On Wednesday Tommy Allsup, an enrolled member of The Cherokee Nation died.

http://i.imgur.com/qFbyz3f.jpg

That may not ring many bells with many (any) of you, I realise.

http://i.imgur.com/kDWkT59.jpg

In 1959 Tommy lost a toss of the coin bet against Ritchie Valens for a seat on a plane. Instead of dying along with Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and their pilot, Tommy Allsup escaped death when Valens took his place.

http://i.imgur.com/sZNn3y7.jpg

In 1979 he started a saloon and called it ‘Tommy’s Heads Up Saloon’ in recognition of that fateful coin toss.

http://i.imgur.com/mp3BAwv.jpg

Don McLean’s favourite music came from that era and to him, the deaths of such massive icons in his life must have hit hard – as it did with a whole generation.

In the early 70s (1971) McLean wrote this tribute to that fateful day.

I loved this song and knew all the words – including those of the extended version. I must have driven my family mad.

There’s not much point in giving my interpretation of the words, unlike Procul Harum [yesterday’s post](https://steemit.com/songlyrics/@michelle.gent/exclusive-on-steemit-first-stuck-in-my-head-song-whiter-shade-of-pale-procul-harum) it’s clear-cut.

McLean writes about his childhood, many rites of passage, dances in the gym, unrequited love and everything that goes with teenage angst.

McLean mourned the loss of his idols and recalls where and when he first found out. Not only that, he also recalls the empathy he felt for Buddy Holly’s wife.

One thing that has always captured my interest (ok, maybe three).

There’s a lot of religious reference in American Pie and The Rolling Stones references are not disguised too heavily. Jumpin’ Jack Flash - “Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candle stick”. “Moss grows fat on a Rollin’ Stone.” References Bob Dylan, another idol, he crashed his motorbike and took a year out of the spotlight in which to recuperate. In that time, he grew fat.

http://i.imgur.com/8M9CP6b.jpg

The catalyst remains that the ‘Day The Music Died’ was the inspiration not only for the words, but for the drive to succeed in the music industry. February 3rd 1959

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih7N9_VUU4U

http://i.imgur.com/dhPYia9.jpg
A long, long time ago
I can still remember how
That music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

So
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock and roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died

I started singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Now, for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
But, that's not how it used to be

When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
And a voice that came from you and me

Oh and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned

And while Lennon read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died

We were singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance

'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend

Oh and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell

And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away

I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play

And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken

And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died

And they were singing
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

They were singing
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die

Written by Don Mclean • Copyright © Universal Music Publishing Group

[Sources All credits for research, images etc](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Holly)