in the street
the children screamed
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 took the last train
for the coast
the day the music died

they were singing
bye, bye, miss american pie
drove my chevy to the levee
but the levee was dry
and good 'ol boys were drinkin whisky and rye
singing "this'll be the day that i die"
"this'll be the day that i die"

and the three men i admire most
the father, son, and the holy ghost
they took the last train
for the coast
the day the music died



"I did a tribute to Kurt Cobain with Teen Spirit and American Pie this night in Dublin because American Pie is what I heard over and over in my head the night he killed himself. I played it to 2,500 kids; it started like a whisper, and then in perfect pitch, in perfect rhythm, very softly, they all sang American Pie with me. None of us in the crew had ever experienced anything like it....I felt like I knew him . I miss him as a musician. It's just painful when you see someone who had so much to give - especially musically - gone. We've lost quite a significant voice for this generation."
-- Tori; Illinois Entertainer, Aug 94