Don McLean - "American Pie": The Story Behind the Nostalgic Classic

The Story Behind The Song

Don McLean earned the title of America's Troubadour with his iconic 1971 hit song "American Pie." This eight-and-a-half-minute folk rock track is considered a cultural touchstone in the annals of Americana, tracking the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation through oft-debated reference-rich lyrics about "the day the music died."

On this episode of The Story Behind the Song, McLean joins host Peter Csathy to talk about how it took 10 years to write "American Pie," the song's legacy, and more. Then make sure to like, review, and subscribe to TSBTS wherever you get podcasts for updates on all our new episodes.

Also, check out Don McLean's holiday album Christmas Memories (Remixed and Remastered) here.

This month, we’re on a mission to spread the word about The Story Behind the Song. If you love our show as much as we like bringing it to you, we need you to hop over to Apple Podcasts, hit the follow button, and leave us a review. Not only is it a quick and easy way to show your support, but it’ll also give you the chance to win some exclusive Consequence merch. Then, head to this link and submit your info along with a screenshot of your review. We’ll be shouting out our winners in December, so make sure to follow and review soon. Thank you for all your support and for helping The Story Behind the Song grow!

You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on X/Twitter @pcsathy and Deep Cuts Media.

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