin was not the "girl who sang the blues", and Dylan was not the jester, although he is open to other interpretations. He explained that the "marching band" refers to the military–industrial complex, "sweet perfume" refers to tear gas, and Los Angeles is the "coast" that the Trinity head to ("caught the last train for the coast"), commenting "even God has been corrupted". He also said that the line "This'll be the day that I die" originated from the John Wayne film The Searchers (which inspired Buddy Holly's song "That'll Be the Day"), and the chorus's line "Bye-bye, Miss American Pie" was inspired by a song by Pete Seeger, "Bye Bye, My Roseanna". McLean had originally intended to use "Miss American apple pie", but "apple" was dropped.

On the whole, McLean stated that the lyrics were meant to be impressionist, and that many of the lyrics, only a portion of which were included in the finished recording, were completely fictional with no basis in real-life events.{{Cite web |last=Farber |first=Jim |date=July 19, 2022 |title='I said, Don, it's time for you to reveal': 50 years later, the truth behind American Pie |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/19/don-mclean-american-pie-documentary-the-day-the-music-died |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20220719061844/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2022/jul/19/don-mclean-american-pie-documentary-the-day-the-music-died |archive-date=July 19, 2022 |access-date=July 19, 2022 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}

Credits from Richard Buskin, except where noted.{{cite web |last1=Buskin |first1=Richard |title=Classic Tracks: Don McLean 'American Pie' |url=https://www.soundonsound.com/techniques/classic-tracks-don-mclean-american-pie |website=Sound On Sound |access-date=July 12, 2023}}

• Don McLean – vocals, acoustic guitar
• David Spinozza – electric guitar
• Paul Griffin – piano, clavinet{{cite web|last1=Hasted|first1=Nick|title=The Making Of... Don McLean's "American Pie"|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/news/the-making-of-don-mcleans-american-pie-67627/2|website=uncut.co.uk|date=April 7, 2015|access-date=December 14, 2017|archive-date=September 1, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180901113222/https://www.uncut.co.uk/news/the-making-of-don-mcleans-american-pie-67627/2|url-status=live}}{{cite book|last1=Hepworth|first1=Paul|title=1971 - Never a Dull Moment: Rock's Best Year|date=2016|publisher=Bantam Press|isbn=978-059307486-2|page=330|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lIPDAAAQBAJ&q=piano+player+on+american+pie+single&pg=PA330}}
• Bob Rothstein – bass, backing vocals
• Roy Markowitz – drums, tambourine

The final chorus features multi-tracked backing vocals, credited in the album's sleeve notes to the "West Forty Fourth Street Rhythm and Noise Choir". Although the individual choristers have never been publicly named, producer Ed Freeman has claimed that the choir included Pete Seeger, James Taylor, Livingston Taylor and Carly Simon.{{cite web |last=Buskin |first=Richard |title=Don McLean 'American Pie' |url=http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/mar12/articles/classic-tracks-0312.htm |work=Sound on Sound|publisher=SOS Publications Group |access-date=13 April 2013}}

• Ed Freeman - producer
• Tom Flye - engineer
• Photography/ artwork – George Whiteman{{cite web | url=https://www.selected4u.net/caa/donmclean/americanpie/play.html | title=Don McLean - American Pie (1971) | Classic Album Art | access-date=May 21, 2022 | archive-date=May 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518062519/https://www.selected4u.net/caa/donmclean/americanpie/play.html | url-status=live }}

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{{Certification Table Top}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie|award=Platinum|number=5|relyear=1971|certyear=2022|access-date=July 11, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie|award=Gold|relyear=1971|certyear=2023|id=12117|access-date=May 16, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie|award=Gold|relyear=1971|certyear=2024|id=13149|access-date=September 16, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie|award=Platinum|number=4|relyear=1971|certyear=2023|source=radioscope|access-date=December 21, 2024}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie (Full Length Version)|award=Gold|relyear=1971|certyear=2025|access-date=January 18, 2025}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2004|certyear=2023|id=472-2161-1|access-date=March 3, 2023}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|artist=Don McLean|title=American Pie|award=Platinum|number=3|relyear=1971|certyear=2021|access-date=April 3, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Bottom|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}

In 1999, "Weird Al" Yankovic wrote and recorded a parody of "American Pie". Titled "The Saga Begins", the song recounts the plot of Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace from Obi-Wan Kenobi's point of view. While McLean gave permission for the parody, he did not make a cameo appearance in its video, despite popular rumor. McLean himself praised the parody, even admitting to almost singing Yankovic's lyrics during his own live performances because his children played the song so often.{{cite web|url=http://weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0999|title="Ask Al" Q&As for September, 1999|access-date=October 29, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060902121655/http://www.weirdal.com/aaarchive.htm#0999|archive-date=September 2, 2006}}{{cite web|url=http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/weirdal.asp|title=Jedi Council – Interviews Weird Al Yankovic|website=TheForce.Net|date=September 14, 1980|access-date=May 20, 2010|archive-date=October 22, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061022180839/http://www.theforce.net/jedicouncil/interview/weirdal.asp|url-status=live}} An unrelated comedy film franchise by Universal Pictures, who secured the rights to McLean's title, also debuted in 1999.{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uETdAwAAQBAJ|title=Jason Biggs: Hollywood's Newest Cutie-Pie!|last=Parish|first=James Robert|publisher=Macmillan Publishers|date=June 2000|access-date=September 3, 2021|pages=3, 5, 126|isbn=0-312-97622-4}}

"American Pie" was the last song to be played on Virgin Radio before it was rebranded as Absolute Radio in 2008.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mixcloud.com/andy-walmsley2/christian-oconnell-29-september-2008/|title=Mixcloud|website=Mixcloud|access-date=July 10, 2021|archive-date=July 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210710112434/https://www.mixcloud.com/andy-walmsley2/christian-oconnell-29-september-2008/|url-status=live}} It was also the last song played on BFBS Malta in 1979.

Jeremy Renner sings an a cappella version in the 2006 movie Love Comes to the Executioner, as his character walks to the execution chamber.{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0383478/ | title=Love Comes to the Executioner | website=IMDb }}

In 2012, the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, created a lip dub video to "American Pie" in response to a Newsweek article that stated the city was "dying".{{cite news|title=The Grand Rapids Lip Dub|url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/06/01/136816940/the-grand-rapids-lip-dub-a-giant-street-party-set-to-music|website=NPR|access-date=October 29, 2012|archive-date=January 31, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130131043731/http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/06/01/136816940/the-grand-rapids-lip-dub-a-giant-street-party-set-to-music|url-status=live}} (Due to licensing issues, the version used in the video was not the original, but rather a later-recorded live version.) The video was hailed as a fantastic performance by many, including film critic Roger Ebert, who said it was "the greatest music video ever made".{{cite web|last=Ebert|first=Roger|title=The greatest music video ever made|url=http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/music/the-greatest-music-video-ever.html|work=Chicago Sun-Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110902025848/http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/music/the-greatest-music-video-ever.html|archive-date=September 2, 2011}}

On March 21, 2013, Harmonix announced that "American Pie" would be the final downloadable track made available for the Rock Band series of music video games.{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/21/4134170/rock-bands-final-dlc-will-be-don-mcleans-american-pie|title=Rock Band's final song will be Don McLean's 'American Pie'|website=Polygon|date=March 21, 2013|access-date=April 1, 2014|archive-date=January 13, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140113014000/http://www.polygon.com/2013/3/21/4134170/rock-bands-final-dlc-will-be-don-mcleans-american-pie|url-status=live}} This was the case until Rock Band 4 was released on October 6, 2015, reviving the series' weekly releases of DLC.

On March 14, 2015, the National Museum of Mathematics announced that one of two winners of its songwriting contest was "American Pi" by mathematics education professor Dr. Lawrence M. Lesser.{{cite web|url=http://momath.org/home/2015-pi-day-winners/|title=2015 Pi Day Contest Winners|publisher=National Museum of Mathematics|access-date=April 8, 2015|archive-date=April 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407093729/http://momath.org/home/2015-pi-day-winners/|url-status=live}} The contest was in honor of "Pi Day of the Century" because "3/14/15" would be the only day in the 21st-century showing the first five digits of π (pi).

On April 20, 2015, John Mayer covered "American Pie" live on the Late Show with David Letterman, at the request of the show's eponymous host.{{Cite web|url=https://theweek.com/speedreads/550559/john-mayer-covers-american-pie-david-letterman|title=John Mayer covers 'American Pie' for David Letterman|date=April 20, 2015|website=theweek.com|access-date=February 4, 2020|archive-date=February 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200204054720/https://theweek.com/speedreads/550559/john-mayer-covers-american-pie-david-letterman|url-status=live}}

On January 29, 2021, McLean released a re-recording of "American Pie" featuring lead vocals by country a cappella group Home Free.{{Cite web|url=http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2021/1/29/don-mclean-releases-new-a-cappella-version-of-american-pie-f.html|title=Don McLean releases new a cappella version of "American Pie" featuring country vocal group Home Free|date=January 29, 2021|website=abcnewsradioonline.com|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=January 31, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210131115500/http://abcnewsradioonline.com/music-news/2021/1/29/don-mclean-releases-new-a-cappella-version-of-american-pie-f.html|url-status=live}}

The song was featured in Marvel's Black Widow movie in 2021.{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/david-harbour-says-idea-song-120100182.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGWc6f_ZNcE7H-ksiYb4VYTbvnbOG8sMeur0KWGBdoKHlSv0IyzmPjGGElegAH0iHs8v3yejMIQGl9TPw3CZOuuwbdOqMUD74LtvMvEOQeryFYJJnFPX_vUaTr9mwJF2xX8ioDV8lChXPCfZAPE0lAANgRiqgKtEYFAXHzVDeYJQ|title=David Harbour says it was his idea to use the song 'American Pie' in 'Black Widow' because his big scene with Florence Pugh needed to be 'more profound'|date=July 10, 2021|website=news.yahoo.com|access-date=July 14, 2021|archive-date=July 14, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714211452/https://news.yahoo.com/david-harbour-says-idea-song-120100182.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAGWc6f_ZNcE7H-ksiYb4VYTbvnbOG8sMeur0KWGBdoKHlSv0IyzmPjGGElegAH0iHs8v3yejMIQGl9TPw3CZOuuwbdOqMUD74LtvMvEOQeryFYJJnFPX_vUaTr9mwJF2xX8ioDV8lChXPCfZAPE0lAANgRiqgKtEYFAXHzVDeYJQ|url-status=live}} It is the favorite song of the character Yelena Belova, and sung by Red Guardian later in the film to comfort her.{{Cite web|date=July 12, 2021|title=David Harbour Explains the Significance of American Pie in Black Widow|url=https://screenrant.com/black-widow-american-pie-scene-david-harbour-response/|access-date=August 5, 2021|website=ScreenRant|language=en-US|archive-date=August 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210805050302/https://screenrant.com/black-widow-american-pie-scene-david-harbour-response/|url-status=live}}

"American Pie" is also featured in the 2021 Tom Hanks movie Finch.{{cite web | last=Anderson | first=John | title='Finch' Review: Man's Best Friends | website=WSJ | date=November 3, 2021 | url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/finch-tom-hanks-apple-tv-miguel-sapochnik-american-pie-11635886875 | access-date=November 6, 2021 | archive-date=November 5, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105192814/https://www.wsj.com/articles/finch-tom-hanks-apple-tv-miguel-sapochnik-american-pie-11635886875 | url-status=live }}

During his visit to the United States in 2023, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol sang this song at a state dinner.{{Cite web|url= https://news.yahoo.com/had-no-damn-idea-could-050335438.html|title= 'I had no damn idea you could sing': Yoon's 'American Pie' stuns Biden|date= April 27, 2023|work= AFP|access-date= April 27, 2023|archive-date= April 27, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230427092230/https://news.yahoo.com/had-no-damn-idea-could-050335438.html|url-status= live}} This attracted worldwide attention, as well as the attention of Don McLean.{{Cite web|url= https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/27/asia/don-mclean-american-pie-yoon-biden-intl-hnk/index.html|title= Don McLean offers duet with South Korean president who sang'American Pie'to Biden|date= April 27, 2023|work= CNN|access-date= April 29, 2023|archive-date= April 29, 2023|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20230429074055/https://edition.cnn.com/2023/04/27/asia/don-mclean-american-pie-yoon-biden-intl-hnk/index.html|url-status= live}}

{{Infobox song

| name = American Pie

| cover = American Pie Madonna.png

| alt =

| border = yes

| type = single

| artist = Madonna

| album = The Next Best Thing

| released = {{start date|2000|2|8}}

| recorded = September 1999

| studio = Undisclosed location (New York City)

| genre = Dance-pop

| length = 4:33

| label =

• Maverick
• Warner Bros.

| writer = Don McLean

| producer =

• Madonna
• William Orbit

| prev_title = Beautiful Stranger

| prev_year = 1999

| next_title = Music

| next_year = 2000

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|X4RDB-mMDJg|"American Pie"}}}}

}}

American singer Madonna recorded a cover version of "American Pie" for the soundtrack of her film The Next Best Thing (2000). Her cover is much shorter than the original, containing only the beginning of the first verse and all of the second and sixth verses. Reworked as a dance-pop track, it was produced by Madonna and William Orbit. It was recorded in September 1999 in New York City, after Rupert Everett, Madonna's co-star in The Next Best Thing, convinced her to cover the song for the film's soundtrack.{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/517679/madonna-and-william-orbit-take-another-spin-in-studio/ |last=Kaufman |first=Gil |title=Madonna and William Orbit take another spin in studio |date=September 24, 1999 |publisher=MTV News |access-date=December 31, 2015 |archive-date=June 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160602095908/http://www.mtv.com/news/517679/madonna-and-william-orbit-take-another-spin-in-studio/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/629526.stm |title=Madonna's piece of American Pie |date=February 3, 2000 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=May 4, 2015 |archive-date=May 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150505003933/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/629526.stm |url-status=live }} Madonna said of her choice to cover the song: "To me, it's a real millennium song. We're going through a big change in terms of the way we view pop culture, because of the Internet. In a way, it's like saying goodbye to music as we knew it—and to pop culture as we knew it."{{cite news | last1 = Farber | first1 = Jim | date = February 27, 2000 | title = Mellow Madonna: the star reflects on playing a loser in love in 'The Next Best Thing' | url = https://www.nydailynews.com/mellow-madonna-star-reflects-playing-loser-love-best-article-1.874034 | work = Daily News | location = New York | access-date = December 10, 2022 | archive-date = December 10, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20221210204802/https://www.nydailynews.com/mellow-madonna-star-reflects-playing-loser-love-best-article-1.874034 | url-status = live }} "American Pie" was released as the lead single from The Next Best Thing on February 8, 2000, by Maverick Records and Warner Bros. Records.

"American Pie" was later included as an international bonus track on her eighth studio album, Music (2000). However, it was not included on her greatest hits compilation GHV2 (2001), as Madonna had regretted putting it on Music, elaborating: "It was something a certain record company executive twisted my arm into doing, but it didn't belong on the album so now it's being punished... My gut told me not to [put the song on Music], but I did it and then I regretted it so just for that reason it didn't deserve a place on GHV2".{{cite web |url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/jowhiley/interviews/madonna_1_nov2001.shtml|title=Jo Whiley Interviews Madonna|date=November 23, 2001|access-date=October 25, 2015 |publisher=BBC Radio 1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011205064123/http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/jowhiley/interviews/madonna_1_nov2001.shtml |archive-date=December 5, 2001}}{{cite web |url=http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2001/1123/395365-madonna/ |title=Madonna rejected 'American Pie' for GHV2 |date=November 23, 2001 |access-date=February 14, 2016 |publisher=Raidió Teilifís Éireann |archive-date=April 8, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160408205345/http://www.rte.ie/ten/news/2001/1123/395365-madonna/ |url-status=live }} A remix of the song was featured on her remix compilation album Finally Enough Love: 50 Number Ones (2022).

"American Pie" was an international hit, reaching number one in numerous countries, including the United Kingdom, Australia, Iceland, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Austria and Finland. The song was the 19th-best-selling single of 2000 in the UK and the ninth best-selling single of 2000 in Sweden. The single was not released commercially in the United States, but it reached number 29 on the Billboard Hot 100 due to strong radio airplay.

Chuck Taylor of Billboard was impressed by the recording and commented, "Applause to Madonna for not pandering to today's temporary trends and for challenging programmers to broaden their playlists. ... In all, a fine preview of the forthcoming soundtrack to The Next Best Thing."{{cite magazine|last=Taylor|first=Chuck|date=February 12, 2000|title=Spotlight: Madonna "American Pie"|magazine=Billboard|issn=0006-2510|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4Q0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA22|access-date=April 28, 2010}} Peter Robinson of The Guardian called the cover as "brilliant".{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/aug/15/madonna.50.pop.facts|title=Madonna: 50 poptastic facts|work=The Guardian|first=Peter|last=Robinson|author-link=Peter Robinson (journalist)|date=August 15, 2008|access-date=June 6, 2022|archive-date=June 6, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220606013640/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/aug/15/madonna.50.pop.facts|url-status=live}} Don McLean himself praised the cover, saying it was "a gift from a goddess", and that her version is "mystical and sensual".{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/621291/don-mclean-praises-madonnas-american-pie/|title=Don McLean Praises Madonna's 'American Pie'|website=MTV|date=February 2, 2000|access-date=May 3, 2015|archive-date=December 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222081711/http://www.mtv.com/news/621291/don-mclean-praises-madonnas-american-pie/|url-status=dead}} NME, on the other hand, gave it a negative review, saying that "Killdozer did it first and did it better", that it was "sub-karaoke fluff" and that "it's a blessing she didn't bother recording the whole thing."{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/madonna/2653|title=NME Track Reviews – American Pie|work=NME|date=February 26, 2000|access-date=October 29, 2012|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092920/http://www.nme.com/reviews/madonna/2653|url-status=live}}

In 2017, the Official Charts Company stated the song had sold 400,000 copies in the United Kingdom and was her 16th best selling single to date in the nation.{{cite web|url=http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/flashback-madonna-scored-her-9th-uk-number-1-single-with-american-pie-17-years-ago-this-week__18424/|title=Flashback: Madonna scored her 9th UK Number 1 single with American Pie 17 years ago this week|date=March 9, 2017|access-date=March 9, 2017|last=Copsey|first=Rob|publisher=Official Charts Company|archive-date=March 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170311143749/http://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/flashback-madonna-scored-her-9th-uk-number-1-single-with-american-pie-17-years-ago-this-week__18424/|url-status=live}}

The music video, filmed in the southern United States and in London,Ciccone, Christopher (2008) Life with my Sister Madonna, Simon & Schuster: New York, p.278. and directed by Philipp Stölzl, depicts a diverse array of ordinary Americans, including scenes showing same-sex couples kissing. Throughout the music video Madonna, who is wearing a tiara on her head, dances and sings in front of a large American flag.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/madonna-american-pie-cover-don-mclean-anniversary-6487632/|title=Madonna Covered Don McLean's 'American Pie' 17 Years Ago Today|magazine=Billboard|date=March 3, 2015|access-date=August 17, 2023|first=Leslie|last=Richin}}

Two versions of the video were produced, the first of which was released as the official video worldwide, and later appeared on Madonna's Celebration: The Video Collection (2009). The second version used the "Humpty Remix", a more upbeat and dance-friendly version of the song. The latter aired on MTV in the US to promote The Next Best Thing; it features different footage and new outtakes of the original while omitting the lesbian kiss. Everett, who provides backing vocals in the song, is also featured in the video.

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• French and Benelux 2-track CD single; UK and New Zealand cassette single{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=2-track CD single|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=5439-16879-2}}

1. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33
2. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Radio Mix) – 4:29

• Asian, Canadian, European and South African CD maxi-single{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=CD maxi-single|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=9362-44837-2}}

1. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33
2. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Radio Mix) – 4:29
3. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Filter Dub Mix) – 6:06
4. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Visits Madonna) – 5:44

• Australian, European, Japanese and UK CD 1 maxi-single{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=CD maxi-single|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=9362-44839-2}}{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=maxi CD single|publisher=Warner Music Japan|id=WPCR-10693}}

1. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33
2. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Filter Dub Mix) – 6:06
3. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Dub Mix) – 6:16

• Australian, European and UK CD 2 maxi-single{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=CD maxi-single|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=9362-44840-2}}

1. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33
2. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Radio Mix) – 4:29
3. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Visits Madonna) – 5:44

• European CD 3 maxi-single{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=CD maxi-single|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=9362-44864-2}}

1. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Club Mix) – 9:07
2. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Extended Vocal Club Mix) – 10:36
3. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Visits Madonna) – 5:44
4. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Radio Mix) – 4:29
5. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33

{{col-2}}

• Japanese CD 2 maxi-single{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=CD maxi-single|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=WPCR-10693}}

1. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Visits Madonna) – 5:44
2. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Radio Mix) – 4:29
3. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Club Mix) – 9:07
4. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Extended Vocal Club Mix) – 10:36
5. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33

• European and UK 12-inch vinyl{{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=12-inch vinyl|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=9362-44865-0}}

1. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Filter Dub Mix) – 6:06
2. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Dub Mix) – 6:16
3. "American Pie" (Richard "Humpty" Vission Visits Madonna) – 5:44
4. "American Pie" (album version) – 4:33

• European 12-inch vinyl (remixes){{cite AV media|author=Madonna|year=2000|title=American Pie|type=12-inch vinyl|publisher=Warner Music Group|id=9362-44865-0}}

1. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Club Mix) – 9:07
2. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Extended Vocal Club Mix) – 10:36

• Digital download (2022){{cite web |url=https://music.apple.com/gb/album/american-pie-single/1613839485 |title=American Pie - Single by Madonna on Apple Music |website=Apple Music |access-date=March 22, 2022 |archive-date=March 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220322162745/https://music.apple.com/gb/album/american-pie-single/1613839485 |url-status=live }}

1. "American Pie" – 4:34
2. "American Pie" (Richard Humpty Vission Radio Mix) – 4:29
3. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Club Mix) – 9:07
4. "American Pie" (Richard Humpty Vission Visits Madonna) – 5:43
5. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Extended Vocal Club Mix) – 10:36
6. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Vocal Dub Mix) – 6:15
7. "American Pie" (Victor Calderone Filter Dub Mix) – 6:06

{{col-end}}

Credits are adapted from the liner notes for "American Pie".{{cite AV media notes|last=Madonna|title=American Pie|year=2000|type=Liner notes|publisher=Maverick Records|id=9362448372}}

• Madonna – vocals, production
• William Orbit – production, guitar, drums, keyboard
• Don McLean – songwriting
• Mark "Spike" Stent – mixing
• Rupert Everett – backing vocals
• Mark Endert – engineering
• Sean Spuehler – engineering, programming
• Jake Davies – engineering
• Rico Conning – sequencer programming
• Dah Len – photography

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-2}}

{{col-end}}

{{Certification Table Top|caption=Certifications and sales for "American Pie"}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|access-date=July 12, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Madonna|title=American Pie|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|access-date=July 12, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|type=single|award=Gold|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|access-date=May 22, 2019}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|title=American Pie|artist=Madonna|type=single|nocert=true|relyear=2000|salesamount=12,701|salesref={{cite web|url=http://www.musik.org/publikationer/aarshitlister.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021220141922/http://www.musik.org/publikationer/aarshitlister.htm |url-status=dead | archive-date=December 20, 2002|title=Hitlist 2000|work=Hitlisten|publisher=IFPI Denmark|access-date=January 1, 2021}} }}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Madonna|title=American Pie|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|access-date=August 19, 2022}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|certyear=2000|relyear=2000|artist=Madonna|title=American Pie|award=Gold|type=single|access-date=January 13, 2021}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|nocert=true|salesamount=70,000|salesref={{cite journal|url=http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,25/articleid,0436_01_2000_0203_0031_3756270/|title=Madonna si lancia nello spazio|journal=La Stampa|first=Luca|last=Dondoni|date=July 27, 2000|page=25|issue=203|access-date=February 22, 2021|language=it|quote=«American Pie» che come singolo presente nella colonna sonora del film «The next big thing» solo nel nostro paese ha venduto ben 70 mila copie|archive-date=February 7, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207181732/http://www.archiviolastampa.it/component/option,com_lastampa/task,search/mod,libera/action,viewer/Itemid,3/page,25/articleid,0436_01_2000_0203_0031_3756270/|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry | region=Spain |nocert=true|salesamount=35,000 |salesref={{cite web|url=http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/details.vm?o=&w=Madonna+copias+vendidas&f=text&t=%2Bcreation&l=600&l=700&view=&lang=en&s=129|title=La mejor musica de la pantalla|work=La Voz de Asturias|date=March 14, 2000|access-date=December 29, 2021|page=75|quote=En España ha vendido 35.000 copias en dos semanas a pesar de que la cinta aún no se ha estrenado|language=es|via=Biblioteca Nacional de España|url-access=subscription|archive-date=December 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211230044236/http://hemerotecadigital.bne.es/details.vm?o=&w=Madonna+copias+vendidas&f=text&t=%2Bcreation&l=600&l=700&view=&lang=en&s=129|url-status=live}}}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|type=single|award=Platinum|artist=Madonna|title=American Pie|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|access-date=July 12, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Madonna|title=American Pie|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|access-date=July 12, 2016}}

{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Madonna|title=American Pie|relyear=2000|certyear=2000|id=472-2003-1|access-date=July 21, 2020|salesamount=400,000|salesref=}}

{{Certification Table Bottom}}

{{notelist}}

{{Portal|United States}}

• Vincent (Don McLean song)
• List of Australian chart achievements and milestones
• List of Romanian Top 100 number ones of the 2000s
• List of best-selling singles by year (Germany)

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite web|url=http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/908/what-is-don-mcleans-song-american-pie-all-about|title=What is Don McLean's song 'American Pie' all about?|access-date =June 8, 2009|last=Adams|first=Cecil|author-link=Cecil Adams|date=May 15, 1993|work=The Straight Dope|publisher=Chicago Reader, Inc. |ref=none}} An interpretation of the lyrics based on a supposed interview of McLean by DJ Casey Kasem. McLean later confirmed the Buddy Holly reference in a letter to Adams but denied ever speaking to Kasem.
• {{cite web|title=Bob Dearborn's Original Analysis of Don McLean's 1971 Classic 'American Pie'|url=http://user.pa.net/~ejjeff/pie.html|last=Roteman|first=Jeff|date=August 10, 2002 |ref=none}} This article correlates McLean's biography with the historic events in the song. McLean pointed to WCFL (Chicago, Illinois) radio disc jockey Bob Dearborn as the partial basis for most mainstream interpretations of "American Pie". Dearborn's analysis, mailed to listeners on request, bears the date January 7, 1972. Roteman's reprinting added photos but replaced the date January 7, 1972, by an audio link bearing the date February 28, 1972, the date Dearborn aired his interpretation on WCFL (http://user.pa.net/~ejjeff/bobpie.ram (Bob Dearborn's American Pie Analysis original broadcast February 28, 1972)).
• {{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimeline.com/wcfl-chicago-tribute/|title=The WCFL Radio Tribute Page|access-date=October 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181026182609/https://www.radiotimeline.com/wcfl-chicago-tribute/|archive-date=October 26, 2018|url-status=dead |ref=none}} Among the potpourri is a copy of the January 7, 1972, Bob Dearborn letter, plus an audio recording, in which he delineates his interpretation of "American Pie".
• {{cite web|url=http://understandingamericanpie.com|title=Understanding American Pie|last=Fann|first=Jim|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030906142212/http://www.understandingamericanpie.com/|archive-date=September 6, 2003 |ref=none}} Historically oriented interpretation of "American Pie". The interpretation was specifically noted on in an archived version of McLean's website page on "American Pie".[https://web.archive.org/web/20090212084822/http://www.don-mclean.com/articles/ archived version of McLean's website page on "American Pie"]. The material, dated November 2002, includes a recording of Dinah Shore singing "See The USA In Your Chevrolet" and a photograph of Mick Jagger in costume at the Altamont Free Concert with a Hells Angel member in the background.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060829200035/http://cfhf.net/lyrics/dinah.htm Full "See the US in Your Chevrolet" lyrics for Dinah Shore on "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" (1956–1961)]
• {{cite web|url=http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/american-pie|title=FAQ: The Annotated 'American Pie'|access-date=September 19, 2007|last=Kulawiec|first=Rich|date=August 26, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030419095516/http://www.faqs.org/faqs/music/american-pie/|archive-date=April 19, 2003|url-status=live |ref=none}} FAQ maintained by Rich Kulawiec, started in 1992 and essentially completed in 1997.
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20091023140553/http://library.thinkquest.org/18249/compose/apverse1.html "American Pie—A Rock Epic"] A multi-media presentation of Rich Kulawiec's The Annotated "American Pie".
• {{cite web|author=Levitt, Saul|url=http://www.missamericanpie.co.uk/interpret.html|title=Interpretation of American Pie – analysis, news, Don McLean, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Rock & Roll|website=Missamericanpie.co.uk|date=May 26, 1971|access-date=May 20, 2010|ref=none|archive-date=April 5, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110405094748/http://www.missamericanpie.co.uk/interpret.html|url-status=dead}}
• {{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/doyoubelieveinro0000unse|url-access=registration|title=Do You Believe in Rock and Roll?: Essays on Don McLean's "American Pie"|last1=Schuck|first1=Raymond I.|last2=Schuck|first2=Ray|publisher=McFarland & Company|date=2012|access-date=September 3, 2021|isbn=978-0-7864-7105-8}}

• [http://www.don-mclean.com The Official Website of Don McLean and American Pie] provides [https://web.archive.org/web/20060216154935/http://www.don-mclean.com/aboutdon.asp the songwriter's own biography], [https://web.archive.org/web/20141129095635/http://www.don-mclean.com/viewsong.asp?id=89 lyrics] and [https://web.archive.org/web/20061222185354/http://www.don-mclean.com/americanpie.asp clues] to the song's meaning.
• {{YouTube|RgXkQUCCXtI|Don McLean - American Pie (Part 1)}}

{{Don McLean|state=collapsed}}

{{Madonna songs|state=collapsed}}

{{Authority control}}

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