June 7, 2012

Truly Drove the Chevy to the Levee...

Truly and I are feeling nostalgic for the good old days.

It was the 1970s.  We lived in Tucson AZ.  I remember driving my children to preschool.  Many times "American Pie" by Don McLean would be playing on the radio and we would sing along.  Back then, I was driving a Volkswagen Bug not a Chevy.   We had no money, but oh my gosh, life was good...


Do you remember that song?

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
But something touched me deep inside
**The day the music died**
So

[Chorus]
Bye, bye Miss American Pie
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey in 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?
Now 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'

[Chorus]

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 Lenin 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'

[Chorus]

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'

[Chorus]

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
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'

[Chorus]

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

"Hope" texture courtesy of Photo Art Pixel Dust.
Quite by accident, I found the Chevy parked in a lot outside of Arcadia, FL!

Linking to: 



20 comments:

Carole M. said...

I do remember that song; it takes me back to first-born in '72. Amazing how one song lingers so long in one's memory

Jenni said...

Yese, I remember it too...and all the words! It was crazy popular! I was not even driving at that stage ...
Jenni

Amy Burzese said...

Yes, I remember it! Old cars are on my fav list so I love all your digital trips with Truly.

ashok said...

nice song..

Unknown said...

Great picture. I'm a new linky followed and would love if you followed me back at http://iheartpears.blogspot.com

Heather said...

another great shot I really like this one!

Sherri B. said...

As a kid, I loved that song and knew every word by heart. I still remember being in school (5th grade, maybe?) and winning a classroom contest...my prize was the written lyrics to Miss American Pie. I was ecstatic! I love your image and what you've done with it - so creative!

AntiquityTravelers said...

Oh man, now I'm singing that song in my head - rest of the night! Love that song - know every word. :)

Deborah Verhoeven said...

Great picture of Truly! American Pie is one of my all-time favoirete songs. (And you posted ALL the words, not the sixty-second AM version :-) ) I was in high school when that song came out. Thanks for the memories.

Ladytee said...

I've heard the song many times before. Truly looks good, but now what are you going to do for the 4th of July. LOL! I'm sure your creative mind will figure it out!

Kia said...

Yes, I remember that song. :)
Great art work!

Naptime Review said...

Hey! Fun post ;) New follower from hop. Love for you to follow back.

http://naptimeshopper.blogspot.com

Michelle said...

Pat-really great edits, and oh my how a song can bring us right back to memories and another time...been a long time since I thought about that one.

A Creative Grace said...

Ah the seventies, good childhood memories for me there ;) Lovely image that really does have that great retro effect :)

Bonnie Zieman, M.Ed. said...

Ahhh - great digital artwork, sprinkled with a little nostalgia, and laced with Don McLean's amazing lyrics. You took me back in time and space, Pat! Thank you for sharing your unique artwork with Photo Art Friday.

Kim Stevens said...

Yes, I sure do remember that song, and it will probably be stuck in my head all day! I just love your PAF submission, and it's perfect for the song!

Gardening in a Sandbox said...

Loved that song and I have it on my mp3 player but you don't want to hear me sing it. Those were the days of my youth. Valerie

Ida said...

"Groovy!" - Yep, I remember the song. It was so long that if you had it on a 45 record you had to flip it over to hear the entire song.
Super fun and nostalgic piece this week.

Katherines Corner said...

I still sing that song. Thank you for sharing at the Thursday Favorite Things blog hop. xo P.S. the new giveaway was posted today.

Kaylene said...

Oh yes I remember, Great editing of your photograph