American Pie

"American Pie" by Don McLean is the last song played at every dance at every CTY site (the singular exception being the last dance at Skidmore Session 1), making it almost universally part of the High Holy Canon. This tradition even extends to Baby CTY and CAA, which normally do not observe the same traditions as CTY sites. The tradition of "American Pie" has spread to TIP (a gifted youth program run by Duke University), the Summer Institute for the Gifted (or SIG, another gifted youth program), and CTYI (The Irish Centre for Talented Youth).

Although it is generally accepted that "American Pie" was played at the first session of CTY, there is some dispute as to exactly what this statement means; some say that this refers to St. Mary's in 1980/1981, but this may also refer to the first session of CTY at Lancaster in 1982. Regardless, the tradition was started by American Pie-loving staff members, and the students enjoyed it and carried it to successive sites and sessions. It has been the last song of dances at all sessions for a good amount of time. However, at Carlisle, "Stairway to Heaven" was played after "American Pie" until '91-'92, when the staff could not locate a copy of "American Pie" and had to play "Stairway" first to stall. This led to protesting, but was eventually accepted as a superior arrangement.

Released on the eponymous album in 1972, "American Pie" topped the charts for many a week and was nominated for many Grammies. The song was voted "5th Most Memorable Song of the 20th Century" in a survey taken several years ago. Don McLean has said that he wrote the song in order to sum up what rock and roll was like up to that time and how it influenced the lives of the people around it. The nature of the lyrics is rather cryptic and Don McLean has not officially stated what he meant by them; rather, he encourages people to give them meaning.

It is the longest song in the Canon at 8 minutes 34 seconds, followed by Stairway to Heaven at 8 minutes.

The song is not affiliated with the movie of the same name in any way.

There are many interpretations of what American Pie means (and as of 2022, a documentary on the song itself).

In 2002, Don McLean sent the following letter to CTY:

"I am pleased to be a part of your lives and I hope my song will not just be nostalgia, but a reminder to hold onto creativity and truth as you grow older and become less flexible.

All the best
Don McLean"

Lyrics

A long, long time ago,
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance,
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver,
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep,
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

Chorus:
So bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die,
This will be the day that I die

Did you write the Book of Love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Now, do you believe in rock 'n' roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes,
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues!
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died

I started singing...

Chorus

Now for ten years we've been on our own,
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone,
But that's not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the King was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned,
No verdict was returned.
And while Lennon/Lenin read a book on Marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark,
The day the music died.

We were singing...

Chorus

Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now, the halftime air was sweet perfume
While The Sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance
'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singing...

Chorus

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singing...

Chorus

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news...
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken
And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died

And they were singing...

Chorus

They were singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singing this will be the day that I die.

Tradition

Lancaster

Student Participation

• The whole camp links arms in a giant circle during the first and last verses; they sway and kick alternate feet. "Right foot first!" (This used to be "Left foot first, right!").
• Two circles are formed for the first and last verses, an inner circle composed of nomores, nevermores, and staff members, and an outer circle with the rest of the student population.
• For the other verses, everyone runs into the center and surrounds the inner circle, singing the lyrics.
• Clap hands twice and then once on the offbeats of the pre-choruses starting with a double clap after the "Day".
• Wave hands back and forth during the chorus.
• After each line of "This will be the day that I die," everyone chants "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!" while shaking fists (right for each "die," left for each "live," both for each "sex," and pelvic thrust with fist pumps for each "more.") Old, old ctyers, such as Pommersheim, the highly famous Number Theory teacher, report that this chant evolved by linear addition - first just "Die" (x4), and then "Live," "Sex," "More," and "Orgy" added, in order, with a few years in between each time.
• A shout of "Orgy!" often follows the final "more." The RAs usually respond with a shout of "No Orgies," to which students may respond "Yes Orgies!" as of 18.2.
  • In 19.1, administration tried to change it to "Corgi!" (even going so far as to purchase inflatable corgi balloons that did not end up being used during any dances) but students had a mixed response to this, some shouting "Corgi" or "AAAAAA!!!", and some sticking to the original "Orgy!". By the last dance, though, almost everyone had reverted to "Orgy!"

A long, long time ago,
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance,
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while
But February made me shiver,
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep,
I couldn't take one more step
I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

• Shout "Right foot first"!

Chorus

Did you write the Book of Love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Now, do you believe in rock 'n' roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

• people dance slowly in the center.

Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes,

• Pretend to kick off your shoes by kicking at air two or more times. Do not actually kick off your shoes, of course, as footwear must be worn at all times.

Man, I dig those rhythm and blues!
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck

• During “pink carnation”, pretend to place a flower on your breast pocket.
• During “pickup truck”, pretend to drive a car by turning an imaginary steering wheel.
• Note: In Lancaster 15.2, this was changed to The Whip in reference to the Rocky choreography.

But I knew that I was out of luck
The day the music died

I started singing...

Chorus

Now for ten years we've been on our own,
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone,

• Bend down while rolling your arms around each other, like a stone that is rolling.

But that's not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the King and Queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean

• The Jester, King, and Queen step into the circle and act out their roles. The King wears any kind of hat as a substitute for real crown. Someone may help the Jester don their coat (the Jester's "James Dean").

And a voice that came from you and me
Oh, and while the King was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned,
No verdict was returned.

• Yell out the lyrics "No verdict was returned".

And while Lennon/Lenin read a book on Marx,

• After singing, "And while Lennon/Lenin read a book on Marx," yell "Which one?"

The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark,
The day the music died.

We were singing...

Chorus

Helter Skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast

• Use your hands to imitate a bird flying upwards and falling.

It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass

• Pretend to throw a football.

With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

• The Jester hops around as if in a cast.

Now, the halftime air was sweet perfume

• While accenting "sweet" (swEEEt) and reach into the air and spread your hands apart.

While The Sergeants played a marching tune

• Pretend to play a marching band instrument (often the trombone).

We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance

• Accent "oh" (OHH).

'Cause the players tried to take the field

• Run in place. (As of either 15.1 or 16.1, a group of RA's will rush into the center of the circle)

The marching band refused to yield

• group of students run into the center to meet RA's
• Yell the lyrics "refused to yield".

Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singing...

Chorus

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space

• Wave hands into space and spin or point skyward (recently, students have shaken their fists) while yelling "lost in space."

With no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick

• 1st session Jack Flash and Fire act out the actions with glowsticks"
• 2nd session When singing about Jack Flash, and (usually) the fiend Satan act out the actions with a glow stick.

'Cause fire is the devil's only friend

• When singing about the devil and the and his only friend, fire:
  • Session 1: a person wearing red for the fire and "Satan" act in an amiable manner. Recently, the person acting out Satan has picked fire up and spun them around.
  • Session 2: Satan caresses/deep throats a glowstick.

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage

• Shout out "fists of rage" while shaking fists in the air.

No angel born in Hell

• Raise your index finger and yell, "Not even one!" after the word Hell.

Could break that Satan's spell
And as the flames climbed high into the night

• Session 1: During this line the fire is carried piggyback (or lifted), or the motion is simply acted out by Satan as everyone else follows along.

To light the sacrificial rite

• 1st session fire mimes cross on satan"
• 2nd session satan mimes cross on sacrificial right"

I saw Satan laughing with delight

• Satan supplies maniacal laughter.

The day the music died.

He was singing...

Chorus

I met a girl who sang the blues

• A girl goes into the circle and calls out shades of blue (e.g. royal, navy, periwinkle), although this has become an obsolete callback (brought back by 16.1, will have to wait to see if it stays)

And I asked her for some happy news...
But she just smiled and turned away

• Many smile dejectedly here and turn away, quickly returning to the large circle.

I went down to the sacred store

• After the word store, yell "Turkey Hill!"

Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play
And in the streets the children screamed

• After the word screamed, scream like children.

The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed

• After the word dreamed, shout "Inception!"
• Or "Heidi Wong!" after a forevermore from Easton/Princeton who has a published book of poetry centered around CTY

But not a word was spoken

• After the word spoken, whisper "shhhhh" or yell "NOT A WORD!"

The church bells all were broken

• After the word broken say "Clang!"

And the three men I admire most

• After the word most, shout one of the following:'
  • the names of the current Trinity (Session 1)

The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost

• After the word Ghost, shout "Casper!"

They caught the last train for the coast

• After the word coast, shout "LA sucks!" This is followed by the reply, "So does New Jersey!" Many yell both.

The day the music died And they were singing...

Chorus

They were singin'

• For the final Chorus the whole circle rushes into its center and sings the song.

Chorus

• At the end of the dance and of American Pie, the staff shouts "Go home! Nobody loves you!" to which the students respond "We love you!" and scurry to the Afterdance. At First Session, this callback occurs after the Afterdance. Instead, the students shout "Come to the Afterdance!"

Artifacts

• The Jester's Garments: These were introduced long ago and are shared between sessions. However, this often results in the Session 2 recipient's delayed return of the Jester garments to the Session 1 Jester. The hat is a regular Jester's hat, originally belonging to Ken Levin; the coat is Ken's colorful plaid jacket.

• The Thorny Crown: During Session 2, the Thorny Crown, worn by the King, can be any hat that the Jester can steal. It has often been the Duct Tape Hat. During Session 1, in 2007 and 2008, a wreath made of grape stems and duct tape was used. However, Session 1 has since returned to using a hat. A crown was imagined for 13.1. For 15.1, a duct tape crown was created. Since around 18.1, the Jester’s hat has been used.

• Glowsticks: These are used for the verse which starts out "Oh, and then we were all in one place." They are ordinary glowsticks, generally borrowed from a nearby raver. They are used to

represent candles for Jack Flash and for the sacrificial rite; at Session 2, they are also used by Satan to represent fire. Second Session's Satan often inserts the glowstick into a variety of his/her orifices.

• The Cloak: A long black cloak worn by Satan. Previously, Satan and the Cloak were separate positions but have since merged into one

Roles

• The King and Queen: Two people are chosen during session to represent the King and Queen mentioned in the third verse. The King looks down (note: in 08.1, the King looked down the Queen's shirt and in 10.1, the King leaned the Queen over and kissed her at the last dance) and has his crown stolen.

• The Jester: A position passed down from generation to generation, the Jester is a nomore and bears the artifacts mentioned above. The Jester is the only character who has parts in multiple verses; in the third, the Jester entertains the King and Queen and then steals the Thorny Crown, and in the fourth, s/he displays that s/he has a broken bone (generally in the leg).

• The Players: The players try to take the field by running across the circle.

• Jack Flash: Jack Flash is a reference to "Jumpin' Jack Flash," a song by The Rolling Stones, and it is mentioned in the song. The designated Jack Flash sits on a glowstick during the fifth verse. In 08.1, Jack Flash was established as a First Session position belonging to the head nomore glowsticker; this person also plays the role during American Pie.

• Fire: A position unique to Session 1, usually decided during session. Fire acts as the devil's only friend in the proper verse of the song. Fire is also lifted up in the line "And the flames climbed high into the night." Fire usually wears red to the dances, or some attire to indicate fire; however, this is not required.

• The Sacrificial Rite: Someone is selected to this position during session and lies down in the circle during the proper verse. Meanwhile, the rest of the participants light them with imaginary torches, while Satan uses a glowstick.

• Satan: The position of Satan during American Pie has, at some time during both sessions' histories, been passed down as a position; at other times, it is a role in American Pie only and is decided during session. Satan has several roles, but they are different depending on the session:
  • During First Session, Satan must be friends with Fire.
  • During Second Session, Satan lights the sacrificial rite with a glowstick, holds the candlestick for Jack Flash, and inserts a glowstick into some orifice as the flames climb high into the night.
  • During both sessions, Satan laughs manically when "Satan laughing with delight" is sung.

• Girl and Asker: The girl steps into the middle and shouts shades of blue. The Asker asks if she has any news, and she turns away. These roles have fallen out of use.

Carlisle

• The whole camp links arms in a giant circle while swaying and kicking alternate feet during the first and last verses. The Dean of Residential Life yells out which foot to start with. Then the Dean's name is repeated along with the foot. ("Right Foot!" "Jack says Right Foot!")
• Nevermores and nomores form a circle in the center. After the dance, the nevermores & nomores chant where and when Passionfruit will be (although other CTYers chant along).
  • For the first two Passionfruits: "Passionfruit! Seven o' clock! Upper Quad! Bring a drink!" (for the last Passionfruit, "Six o' clock!" is substituted)
  • Or, after the last Passionfruit of 10.2, when DRL Megan decided she didn't want to wake up at 6: "Passionfruit! Half past six! Upper Quad! Bring a drink!"
  • 6:30 has been the regular time of the last Passionfruit since then
• At "You both kicked off your shoes", kick off your shoes (or pretend to).
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses starting after "The Day..."
• Wave hands in the air during the chorus.
  • The proper form is both hands side-to-side, like the RAs do, instead of the more popular (but untraditional) fist pumps.
• After the line, "This will be the day that I die," everyone jumps up and down, shakes their fists, and chants "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!" These are called "callbacks."
  • Yelling "Orgy!" has been strictly forbidden since 2006 to differentiate from the Lancastrians who remained devoted to the tradition.
  • This ban is largely supported by the students, who will yell "Go back to Lancaster!" at the "Orgy"-yellers
• At the line "Oh and while the king was looking down," the Rave King looks down, and then at "The jester stole his thorny crown" the Court Jester takes the Rave King's crown and throws it in the air (session 2)
• At the line "Eight miles high and falling fast", raise up your arms, letting them fall and then raising them back up at the end of the line.
• At "The players tried for a forward pass" gesture a forward pass with your right arm.
• Say "sweet perfume" sweetly.
• March to "a marching tune".
• Shake fists and yell each of the lines: "fists of rage," "refused to yield," and "lost in space."
• Yell "not even one!" after "no angel born in hell".
• At "Cause fire is the devil's only friend," the Rave King spins an LED poi on a shortened string and raises it in the air (session 2)
• Raise arms up at "Flames climbed high into the night" (session 2 Rave King also raises a spinning poi in the air at these lines)
• Scream after the line "And in the streets, the children screamed."
• After the line "The church bells all were broken," yell "Ding-Dong!"
  • However, Bret will mock you behind your back for doing so because broken bells don't ring.
  • As Brett is no longer Site Director (as of 10.2), RAs instead yell "They're broken!" after "Ding-Dong!"
• After the line "The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost," yell "Casper!"
• After the line "They caught the last train for the coast," yell "East Coast"; people from the west coast yell "West Coast".

Saratoga Springs

• The first verse and last verse are sung in a giant circle.
• Everyone runs into a the center in between the first verse and chorus
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• Shout "fists of rage" and pump fists.
• Yell "Left foot first!" before kicking ("Right foot first" for Session 2)
• After each line of "This will be the day that I die," chant "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!"
• People who yell "Orgy" after the call backs often meet with a reply of "Fu-- that Lancaster sh--" or some other expletive in general opposition to the tradition.
• Yell along "in the gym!" during the line "'cause I saw you dancin' in the gym"
• During "a generation lost in space", yell along "lost in space!
• During the line "You both kicked off your shoes," kick off your shoes (As of 16.2 kick your feet as IF kicking off shoes).
• Scream after the line "And in the streets, the children screamed."
• After the line "The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost," yell "and Jon Good!"
• Nevermores form a separate circle for the last dance.

Don McLean wrote and first performed the song "American Pie" in the Cafe Lena in the city of Saratoga Springs.

As much as Saratoga wishes American Pie was written there, sadly that is not the case. American Pie, according to Don McLean, was written in Philadelphia and was first performed at Temple University.

According to this interview with Saratoga's Post-Star Newspaper

Baltimore

Circling up

• Everyone links hands in a circle and kicks alternate feet during first and last verses.
• RAs will always make a circle of their own in the center. At the dance on Last Thursday, nomores and nevermores form a circle around them.
• Run towards the center at the end of the first verse and second-to-last verse.
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• Jump during the chorus with at least one fist in the air
• After the line "This will be the day that I die," chant "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more! ORGY!"
• Shout the phrase "refused to yield" while pumping fists into the air.
• Shout the phrase "fists of rage" while pumping fists into the air.
• Shout the phrase "lost in space" while pumping fists into the air
• Scream during the line "The children screamed"
• Scream either "West coast!" or "East coast!" after the line, "They caught the last train for the coast" depending on which coast you come from / are the closest to geographically
• Mime pretty much everything (this can get exhausting)
• Try not to run into the RAs frantically escaping the mosh pit

Loudonville (Siena)

• The whole camp links arms in a giant circle while swaying and kicking alternate feet during the first and last verses.
• The Dean of Residential Life decides the great existential quandary of the times: left or right foot first?
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• Wave hands in the air during the chorus.
• Do NOT chant "Die, die, die, die..." after "This will be the day that I die." This tradition is omitted because a CTYer committed suicide during a dance, and chanting "Die, die, die, die" is considered disrespectful. Flying squirrels from other sites, however, often do not acknowledge this unique tradition.
• During the line "You both kicked off your shoes," take off your shoes.
• Shake fists and yell the the line "fists of rage."
• Scream after the line "And in the streets, the children screamed."
• After the line "The church bells all were broken," cry a broken "Ding-dong!"

Los Angeles (LMU)

• Everyone puts their arms around each other, forming a huge circle of CTYers around the dance floor, sways, and kicks alternate feet during first and last verses. People often sing along.
  • Most people kick their right feet first, or at least try to. "Right foot first!” is usually called out.
• Run towards the center at the end of the first verse and second-to-last verses.
• Jump and sing along loudly during the choruses.
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• After the line "This will be the day that I die," chant "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!"
• This is followed by a loud shout of "Orgy!"
• In 08.1, a few students (mostly flying squirrels or PCTYDers) began importing some of the Lancaster callbacks, including:
  • Responding "Not even one!" after "No angel born in hell..."
  • Screaming after "And in the streets the children screamed"
  • After "The church bells all were broken" shouting "CLANG!"
  • Responding "CASPER!" after "three men I admire...Holy ghost" This was later replaced.
• In 09, many things were changed.
  • After the line "And the three men I admired most, the father son, and the holy ghost," Jallegra chanted, "AND JASON BORING!" This chant stuck and was in use until after 13.2
  • On the line, "Satan laughing with delight," Catherine Li laughed evilly. [session two] As of 2013.2, RA Taylor dons the hood of his famous robes and cackles at this line.
  • Margot Solmssen [onemore], stole a hat off of Davey Krucik [nevermore]'s head on the line, "Jester stole his thorny crown." People are still known to steal hats on this line.
  • People screamed after the line, "Children screamed."
• At the last dance, on the last verse, nevermores and nomores make their own circle in the center within the larger group of CTYers.
• Shout the lines "Refused to yield" and "Fists of rage" as loud as possible while pumping fists into the air.
• On the line, "The flames climbed high into the night," raise arms into the air, mimicking fire.
• At second session, the members of the Holy Trinity step forward and bow/curtsey/wave when their respective titles are named in the last verse.
• Except for nevermores and nomores (sometimes including RAs who are not returning) at the last dance, there should be no one inside the circle at the beginning and end of the song.
• At the end of the song, the RAs shout, "Go home! Nobody loves you!" Student responses are varied. [They include, "WE LOVE YOU, and etc.] Recently, the RAs have taken to shouting only "Go home!" and the students respond, "Nobody loves you!" In 15.2, several students were the ones to shout "Go home! Nobody loves you!"
• RA's had their own circle in the inside for all the dances in 17.2 and some were confused my the presence of nomores and nevermores in the inside circle at the last dance.

Hawaii

• Hold hands in circle and kick alternate feet in first and last verses and the first chorus.
• Run towards the center at end of first chorus.
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• After the line "This will be the day that I die," chant "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!"
• Jump during the chorus.
• At the last dance, the nevermores form a separate circle in the center of the main circle; it becomes the center of the dance when everybody runs in.
• Shout the line "Fists of rage," while pumping fists into the air.
• Scream after the line "And in the streets the children screamed."

Easton

• Everyone forms a single circle, and sways alternating sides during the opening verse.
• Just before the first chorus, returners yell, "RIGHT FOOT FIRST!" and everyone kicks alternating feet.
• Run towards the center at the end of the first chorus through the last chorus, jumping during the choruses
• Clap hands twice and then once on the offbeats of the pre-choruses starting with a double clap after the "Day".
• After the line "This will be the day that I die," chant "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!" followed by "ORGY!" RAs yell back, "NO ORGIES!"
  • Pump fists along with the chant, starting with the right on "DIE!"
• On the last verse, nomores, nevermores, and non-returning staff form a seperate circle in the center
• Shout the lines "Fists of rage," and "Jack be quick!" and "Lost in Space!" while pumping fists into the air.
• In 16.2, RA Dan convinced a few students to shout some of other site's traditions, such has "Casper!" after "The father, son and the holy ghost,"

Note: beware; injuries have occurred during this song.

Bristol

• Run towards the center at the end of the first verse and second-to-last verses.
• jump during the chorus.
• Shout "fists of rage" while fist pumping
• After the line "This will be the day that I die," chant "Die, die, die, die! Live, live, live, live! Sex, sex, sex, sex! More, more, more, more!"
• Couples dance in the center of the circle.
• Hold hands during the slow parts.

CTYI (Ireland)

• Everyone puts their arms around each other's shoulders, forming a large circle running the whole way around the canteen. The Nevermores form a separate, smaller circle in the middle. There is never quite enough room for this circle, leaving many participants (keeping in mind that everyone participates) a little squashed, and the circle deeply misshapen.
• Apart from during the intro and outro, students kick their legs in time with the music.
• When the music speeds up at "Did you write the Book of Love?..", the kicking speeds up and the circles sway from side to side more enthusiastically.
• During the chorus, when the song goes, "This'll be the day that I die...", everybody jumps in time and shouts/chants "DIE, DIE, DIE, DIE, LIVE, LIVE, LIVE, LIVE, SEX, SEX, SEX, SEX, MORE, MORE, MORE, MORE!" Some students add an extra "orgy!" onto the end of this chant. If there is a Psychology class that year, the Psych class substitutes "PSYCH PSYCH PSYCH PSYCH" for "SEX."
• At the line "You both Kicked off your shoes", everybody kicks off their shoes as high as they can manage. This is a particularly dangerous time to be in the Nevermore circle as one has to risk a barrage of flying shoes.
• At the line "My hands were clenched in fists of rage," students shout along with "FISTS OF RAGE" and shake their fists in the air.
• Everybody screams when the song goes, "And in the streets, the children screamed"
• * A recent addition: When the Holy Ghost is mentioned, students point to a "Ghost" (a student who was previously a Nevermore but got invited back for another year) and scream "Arghh! A ghost!" Previously, the callback here was to replace Holy Ghost with "Fergal Close," the long-running site director, until his retirement in 2003.
• At the end of the song, the lights are switched on and mass crying ensues. The Nevermores cluster together and cry, while the rest of the students try to find their lost shoes from the floor and wipe away the tears. RAs give speeches and try to move everybody down to the Quad for the Candle-light Ceremony.

Hong Kong

Since the Hong Kong site is relatively new, most or even all of the traditions are brought over from the US sites by returning students and RAs from other sites. As a result, much like Hong Kong itself, the HKU site has become a mixing pot for traditions and cultures from all around the world.

Haverford

• (Song Starts): The students form a large circle on the outside of the room, and staff/admins make a smaller circle in the center
• (First Chorus): A staff member yells "RIGHT FOOT FIRST," and staff and students kick out starting with that foot through the chorus
• (End of First Chorus): The circle collapses and students flood into the center area
• At the end of each verse on "the day the music died," start clapping two claps, a pause, 1 clap
• (Second Verse): Shout during the lines "REFUSE TO YIELD!"
• (Fourth Verse): Shout during "FISTS OF RAGE!"
• (Fifth Verse): During "I met a girl who sang the blues," students form a larger circle, and RAs form a smaller circle inside of it
• Scream after "the children screamed"
• After "the church bells were all broken," yell "DING-DONG" or yell "BROKEN BELLS DON'T RING" back to them
• On "the day the music died," do the same kicks as the first verse. Another chorus comes next, students rush into the center for it, and the song ends with the lights on.

External Links

• The Annotated "American Pie" - explains the song and all its references
• Wikipedia article on "American Pie"