Don McLean, singer of the enigmatic 1971 hit 'American Pie' whose interpretation was incessantly debated by pop fans, has finally revealed the true meaning of the song after his original manuscript was auctioned and garnered US$1.2 million last April 7,according to Contact One.

McLean discovered his eighteen page bundle of manuscript, which contained first ideas, corrections and amendments last February.  

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The 69 year old singer decided to put it up for auction. The singer chose not to reveal its meaning while the manuscript was still not sold at its highest price.

Following its purchase from an unknown buyer, McLean explains that the song is about innocence lost and life becoming 'less idyllic'. The song serves as an alternative national anthem for a 'generation lost in space'.

"Basically, in 'American Pie' things are heading in the wrong direction. Life is becoming less idyllic. I don't know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song, in a sense," said McLean, in an interview with Christie's catalogue.

"It was an indescribable photograph of America that I tried to capture in words and music, and then was fortunate enough through the help of others to make a successful recording," he further added, emphasizing that it was at a time that he was deeply disillusioned with the direction America was treading, both in foreign policy and within the nation.

One significant aspect of the original manuscript is the content of a final verse, which never made it to the final recording. The final verse describes music being 'reborn'.

The first verse popularly describes the demise of rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper in a 1959 plane crash.

Thus the true meaning of 'the day the music died'. This verse also serves as a jumping point to the other verses of the song. The final verse might have given justice to the first verse but didn't make the final cut as Mclean said that the verse 'didn't speak to him.'

'American Pie' is the longest song to reach the top spot of the American Singles Charts. The song's length is approximately eight and a half minutes.

TagsDon Mclean, American Pie, true meaning, original manuscript