Quotes by Don McLean

American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That's why that song has found the niche that it has.

'American Pie' was part of my process of self-awakening; a mystical trip into my past.

In a sense, 'American Pie' was a very despairing song but it can also be seen as very hopeful.

People ask me if I left the lyrics open to ambiguity. Of course I did. I wanted to make a whole series of complex statements. The lyrics had to do with the state of society at the time.

So when people ask me what American Pie means, I tell them it means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to.

I was always just into my music and maybe into trying to save the world a little bit. I never really thought I'd have a hit record or anything like that. I was prepared to travel around all over the country, kind of like a Johnny Appleseed, and sing.