Coyote And Don Maclean
...Ask anyone what was the defining moment in the rock history of the 1960s
was and all you will get is a one word answer: Woodstock. The three day
rock festival that defined an era was only one of many music festivals of the
'60s. But Woodstock has come to symbolize, "an era of peaceful, free-
loving, drug- taking hippie youth, carefree before harsher realities hit..."
(Layman 40). The Woodstock festival ended a century filled with many
metamorphoses of rock'n'roll, from the era of pop music to the rebirth of
folk music to the invention of acid rock. But some cynics say that
rock'n'roll died with the death of Buddy Holly before the 60s even began.
One such person is Don McLean. The poet behind the haunting epic song
about the death of 'danceable' music, McLean wrote the ever popular
song, "American Pie" (appendix 1). The most important song in rock'n'roll
history, "American Pie", is the song about the demise of rock'n'roll after
Buddy Holly's death and the heathenism of rock that resulted. Although
McLean himself won't reveal any symbolism in his songs, "American Pie" is
one of the most analyzed pieces of literature in modern society. Although
not all of its secrets have been revealed, many "scholars" of the sixties will
agree that the mystery of this song is one of the reasons it has become so
successful- everyone wants to know the meanings of its allegories.
Proof of "American Pie's" truth lies in the allegory of the song. Many People...
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