I met a girl who sang the blues, And I asked her for some happy news; But she just smiled and turned away.

232

So when people ask me what American Pie means, I tell them it means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to.

182

American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That's why that song has found the niche that it has.

174

In a sense, 'American Pie' was a very despairing song but it can also be seen as very hopeful.

157

'American Pie' was part of my process of self-awakening; a mystical trip into my past.

136

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.

102

The Day the Music Died.

99

The process got abused, ... So what do you do about it? Do you become cynical and turn your back on it, or do you do something about it?

95

You've already decided the process.

92