American Pie

american pie by don mclean tabbed by : brian jenkins G 320033 D xx0232 D7 xx0121 Em 022000 Am x02210 Am7 x02010 1st Verse : G D Em a long , long time ago , Am C Em D i can still remember how that music used to make me smile G D Em and i know if i had my chance , Am C Em C D that i could make those people dance and maybe they’d be happy for a while Em Am Em Am but february made me shiver , with every paper i’d deliver C G Am C D bad news on the doorstep , i couldn’t take one more step G D Em Am7 D i can’t remember if i cried when i read about his widowed bride , G D Em something touched me deep inside , C D7 G the day the music died Chorus : G C G D so bye , bye miss american pie G C G D drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 singin’ this will be the day that i die , this will be the day that i die 2nd Verse : G Am did you write the book of love C Am Em D and do you have faith in god above , if the bible tells you so G D Em do you believe in rock and roll , Am7 C Em A7 D can music save your mortal soul and can you teach me how to dance real slow Em D Em D well i know that you’re in love with him ’cause i saw you dancin’ in the gym C A7 C D7 you both kicked off your shoes , man i dig those rhythm and blues G D Em Am C i was a lonely teenage broncin’ buck with a pink carnation and a pickup truck G D Em C D7 G C G but i knew i was out of luck the day the music died i started singin’ Chorus : G C G D so bye , bye miss american pie G C G D drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 singin’ this will be the day that i die , this will be the day that i die 3rd Verse : G Am now for ten years we’ve been on our own , C Am Em D and moss grows fat on a rolling stone but that’s not how it used to be G D Em when the jester sang for the king and queen Am7 C Em A7 D in a coat he borrowed from james dean in a voice that came from you and me Em D Em D and while the king was looking down , the jester stole his thorny crown C A7 C D7 the courtroom was adjourned , no verdict was returned G D Em Am C and while lenin read a book on marx , the quartet practiced in the park G D Em C D7 G C G and we sang dirges in the dark the day the music died we were singin’ Chorus : G C G D so bye , bye miss american pie G C G D drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 singin’ this will be the day that i die , this will be the day that i die 4th Verse : G Am helter skelter in a summer swelter , C Am Em D the birds flew off with a fallout shelter , eight miles high and fallin’ fast , G D Em it landed foul on the grass Am7 C Em A7 D the players tried for a forward pass , with the jester on the sidelines in a cast Em D Em D now at halftime there was sweet perfume , while sergeants played a marching tune C A7 C D7 we all got up to dance , but we never got the chance G D Em Am C ’cause the players tried to take the field , the marching band refused to yield G D Em C D7 G C G do you recall what was the feel the day the music died we started singin’ Chorus : G C G D so bye , bye miss american pie G C G D drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 singin’ this will be the day that i die , this will be the day that i die 5th Verse : G Am and there we were all in one place , C Am Em D a generation lost in space , with no time left to start again G D Em Am7 C so come on jack be nimble , jack be quick , jack flash sat on a candlestick , Em A7 D ’cause fire is the devil’s only friend Em D Em D and as i watched him on the stage , my hands were clenched in fists of rage C A7 C D7 no angel born in hell could bread that satan’s spell G D Em Am C and as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite G D Em C D7 G C G i saw satan laughing with delight the day the music died he was singin’ Chorus : G C G D so bye , bye miss american pie G C G D drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye Em A7 Em D7 singin’ this will be the day that i die , this will be the day that i die 6th Verse : G D Em i met a girl who sang the blues Am C Em D and i asked her for some happy news , but she just smiled and turned away G D Em i went down to the sacred store Am C Em C where i’d heard the music years before , but the man there said the music D wouldn’t play Em Am Em Am but in the streets the children screamed , the lovers cried and the poets dreamed C Am C D but not a word was spoken , the church bells all were broken G D Em Am7 C D7 and the three men i admire most , the father , son , and the holy ghost G D Em Am7 D7 G they caught the last train for the coast the day the music died , and they were singin’ Chorus/Outro : G C G D so bye , bye miss american pie G C G D drove my chevy to the levy but the levy was dry G C G D and them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye C D7 G singin’ this will be the day that i die