American Pie Chords by Don Mclean

Tempo:
137.75 bpm
Chords used:

G

D

C

Em

Am

Tuning:Standard Tuning (EADGBE)Capo:+0fret
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American Pie chords
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[G] A [D] long, long [Em] time ago, [Am] I can [C] still remember [Em] how that music used to make [D] me smile.
[G] And I [D] knew if I [Em] had my chance, [Am] that I could make [C] those people [Em] dance, and maybe they'd [C] be happy for a [D] while.
.
But [Em] February [Am] made me shiver [Em] with every paper [Am] I'd deliver.
[C] [G] Bad news [Am] on the doorstep, [C] I couldn't take one more [D] step.
.
[G] I [D] can't remember [Em] if I cried when [C] I read about [D] his widowed bride.
[G] [D] Something touched [Em] me deep inside [C] the day [D] the music [G] .
died.
.
So bye [C].
-bye Miss [G] [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy to [C] the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
.
[Em] This'll be the day that [D] I die.
[G] .
Did you write [A] the book [C] of love, and do you have faith [Am] in God above, [Em] if the Bible [D] tells you so?
.
And [G] do you believe [Em] in rock and roll, [Am] can music [G] [C] save your mortal soul, [Em] and can [A] you teach me how to dance [D] real slow?
.
[Em] Well I know that [D] you're in love with him, [Em] cause I saw you [D] dancing in the gym, [C] you both [G] kicked off your [A] shoes.
[C].
Man I dig [Em] those rhythmic [D] blues, [G] I was a lonely [D] [Em] teenage bronkin' buck, with [Am] a pink [C] carnation and a pickup truck.
[G] But I knew I [Em] was out of luck the [C] day [D] the [G] music died.
[C] [G] I [D] started singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss American [D] Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good [C] old boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and [Em] rye, singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
.
[Em] This'll be the day that [D] I die.
.
[G] Now for ten years [Am] we've been on our [C] own, and Moss [G] grows [Am] fat on a rolling stone, [Em] but that's not [D] how it used to be.
[G].
When the jester [D] sang [Em] for the king and queen [A] in a coat he [E] borrowed [C] from James Dean, [Em] and a voice that [A] came from you [D] and me.
[G] [Em].
Oh and while the king [D] was looking [Em] down, the jester [D] stole his thorny [G] crown, [C] the [G] courtroom [A] was adjourned, .
[C] [D] [G] and while Lennon read a book on Marx, [Am] a quartet [Em] [C] practiced in the park, [G] and we sang [Em] dirges in the dark.
The [C] day [D] the [G] music died.
[C] [G] We [D] were singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good [C] old boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
.
[Em] This'll be the day [D] that I die.
.
[G] Helter [C] skelter in the summer swelter, the birds flew [Am] off with a fall out of [Em] shelter, eight miles [D] high and falling .
[G] fast,.
and landed [Em] foul on the grass.
[Am] The players [Em] tried [C] for a forward pass [Em] with the jester [A] on the sidelines [D] in a cast.
.
[Em] Now the halftime air [D] was sweet perfume [Em] while the sergeant [D] played a marching [Gm] tune, [C] we [G] all got up to [Am] dance.
[C].
Oh but we never got [D] the chance, [G] cause the players tried [Em] to take the [Am] field, the marching [Em] [C] band refused to yield.
[G] Do [Bm] you recall [Em] what was revealed [C] the day [D] the [G].
music died?.
[C] [G] We [D] started singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
.
[Em] This'll be the day [D] that I die.
.
Oh [G] and there we [Am] were all in one place, [C] a generation [Am] lost in [Em] space, with no time [D] left to start again.
[G] So come on [D] Jack, be [Em] nimble, Jack be quick, [Am] Jack [G] Flash [C] sat on a candlestick, [Em] cause fire [A] is the devil's [D] only friend.
[Em].
Oh and as I watched [D] him on the stage, [Em] my hands were [D] clenched and fists of [G] rage, [C] no [G] angel [Am] born in hell [C] could break that [D] Satan's spell.
And [G] as the planes [D] climbed [Em] high into the night, [Am] to light the [Bm] [C] sacrificial rite, I [G] saw [Bm] Satan [Em] laughing with me like [C] the day [D] the [G] music died.
[C] [G] [D] He was singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss American [D] Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And good [C] old boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
.
[Em] This'll be the day [D] that I die.
.
[G] I [D] met a girl [Em] who sang the blues, [Am] and I asked her for [C] some happy news, [Em].
but she just smiled [D] and turned away.
.
[G] I [Bm] went down [Em] to the sacred [G] store, [Am] where I'd [G] heard the music [C] years before, [Em] but the man there [C] said the music wouldn't [D] play.
[Em] And in the streets [A] the children [Am] screamed, [Em] the lovers [A] cried and the [Am] poets dreamed, [C] but not [G] a word [Am] was spoken, [Bm] [C] the church bells all were [D] broken.
.
[G] And the three [D] men I [Em] admire most, [G] [C] the Father, Son and [D] the Holy Ghost, [C] [G] they [D] caught the last [Em] train for [G] the coast, [C] the day [D] the music [G] .
died.
And they were singing, bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And good old [C] boys [G] were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing, This'll be the day that [A] I die.
[Em] This'll be the day that [D] I die.
.
[Am] They were singing, [G] bye [C] -bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [Em] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And good old [C] boys [G] were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [C] singing, This'll [D] be the day that [G] I [C] die.
[G]
Key:  
G
2131
D
1321
C
3211
Em
121
Am
2311
G
2131
D
1321
C
3211
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Chords
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To jam and learn the simple chords for Don Mclean - American Pie chords, practice playing D, C, D, G, D, G and C in sequence. Ease into the song by practicing at 68 BPM before reaching the track's full tempo of 138 BPM. To match your vocal range and chord inclination, adjust the capo in line with the key: G Major.

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[G] _ _ A [D] long, long [Em] time ago, _ [Am] _ I can [C] still remember [Em] how that music used to make [D] me smile.
_ _ _ _ [G] And I [D] knew if I [Em] had my chance, [Am] that I could make [C] those people [Em] dance, and maybe they'd [C] be happy for a [D] while.
_ .
But _ _ _ [Em] _ _ February [Am] made me shiver [Em] with every paper [Am] I'd deliver.
_ [C] _ [G] Bad news [Am] on the doorstep, _ [C] I couldn't take one more [D] step.
_ _ _ _ .
[G] I [D] can't remember [Em] if I cried when [C] I read about [D] his widowed bride.
_ _ [G] _ [D] Something touched [Em] me _ deep inside [C] the day _ [D] the _ _ music _ [G] _ .
died.
_ _ _ _ _ _ .
_ _ _ So bye _ [C].
-bye Miss [G] _ [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy to [C] the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
_ _ _ _ .
[Em] _ This'll be the day that [D] I die.
_ _ _ _ _ [G] _ .
Did you write [A] the book [C] of love, and do you have faith [Am] in God above, [Em] if the Bible [D] tells you so?
_ .
And [G] do you believe [Em] in rock and roll, [Am] can music [G] [C] save your mortal soul, [Em] and can [A] you teach me how to dance [D] real slow?
_ _ .
[Em] Well I know that [D] you're in love with him, [Em] cause I saw you [D] dancing in the gym, [C] you both [G] kicked off your [A] shoes.
[C].
Man I dig [Em] those rhythmic [D] blues, [G] I was a lonely [D] [Em] teenage bronkin' buck, with [Am] a pink _ [C] carnation and a pickup truck.
[G] But I knew I [Em] was out of luck the [C] day _ [D] the _ [G] music died.
[C] _ [G] _ I [D] started singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss American [D] Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good [C] old boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and [Em] rye, singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
_ _ .
[Em] This'll be the day that [D] I die.
_ _ .
_ _ _ [G] Now for ten years [Am] we've been on our [C] own, and Moss [G] grows [Am] fat on a rolling stone, [Em] but that's not [D] how it used to be.
_ _ _ [G].
When the jester [D] sang [Em] for the king and queen [A] in a coat he [E] borrowed [C] from James Dean, [Em] and a voice that [A] came from you [D] and _ me.
_ [G] _ _ [Em].
Oh and while the king [D] was looking _ [Em] down, the jester [D] stole his thorny [G] crown, [C] the [G] courtroom [A] was adjourned, _ .
[C] _ _ _ _ [D] _ _ [G] and while Lennon read a book on Marx, [Am] a quartet [Em] _ [C] practiced in the park, [G] and we sang [Em] dirges in the dark.
The [C] day _ [D] the _ [G] music died.
_ [C] _ [G] We [D] were singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy to the levee, but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good [C] old boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
_ .
[Em] _ This'll be the day [D] that I die.
_ .
_ _ _ _ [G] _ Helter [C] skelter in the summer swelter, the birds flew [Am] off with a fall out of [Em] shelter, _ eight miles [D] high and falling _ _ _ _ _ .
[G] fast,.
and landed [Em] foul on the grass.
[Am] The players [Em] tried [C] for a forward pass [Em] with the jester [A] on the sidelines [D] in a _ _ cast.
_ _ .
[Em] Now the halftime air [D] was sweet perfume [Em] while the sergeant [D] played a marching [Gm] tune, [C] we [G] all got up to [Am] dance.
[C].
Oh but we never got [D] the chance, [G] cause the players tried [Em] to take the [Am] field, the marching [Em] [C] band refused to yield.
[G] Do [Bm] you recall [Em] what was revealed [C] the day _ [D] the _ _ [G].
music died?.
[C] _ _ [G] We [D] started singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And them good old boys were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
_ .
[Em] _ This'll be the day [D] that I die.
_ .
_ _ Oh [G] and there we [Am] were all in one place, [C] a generation [Am] _ lost in [Em] space, with no time [D] left to start again.
_ _ [G] So come on [D] Jack, be [Em] nimble, Jack be quick, [Am] Jack [G] Flash [C] sat on a candlestick, [Em] cause _ fire [A] is the devil's [D] only _ _ friend.
_ _ [Em].
Oh and as I watched [D] him on the stage, [Em] my hands were [D] clenched and fists of [G] rage, [C] no [G] angel [Am] born in hell _ [C] could break that [D] Satan's spell.
And [G] as the planes [D] climbed [Em] high into the night, [Am] to light the [Bm] _ [C] sacrificial rite, I [G] saw [Bm] Satan [Em] laughing with me like [C] the day _ [D] the _ [G] music died.
[C] _ _ [G] _ [D] He was singing, [G] bye [C]-bye [G] Miss American [D] Pie, [G] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the levee [D] was dry.
[G] And good [C] old boys were [G] drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing,.
This'll be the day that [A] I die.
_ .
[Em] _ This'll be the day [D] that I die.
_ .
_ _ _ _ _ _ [G] I [D] met a girl [Em] who sang the blues, [Am] and I asked her for [C] some happy news, _ [Em].
but she just smiled [D] and turned away.
_ .
_ _ [G] I [Bm] went down [Em] to the sacred [G] store, [Am] where I'd [G] heard the music [C] years before, [Em] but the man there [C] said the music _ wouldn't [D] _ play.
_ _ _ _ [Em] And in the streets [A] the children [Am] screamed, _ [Em] the lovers [A] cried and the [Am] poets dreamed, [C] but not [G] a word [Am] was spoken, _ [Bm] [C] the church bells all were [D] broken.
_ _ .
_ [G] And the three [D] men I [Em] admire most, [G] _ [C] the Father, Son and [D] the Holy Ghost, [C] _ [G] they [D] caught the last [Em] train for [G] the coast, [C] the day _ [D] the _ music _ _ [G] _ .
died.
_ _ _ And they were singing, _ _ bye [C]-bye _ [G] Miss _ [D] American Pie, drove [G] my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And good old [C] boys [G] were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [Em] singing, This'll be the day that [A] I die.
_ [Em] _ _ _ This'll be the day that [D] I die.
_ _ _ .
_ [Am] They were singing, [G] bye [C] _ -bye [G] Miss [D] American Pie, [Em] drove my Chevy [C] to the levee, [G] but the [D] levee was dry.
[G] And good old [C] boys [G] were drinking whiskey [D] and rye, [C] singing, This'll [D] be the day that [G] I [C] die.
_ [G] _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ .