I got a tab of this song before either from this website or somewhere else but some of the chords
were wrong and the timing was off so I've fixed it as best as I could and I've tried to keep
the chords as simple as possible for those of you just learning to play.

NOTE: When this appears - +** - next to the chord then strum but pick the strings(If you listen to the song you'll know what I mean)
      Single strum for first and last verses.
      First and Second-last chorus played slowly
      + after the chord means a single strum

Chord Patterns are at the bottom!

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 VERSE 1:

   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+           Am+                  C+
And I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance
    Em+              C+           D+    D+**
and maybe they'd by 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+              C+     D7+    G+
Something touched me deep inside the day the music died.

 CHORUS:  (slowly)

    G   C          G       D            G            C
So bye-bye, Miss American Pie.Drove my Chevy to the levee but the
 G         D         G        C                  G          D
levee was dry, them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing
  Em+                      A7      Em                         D7
this'll be the day that I die,    This'll be the day that I die.

  VERSE 2:

G                 Am                  C                 Am
Did you write the book of love and do you have faith in God above?__
Em                       D             G      D       Em
  If the Bible tells you so__  Now do you believe in rock and roll?
     Am              C               Em                  A7           D7
Can music save your mortal soul? and   can you teach me how to dance_ real slow?
        Em+                Am+                    Em+            Am+
Well I know that you're in love with him 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym,
     C           G        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 pick-up truck.
    G      D     Em               C        D7     G   C  G
But I knew I was out of luck the day, the music died.
G           D7
I started singing....     (chorus) - normal speed

  VERSE 3:


        G                     Am              C                   Am
Now for ten years, we've been on our own and moss grows fat on a rolling stone,
Em                              D                   G     D            Em
  But that's not how it used to be.Cause when the jester sang for the King & Queen
      Am                C                    Em         A7               D7
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean and a voice that came from you and me
       Em+                 Am+              Em+              Am+
Oh and while the king was looking down the jester stole his thorny crown
     C          G     A7     C                D7
the court room was adjourned no verdict was returned.
           G      D     Em                Am               C
And while Lennon 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
G           D7
I started singin'      (chorus) - normal speed

  VERSE 4:

 G             Am                         C                     Am
Helter skelter in the summer swelter the birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Em                              D        G     D   Em
  Eight miles high and falling fast it landed foul on the grass
     Am                   C                   Em              A7            D7
The players tried for a forward pass with the jester on the sidelines in a cast
    Em+               Am+                      Em+                 Am+
The half time air was sweet perfume while the seargeants played a marching tune
    C      G      A7          C              D7
we all got up to dance but we  never got the chance.   'Cos
     G        D      Em                       Am              C
the players tried to take the field, but the marching band refused to yield
    G     D        Em                 C       D7    G      C  G
Do you recall what was revealed  the day the music died.
G         D7
I started singin'      (chorus) - normal speed

  VERSE 5:

   G                 Am,              C           Am
And there we were all in one place, A generation lost in space.
     Em                      D                   G      D       Em
With no time left, to start again. So come on, Jack be nimble, Jack be quick,
Am                   C                 Em          A7            D7
Jack flash sat on a candlestick. Cos' fire is the devil's only friend.
   Em+              Am+               Em+                    Am+
And as I watched him on the stage my hands were clenched in fists of rage.
    C     G       A7          C                 D7
no angel born in hell could break 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.
G          D7
we were singin'     (chorus) - normal speed

  VERSE 6:

G+       D+      Em+
I met a girl who sang the blues so
   Am+                C+            Em+                         D+**
I asked her for some happy news but she just smiled and turned away.
G+      D+         Em+                    Am+              C+
I went down to the sacred store.  Where I heard the music years before
        Em+                 C+             D+    D+**
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.
    Em+                 Am+                    Em+                  Am+
And in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed.
    C+     G+       Am+         C+                     D+
But not a word was spoken. The church bells all were broken.
         G+   D+     Em+               Am7+                D+
And the three men I admire most:  the father, Son and the Holy Ghost
 G+              D+        Em+                C+       D7+   G+
They caught the last train for the coast the day, the music died.
G             D7
And they were singin'   (chorus) - slowly

 CHORUS: (ending)

    G   C          G       D            G            C
So bye-bye, Miss American Pie.Drove my Chevy to the levee but the
 G         D         G        C                  G          D
levee was dry, them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing
  C            D7          G     C G
this'll be the day that I die.


My God that is a long song to tab - and I said I'm not a perfectionist - but it's worth doing it right with a song like this.

Feel free to comment! Thanks!

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Here are the Chords: (in no particular order)

G:   3 2 0 0 0 3
D:   x x 0 2 3 2
C:   x 3 2 0 0 1
Em:  0 2 2 0 0 0
Am:  0 0 2 2 1 0
Am7: 0 0 2 0 1 0
D7:  x x 0 2 1 2

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