Biography:
Donald McLean III (born October 2, 1945) is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1971 hit song "American Pie", an 8.5-minute folk rock "cultural touchstone" about the loss of innocence of the early rock and roll generation (US #1 for four weeks in 1972 and UK #2).
McLean's grandfather and father, both also named Donald McLean, had roots originating in Scotland. The Buccis, the family of McLean's mother, Elizabeth, came from Abruzzo in central Italy.
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Other songs:
- American Pie
- And I Love You So
- Babylon
- Castles In The Air
- Crossroads
- Crying
- Empty Chairs
- Magdalene Lane
- Since I Don't Have You
- Vincent
- Vincent (starry Starry Night)
- Vincent (starry, Starry Night)
- Birthday Song
- Bronco Bills Lament
- Chain Lightning
- Dreidel
- Every Day
- Everybody Loves Me Baby
- Flight Of Dragons
- Going For The Gold
- Great Big Man
- Homeless Brother
- If I Only Had A Match
- Jerusalem
- La La I Love You
- Legend Of Andrew Mccrew
- Mountains O Mourne
- Oh My What A Shame
- On The Amazon
- Orphans Of Wealth
- Prime Time
- Respectable
- Since I Dont Have You
- The Grave
- The More You Pay
- The Pride Parade
- Till Tomorrow
- When Love Begins
- Winter Has Me In Its Grip
- Winterwood
- Wonderful Baby
Four years of hard work!This month of May we celebrated four years on the air. We continue working on the dissemination of this wonderful instrument, thank you for participating in our story!
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 1]
G A7
I was ridin' on the subway in the afternoon
C G
I saw some kids 'a beatin' out a funky tune
G A7
The lady right in front of me was old and brown
C G
The kids began to push her, they knocked her down
C G
I tried to help her out but there was just no way
C D7
A life ain't worth a damn on the street today
G A7
I passed the ambulance and the camera crews
C G
I saw the instant replay on the evening news
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 2]
G A7
Well will you take the car, or will you take the trip?
C G
Remove annoying hair from your upper lip
G A7
What's it really worth? Does she really care?
C G
What's the best shampoo that I can use on my hair?
C G
Hey what's the real future of democracy?
C D7
How're we gonna streamline the bureaucracy?
G A7
Hey, hey, the cost of life has gone sky-high
C G
Does the deodorant I'm using really keep me dry?
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 3]
G A7
Well spin the magic wheel and try to break the bank
C G
Think about your life when you fill in the blank
G A7
Here's a game that's real if you wanna try
C G
One spot on the wheel that says you must die
C G
American roulette is the game we play
C D7
But no-one wants to have to be the one to pay
G A7
You get to pass "GO", you get to pass away
C G
But before we start our show, here's our sponsor to say:
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
Bb C
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
D F
Well this is life, this is Prime time
G A
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Bb C
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
D F G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 4]
G A7
Well down in Mexico, the laundry's on the line
C G
There's where you can go if you land on the nine
G A7
Canada is nice if you're fond of ice
C G
If you land on the two then we'll send you there twice
C G
We interrupt this game for a news release:
C D7
A man has gone insane and been killed by police!
G A7
Now back to the game, that's a dangerous play
C G
'Cause if they see you in C-U-B-A you must pass away
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 5]
G A7
My supper's on the stove, the war is on the screen
C G
Pass the bread and butter while I watch the Marine
G A7
The shot him in the chest--Pass the chicken breast!
C G
The general is saying that he's still unimpressed.
C G
"We had to burn the city 'cause they wouldn't agree
C D7
That things go better with democracy!"
G A7
The weather will be fair, forget the ozone layer,
C G
But strontium showers will be here and there
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 6]
G A7
Well livin' in the country watchin' shadows fall
C G
My reception ain't too good in a power stall
G A7
Bombers in the air, missiles in the sea
C G
Chemicals in everything, including me
C G
They don't keep their promise in the promised land
C D7
It's getting mighty hard to find an honest man
G A7
But coming very soon, a show you'll die to see
C G
It's called "The End Of The World", on channel "C"
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
Bb C
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
D F
Well this is life, this is Prime time
G A
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Bb C
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
D F G
This is livin' the American way
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 1]
G A7
I was ridin' on the subway in the afternoon
C G
I saw some kids 'a beatin' out a funky tune
G A7
The lady right in front of me was old and brown
C G
The kids began to push her, they knocked her down
C G
I tried to help her out but there was just no way
C D7
A life ain't worth a damn on the street today
G A7
I passed the ambulance and the camera crews
C G
I saw the instant replay on the evening news
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 2]
G A7
Well will you take the car, or will you take the trip?
C G
Remove annoying hair from your upper lip
G A7
What's it really worth? Does she really care?
C G
What's the best shampoo that I can use on my hair?
C G
Hey what's the real future of democracy?
C D7
How're we gonna streamline the bureaucracy?
G A7
Hey, hey, the cost of life has gone sky-high
C G
Does the deodorant I'm using really keep me dry?
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 3]
G A7
Well spin the magic wheel and try to break the bank
C G
Think about your life when you fill in the blank
G A7
Here's a game that's real if you wanna try
C G
One spot on the wheel that says you must die
C G
American roulette is the game we play
C D7
But no-one wants to have to be the one to pay
G A7
You get to pass "GO", you get to pass away
C G
But before we start our show, here's our sponsor to say:
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
Bb C
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
D F
Well this is life, this is Prime time
G A
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Bb C
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
D F G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 4]
G A7
Well down in Mexico, the laundry's on the line
C G
There's where you can go if you land on the nine
G A7
Canada is nice if you're fond of ice
C G
If you land on the two then we'll send you there twice
C G
We interrupt this game for a news release:
C D7
A man has gone insane and been killed by police!
G A7
Now back to the game, that's a dangerous play
C G
'Cause if they see you in C-U-B-A you must pass away
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 5]
G A7
My supper's on the stove, the war is on the screen
C G
Pass the bread and butter while I watch the Marine
G A7
The shot him in the chest--Pass the chicken breast!
C G
The general is saying that he's still unimpressed.
C G
"We had to burn the city 'cause they wouldn't agree
C D7
That things go better with democracy!"
G A7
The weather will be fair, forget the ozone layer,
C G
But strontium showers will be here and there
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
C G
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
C G
This is livin' the American way
[Verse 6]
G A7
Well livin' in the country watchin' shadows fall
C G
My reception ain't too good in a power stall
G A7
Bombers in the air, missiles in the sea
C G
Chemicals in everything, including me
C G
They don't keep their promise in the promised land
C D7
It's getting mighty hard to find an honest man
G A7
But coming very soon, a show you'll die to see
C G
It's called "The End Of The World", on channel "C"
[Chorus]
G A
Well this is life, this is Prime time
Bb C
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
D F
Well this is life, this is Prime time
G A
This is livin' in the U. S. A.
Bb C
Well this is life, this is Prime Time
D F G
This is livin' the American way
Don Williams
Don't Hug M (...)
Donavon Frankenr (...)
Donkey Kong
Donna Cruz
Doom
Doraemon
Dorian
Doris Day
Dorothy