American Pie – English Lyrics

• By: Madonna
• Album: The Next Best Thing (Soundtrack)

Lyrics & Translation

Discover Madonna's unique take on the iconic "American Pie" and delve into the cultural impact of this dance-pop cover. Explore how Madonna transformed a classic folk song into a millennium anthem, sparking both praise and controversy.

[English]

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 dancing in the gym

You both kicked off your shoes (Both kicked off your shoes)

Man, I dig those rhythm and blues

I was a lonely teenage bronking buck

With a pink carnation and a pick-up truck but I

Knew that I was out of luck

The day the music died

I started singing

Bye, bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry

And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye

Singing 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 started singing

Bye, bye, Miss American Pie

Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry

And good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye

Singing 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 good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye

Singing this'll be the day that I die

This'll be the day that I die

We started singing

We started singing

We started singing

We started singing

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
remember /rɪˈmɛmbər/ A2	verb - to have or keep an image or idea in your mind of something or someone seen, done, or experienced in the past
dance /dæns/ A1	verb - to move your body and feet in a way that follows a rhythm, usually in time to music
faith /feɪθ/ B1	noun - strong belief or trust in someone or something
soul /soʊl/ B1	noun - the spiritual part of a person that is believed to live on after the body dies
rhythm /ˈrɪðəm/ B1	noun - a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound
blues /bluːz/ B2	noun - a type of slow, sad music, originally developed by African Americans, often expressing emotional pain
sacred /ˈseɪkrɪd/ B2	adjective - relating to religious dedication or a religious place
scream /skrim/ A2	verb - to shout or cry out in a loud, high voice, usually because of fear, pain, or excitement
poet /ˈpoʊɪt/ B1	noun - a person who writes poems
broken /ˈbroʊkən/ A2	adjective - separated into parts, damaged
coast /koʊst/ A2	noun - the land next to the sea
whiskey /ˈhwɪski/ A2	noun - a strong alcoholic drink made from grain
levee /ˈlɛvi/ B2	noun - a wall or bank built to prevent a river from overflowing
mortal /ˈmɔrtəl/ B2	adjective - relating to humans and their limitations, especially death
carnation /kɑrˈneɪʃən/ B2	noun - a plant with pink, red, or white flowers
admire /ædˈmaɪər/ B1	verb - to respect and like someone or something

Key Grammar Structures

• I can still remember

  ➔ Present Perfect

  ➔ The phrase 'I can still remember' uses the Present Perfect to indicate an action that started in the past and continues to the present or has present relevance.

• If the Bible tells you so

  ➔ If Clause (Type 1)

  ➔ The phrase 'If the Bible tells you so' is a Type 1 If Clause, used to talk about a real or likely situation in the present or future.

• And can music save your mortal soul?

  ➔ Modal Verb (Can)

  ➔ The word 'can' in 'And can music save your mortal soul?' is a modal verb used to express ability or possibility.

• You both kicked off your shoes

  ➔ Past Simple (with 'both' for emphasis)

  ➔ The sentence 'You both kicked off your shoes' uses the Past Simple with 'both' to emphasize that two people performed the action.

• The day the music died

  ➔ Noun Clause (Subject)

  ➔ The phrase 'The day the music died' is a noun clause functioning as the subject of the sentence, referring to a specific event.

• We started singing

  ➔ Past Continuous

  ➔ The phrase 'We started singing' uses the Past Continuous to describe an action that began in the past and continued for a period of time.