'I wanted to make a whole series of complex statements. 'People ask me if I left the lyrics open to ambiguity. McLean's ambiguous writing style lends itself to all types of interpretation, and that is how he wanted it. Vietnam,' McLean said in Alan Howard's book The Don McLean Story, hinting at the song's larger meaning: the disintegration of the American ideal McLean romanticized in his youth. 'I saw the implication of America going bye-bye, since by 1971 we were a horribly divided country with tremendous anger being directed at the government over. The classic folk-rock anthem, known for its expansive lyrics, is filled with cultural references related to American life in the 1950s and 1960s. 'That song didn't just happen,' McLean said of his 1971 hit, which was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and named a Song of the Century by the Recording Industry Association of America. Eight minutes long, starting with 'A long, long time ago,' Don McLean's 'American Pie' is a slice of cultural history. Since the song's release, fans have been obsessed with answering one question: what is 'American Pie' about?
