0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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+ 4
Explanation
"
be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Healter Skealter in the summer swelter -
Helter Skelter was a slogan scrawled on walls during the Manson attacks. The Byrds had a hit "8 Miles High" in 1965. They got in some legal troubles which let to them "falling fast."
+ 1
Explanation
"
cried, and the poets dreamed, but...
Not
The three musicians on Holly's ill-fated flight on February 3, 1959.
Father: Buddy Holly
Son: Ritchie Valens
Holy Ghost: "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson
- 0
Explanation
"
and turned away
I
The danceable rock and roll of the 1960's was giving way to early metal groups, like Led Zepplin and Black Sabbath.
+ 4
Explanation
"
tried for a forward pass with the Jester on the sidelines in a cast
Now, the halftime air was sweet perfume while the 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
The halftime air may have been referring to tear gas that was used against some civil rights and anti-war protestors. The Sergeants does refer to the Beatles' "Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" which had music McLean felt was more difficult to dance to, thus the line implying that the dancers never got the chance, as all the music was "marching tunes", not good for dancing.
+ 8
Explanation
"
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
The King was Elvis Presley. The Queen was Arethra Franklin. The Jester was Bob Dylan. He got a leather jacket from James Dean prior to Dean's death. The Voice from You and Me is referring to the folk music of the 1960's that Dylan wrote in for many artists, not just himself.
+ 2
Explanation
"
died

So, bye
One of McLean's early girlfriends had been a beauty pageant contestant and winner. Also a reference to wholesomeness, like "As wholesome as apple pie."
+ 1
Explanation
"
off your shoes
Rhythm and Blues was one of the genres of music that gave rise to Rock and Role in the 1950's.
+ 2
Explanation
"
me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you're in love with him, 'cause I saw you dancing in
This is a reference to sock hop dances that were popular at the time. It also helps the rhyming scheme.
+ 2
Explanation
"
I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In
All your best intentions go nowhere if nobody is willing to listen to you, so nothing changes, nothing improves, nothing happens.
+ 1
Explanation
"
never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound
The peer pressure from everybody around you to just go with the status quo, where nobody really makes a difference, where nobody makes a disturbance, where nobody makes a commitment or even an effort to make things better.
+ 3
Explanation
"
maybe more
People talking
These people are talking, but what they are saying has no importance, just a bunch of fluff that changes nothing, and means even less. What people are saying is not going to improve somebody, not make a difference in somebody's life. The people don't really think about what they are saying and so what they are saying is just throw-away words.
- 0
Explanation
"
without speaking
People hearing
People are just wandering along, not really paying attention to the messages around them, ignoring what could be important. The people are paying attention to themselves or the cares of life are distracting from paying attention to what is really important.
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