長達8分47秒的〈美國派〉是美國70年代的流行歌經典，雖然瑪丹那曾翻唱為舞曲，不過整首歌卻被刪減剩半，氛圍與敘事氣勢減弱了許多。

唐‧麥克林（Don McLean）在回憶起他的偶像巴帝‧荷利（Buddy Holly）以及歌壇新秀「大爵士家（The Big Bopper）」理查森（J. R. Richardson）和理奇‧維蘭斯（Ritchie Valens）在1959年2月3日因飛機失事罹難於北達科他州而抒發成這首自傳式的歌曲。這首類似追悼60年代音樂的抒情歌則在1972年奪下排行榜冠軍。整首歌雖然可追尋到60年代的美國流行音樂趨勢，但是也有人認為歌中廣泛地指涉60年代美國生活、政治到國際情勢的不安，說是史詩作品也不為過。但也因為麥克林的音樂風格深受60年代音樂的影響，這首歌更可以說是麥克林的音樂成長的心路歷程。

〈美國派〉的「都會傳說（urban legend）」曾讓麥克林拒絕演唱此曲：傳言說「美國派」一詞的來源是因為那三位歌手所乘坐的飛機就叫做「美國派」，因此麥克林才寫出這首歌。而麥克林已在1999年公開否認這樣的說法，他解釋因為當初在後台的無心閒談被大肆利用，讓這首歌變成一種沉重的負擔，他必須以拒唱來澄清這樣的傳言。麥克林也心懷感激地表示，他這些年來帶著自己的歌巡迴演唱，而今反倒是這些歌曲帶著他巡迴各地；他願意為了歌迷們再次演唱這首歌。

不論這首歌內容中的真正意涵為何，甚至出現怎麼樣的情勢巧合，多年之後都還是讓人津津樂道。麥克林在2000年時也談到，人們或多或少都可以從這首自傳式的歌曲中拾得一些自己的回憶，其中不乏他自己的天馬行空、半夢半醒，而世事就是如此，有些事情事後回想起來卻有那麼點合理的解釋，無論如何他仍以這首歌為傲。

而被稱為「吉他詩人」的麥克林將於今年（2008）五月來台，在台大體育館舉辦「不朽傳奇」演唱會，分享他以吉他寫詩的熱情與歌曲意境的真誠。

〈美國派〉這首歌詞涵義或許會讓不熟悉美國音樂歷史的人覺得無法融入歌曲情境，或許透過網站《安德森之夢》音樂倉庫中的解說，可以尋找出一些美國音樂發展的痕跡。

麥克林的著名歌曲還包括〈文生（Vincent）（某信用卡廣告的背景歌曲）、〈空椅（Empty Chairs）〉及〈而我是如此愛你（And I Love You So）〉等。

美國派
詞：唐‧麥克林
曲：唐‧麥克林
專輯：《美國派》
年份：1969/1972

「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
而好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
而好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

很久、很久以前……
我依舊能憶起
那音樂曾那麼地讓我會心微笑
而我知道如果我有自己的機會
我能讓那些人跳起舞來
那麼，也許，他們就會快樂上一陣子

但是二月讓我顫寒
隨著我送的每份報紙。
壞消息在那門階上；
我無法再走一步。

我無法憶起我是否掉淚
當我看到他新寡妻子的新聞，
然而有什麼觸動到我內心深處
在那音樂已逝的那個日子

那麼別了別了，美國派小姐。
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
而好老弟他們曾喝著喝威士忌和黑麥汁
唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

你寫過愛之書，
而且你信仰天上的神，
如果聖經告訴你要這樣？
你深信搖滾樂，
音樂能夠解救你會死的靈魂，
而且你能教我怎麼放慢地跳舞嗎？

很好，我知道你和他陷入愛河
因為我看到了你們在那體育館裡跳著舞。
你們兩都踢掉了你們的鞋子。
老兄，我深陷於那些節奏和藍調中。

我曾是個孤單的年輕人放浪不羈地
別著朵粉色康乃馨也有輛小貨車，
但是我已知我好運用盡
在那音樂已逝的那個日子。

我開始唱著，
「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

至今十年來我們一直靠我們自己
而苔蘚長得厚綠在某個滾動的石頭上，
但是那不是它曾有的樣子。
當那弄臣為那歌王和歌后獻唱，
穿著一件他向詹姆斯‧狄恩借的大衣
和來自你我的聲音，

喔，而當那國王正俯看之時，
那弄臣偷了他的荊冠。
那法庭休了庭；
沒有判決被宣告。
而當藍儂讀了某本馬克思的書，
那四重唱在公園表了演，
而我們在黑暗中唱了悲歌
在那音樂已逝的那個日子。

我們曾唱著，
「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
而唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

在某個夏日悶熱中逃竄。
那鳥群曾隨著某個原子塵避難罩飛離，
八英哩高而快速落地。
它在那草地上違法地著地。
那球員們試著傳球前進，
靠著那個在邊線班底中的弄臣。

現在那中場休息的空氣中曾是誘人的香味
當陸軍中士們演奏了一首進行曲。
我們全都起身準備跳舞，
喔，但是我們未曾有那機會！
因為那球員們試著去佔據那場地；
那軍樂隊拒絕退讓。
你想得起什麼被揭示了
在那音樂已逝的那個日子？

我們曾開始唱著，
「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
而唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

喔，而我們全都在那裡群聚一方，
一個世代迷失在時空裡
而沒有時間被留下去重新開始。
所以來吧：傑克機靈點，傑克快一點！
傑克閃亮座落在一個燭臺上
因為火是那惡魔的唯一朋友。

喔，而當我看了在舞台上的他
我的雙手在憤怒的拳頭裡被緊握。
沒有在地獄裡誕生的天使
能夠破除撒旦的詛咒。
而當那些火焰攀高入那夜空
去照亮那獻祭的儀式，
我看到了撒旦正喜悅地笑著
在那音樂已逝的那個日子

他曾唱著，
「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾涸。
好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
而唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

我曾遇見一個唱那藍調的女孩
而我向她打聽些快樂的消息，
但是她只是笑了笑便轉身離去。
我往下走到那家聖店
幾年前在那裡我曾聽到那音樂，
但是在那裡的人說那音樂不會再播放了。

而在那街道上：那孩童們尖叫了，
那戀人們哭泣了，而那詩人做了夢。
但是沒有隻字片語被說出；
那些教堂的鳴鐘全已殘破無聲。
而那我最景仰的那三人：
那聖父、聖子與那聖靈，
他們搭了末班火車前往那海岸
在那音樂已逝的那個日子。

而他們曾唱著，
「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
好老弟他們曾喝著威士忌和黑麥汁
唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

他們曾唱著，
「別了別了，美國派小姐。」
開我的雪佛蘭去那河堤岸，
但是那河堤水已乾。
好老弟他們曾喝著喝威士忌和黑麥汁
而唱著，「這會是我死的日子。
「這會是我死的日子。」

American Pie
Lyric/Music: Don McLean
Music: Don McLean
Album: American Pie
Year: 1969/1972

"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

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.

So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll 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?
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 I was out of luck
The day the music died.

I started singin',
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' 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 lenin read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.

We were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

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 half-time 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,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

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,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
And singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll 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.
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,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die.
"this'll be the day that I die."

They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye
Singin', "this'll be the day that I die."