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. More recently, "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.

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 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!").
• Small circles are formed in which groups act out certain parts in the song. There are usually two circles, one composed of (mostly instructional) staff members and the other of the Alcove.
• For the other verses, everyone runs into the center jumping up and down, often 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.")
• A shout of "Orgy!" often follows the final "more." The RAs usually respond with a shout of "No Orgies!"

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?

• Two people dance slowly in the center as others mimic.

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

• Pretend to stick a flower in your mouth (use glow sticks or real flowers as available), or pretend to stick a pink carnation on your chest.
• Pretend to drive a car by turning an imaginary steering wheel.

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 read a book on Marx,

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

The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark,

• Yell out the lyrics "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.

The marching band refused to yield

• 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 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

• When singing about Jack Flash, a "Jack" and (usually) 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 fire has carried Satan.
  • 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.
  • Jeff Sachs would yell "Frank" after this line, in reference to Frank Wang.

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

• One person designated as the "sacrificial rite" lies down and is "lit" by everyone, or just Satan, with glowsticks if available.

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
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

• It has been suggested that the name of distasteful staff members be shouted during the pause after "But the man there."

And in the streets the children screamed

• After the word screamed, scream like children.

The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
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:
  • "Crosby, Stills, and Nash"
  • "Larry, Moe, and Curly"
  • "Pomm, Timmer,and Adam Roush"
  • 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 it's 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.

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.

• 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.

Positions

• 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: A now-defunct position, the players would try to take the field and 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.

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!" "Lesa says Right Foot!")
• Nomores form a circle in the center. After the dance, the nomores chant where and when Passionfruit will be.
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• Wave hands in the air during the chorus.
• 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.
• Shake fists and yell each of the lines: "fists of rage," "refused to yield," and "lost in space."
• Say "sweet perfume" sweetly.
• Scream after the line "And in the streets, the children screamed."
• After the line "They caught the last train for the coast," yell "East Coast"; people from the west coast yell "West Coast."
• After the line "The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost," yell "Casper!"
• After the line "The church bells all were broken," you may yell "ding-dong." However, Bret will mock you behind your back for doing so because broken bells don't ring.

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!"

Saratoga Springs

• The first verse and last verse are sung in a giant circle.
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses.
• Shout "fists of rage" and pump fists.
• Kick with the left foot first.
• 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.
• During the line "You both kicked off your shoes," kick off your 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.

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.
• 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!"
• In recent years, this has been followed by a 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"
  • These continued in 09.1, with more students participating than the previous year.
• In 09, many things were changed, and may be continued.
  • After the line "And the three men I admired most, the father son, and the holy ghost," Jallegra chanted, "AND JASON BORING!" After that, many people joined in. Only god knows whether this will last.
  • On the line, "Satan laughing with delight," Catherine Li laughed evilly. This may be continued. [session two]
  • Margot Solmssen [onemore], stole a hat off of Davey Krucik [nevermore]'s head on the line, "Jester stole his thorny crown." If another hat can be found by 10.2, then this will be continued.
  • People screamed after the line, "Children screamed."
• At the last dance, on the last verse, nevermores make their own circle in the center within the larger group of CTYers.
• Shout the line "Fists of rage," while pumping fists into the air.
• On the line, "The flames climbed high into the night," raise arms into the air, mimicking fire.
• Except for nevermores 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!"

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 the Last Thursday, nevermores also 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.
• 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!"
• In recent years, this has been followed by a shout of "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.

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 links hands and kicks alternate feet during first and last verses. ("Right foot first!")
• Run towards the center at the end of the first verse and second-to-last verses and jump during the chorus.
• Clap hands once and then twice on the offbeats of the pre-choruses and post-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!"
• At the last dance, on the last verse, nevermores make their own circle in the center.
• Shout the line "Fists of rage," while pumping fists into the air.

Bristol

• Run towards the center at the end of the first verse and second-to-last verses.
• jump during the chorus.
• 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)

American Pie is among the most popular traditions at Ireland's CTYI in Dublin. It is played at every disco and was even played twice once, when the director extended the disco by a half hour, much to the dismay of the Nevermores because the tradition had effectively been broken at their last disco.

• Everyone puts their arms around each other's shoulders, forming a large circle. There is never quite enough room for this circle, leaving many participants (keeping in mind that everyone participates) a little squashed, even when nevermores form their own circle in the middle.
• Apart from during the intro and outro, students kick their legs in time with the music.
• 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!"
• At the words "You both kicked off your shoes", shoes are kicked off, flying through the air. They are retrieved when the song ends and the lights turn on, the end of the song being the end of the disco.
• At the words "And in the streets the children screamed", students scream loudly.
• After the line, "The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost," some people yell "Aaahh! A ghost!" Previously, the callback here was to replace Holy Ghost with "Fergal Clost," the long-running site director. However, since 2003, when Fergal retired, this tradition has faded.
• At the last disco of the session (the last CTYI disco of any nevermores), the nevermores form a separate circle in the centre of the big circle.
• Less a tradition than an annual unstoppable happening, many CTYIzens find themselves crying as this song ends at the last disco.

External Links

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