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
and I knew if I had my chance
Am C
that I could make those people dance
Em C D
and maybe they'd be happy for a while
Em Am
but February made me shiver
Em Am
with every paper I'd deliver
C G Am
bad news on the doorstep
C D
I couldn't take one more step
G D Em
I can't remember if I cried
Am D
when I read about his widowed bride
G D Em
something touched me deep inside
C D G
the day the music died
G C G D
so bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
this'll be the day that I die
G Am
did you write the book of love
C Am
and do you believe in God above
Em D
if the Bible tells you so
G D Em
do you believe in rock and roll
Am C
can music save your mortal soul
Em A D
and can you teach me how to dance real slow
Em D
well I know that you're in love with him
Em D
cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
C G Am
you both kicked off your shoes
C D
man I dig those rhythm and blues
G D Em
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
Am C
with a pink carnation and a pickup truck
G D Em
but I knew I was out of luck
C D G C G D
the day the music died
I started singin'
G C G D
bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole' boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
this'll be the day that I die
G Am
now for ten years we've been on our own
C Am
and moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
Em D
but that's not how it used to be
G D Em
when the jester sang for the king and queen
Am C
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean
Em A D
and a voice that came from you and me
Em D
oh and while the king was looking down
Em D
the jester stole his thorny crown
C G Am
the courtroom was adjourned
c D
no verdict was returned
G D
and while Lennon read a book on Marx
Am C
the quartet played in the park
G D Em
and we sang dirges in the dark
C D G C G D
the day the music died
we were singin'
G C G D
bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
this'll be the day that I die
G Am
helter skelter in the summer swelter
C Am
the birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Em D
eight miles high and falling fast
G D Em
it landed foul on the grass
Am C
the player tried for a forward pass
Em A D
with the jester on the sidelines in a cast
Em D
now the half-time air was sweet perfume
Em D
while sergeants played a marching tune
C G Am
we all got up to dance
C D
oh but we never got the chance
G D Em
cause the players tried to take the field
Am C
the marching band refused to yield
G D Em
do you recall what was revealed
C D G C G D
the day the music died
we started singing'
G C G D
bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
this'll be the day that I die
G Am
oh and there we were all in one place
C Am
a generation lost in space
Em D
with no time left to start again
G D Em
so come on Jack be nimble Jack be quick
Am C
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
Em A D
cause fire is the devil's only friend
Em D
oh and as I watched him on the stage
Em D
my hands were clenched in fists of rage
C G Am
no angel born in hell
C D
could break that Satan's spell
G D Em
and as the flames climbed high into the night
Am C
to light the sacrificial rite
G D Em
I saw Satan laughing with delight
C D G C G D
the day the music died
he was singin'
G C G D
bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
this'll be the day that I die
G D Em
I met a girl who sang the blues
Am C
and I asked her for some happy news
Em D
but she just smiled and turned away
G D Em
I went down to the sacred store
Am C
where I'd heard the music once before
Em D
but the man said the music wouldn't play
Em Am
and in the streets the children screamed
Em Am
the lovers cried and the poets dreamed
c G Am
but not a word was spoken
C D
the church bells were all broken
G D Em
and the three men I admire most
C D
the Father Son and the Holy Ghost
G D Em
they caught the last train for the coast
C D G
the day the music died
and they were singin'
G C G D
bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
Em D
this'll be the day that I die
they were singin'
G C G D
bye bye miss american pie
G C G D
drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
G C G D
them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Em A
singin' this'll be the day that I die
C D G C G
this'll be the day that I die