long, long time ago I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew that if I had a chance
I could make those people dance,
And maybe they’d be happy for a while.

Well, I know that you’re in love with him
‘cause I saw you dancing in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage broken buck
With a pink carnation and a pick-up [bad word] 
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 when I die
This will be the day when I die.

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?

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 when I die
This will be the day when 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 lovers cried and the poets dreamed,
But 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 to the coast the day the music died.

[2x]
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 when I die
This will be the day when I die.