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American Pie Literary Devices

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"In the “autumn of 1971” Don McLean's melancholic American Pie entered the collective consciousness, and over thirty years later remains one of the most discussed, dissected and debated songs that popular music has ever produced (McLean; Morgan, "What Do American Pie's Lyrics Mean?"). A cultural event at the peak of its popularity in “1972, it reached the top of the Billboard 100 charts in a matter of weeks, selling more than 3 million copies;” and at eight and a half minutes long, this was no normal accomplishment (Morgan, "What Do American Pie's Lyrics Mean?"). The song that travels through different times uses literal devices to intensify its meaning it does this by alluding to specific moments in time. As the “1960s end, we find the Don McLean nostalgic for the music of his youth and the simple, joyous spirit it once brought him” (Morgan, "What Do American Pie's …show more content…

"Miss American Pie” is "as American as apple pie," so the saying goes; she could also be a synthesis of this symbol and the beauty queen Miss America (McLean; Morgan, "What Do American Pie's Lyrics Mean?"). "Drove my Chevy to the levee" alludes to a drive "along a levee" mentioned in a series of popular “1950s Chevrolet television commercials sung by Dinah Shore” (McLean; Morgan, "What Do American Pie's Lyrics Mean?"). Just as the Chevrolet it is a familiar icon of 1950s America. In addition, given that a “drive to a levee carries the suggestion of romance” in a car (Moyer, "Gloomy Don McLean Reveals Meaning of ‘American Pie’"). The “levee [is] dry” someone he once loved has betrayed him; something that once gave him sustenance has evaporated (Morgan, "What Do American Pie's Lyrics Mean?"). Don McLean reaches a little further back in time to the days of his youth a time of sock hops, pickup trucks and pink carnations as he wooed a woman who ultimately rejects

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