A long, long time ago
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew that if I had my chance
I could make those people dance
And maybe they`d be happy for a while

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
And 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 [both kicked off your shoes]
Man, I dig those rhythm `n 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 singin`

Chorus:

Bye bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And good ol` boys were drinkin` whiskey and rye
Singin`, "This will be the day that I die,
This will be the day that I die."

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

Well now in the streets the children screamed [the children screamed]
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed [the poets dreamed]
But not a word was spoken [not a word was spoken]
The church bells all were broken

And the three men I admire the most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died
We start singin`

(chorus, repeat)

We started singin`
(repeat 3 times)