G D Em
A long, long time ago__
Am C Em D
I can still remember how that music used to make me smile.__
. G D Em Am C
And I knew if I had my chance that I could make those people dance
. Em C D
and maybe they'd by happy for a while.
Em Am Em Am
But February made me shiver with every paper I'd deliver.
.C G Am C D
Bad news on the doorstep. I couldn't take one more step
. G D Em Am7 D
I can't remember if I cried when I read about his widowed bride,
G D Em C D7 G C G
Something touched me deep inside the day_ the music died._____
.
Chorus:
. G C G D G C
. So bye-bye, Miss American Pie.Drove my Chevy to the levee but the
. G D G C G D
. levee was dry, them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing
. Em A7 Em D7
. this'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.__
verse:
G Am, C Am
Did you write the book of love and do you have faith in God above?__
. Em D G D Em
If the Bible tells you so__ Now do you believe in rock and roll?
. Am C Em A7 D7
Can music save your mortal soul? and can you teach me how to dance_ real slow?
. Em Am Em Am
Well I know that you're in love with him 'cause I saw you dancing in the gym,
_ C G A7 C D7
You both kicked off your shoes, Man I dig those rhythm and blues!
. G D Em Am C
I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck, with a pink carnation and a pick-up truck.
. G D Em C D7 G C G
But I knew I was out of luck the day, the music died.___
G D7
I started singing.... (chorus)
.
. G Am, C Am
Now for ten years, we've been on our own and moss grows fat on a rolling stone,
Em D G D Em
But that's not how it used to be.Cause when the jester sang for the King &
Queen
. Am C Em A7 D7
in a coat he borrowed from James Dean and a voice that came from you and me__
. Em Am Em Am
Oh and while the king was looking down the jester stole his thorny crown
_ C G A7 C D7
the court room was adjourned no verdict was returned.
. G D Em Am C
And while Lennon read a book on Marx the quartet practiced in the park
G D Em C D7 G C G
and we sang dirges in the dark the day__ the music died__
G D7
I started singin' (chorus)
.
Chord fingering chart:
. E A D G B E E A D G B E E A D G B E
A 0 0 2 2 2 0 Am7 0 0 2 0 1 0 D7 x x 0 2 1 2
Am 0 0 2 2 1 0 C x 3 2 0 1 0 Em 0 2 2 0 0 0
A7 0 0 2 0 2 0 D x x 0 2 3 2 G 3 2 0 0 0 3
.
.
.
Chorus:
. G C G D G C
. So bye-bye, Miss American Pie.Drove my Chevy to the levee but the
. G D G C G D
. levee was dry, them good ole boys were drinkin' whiskey and Rye, singing
. Em A7 Em D7
. this'll be the day that I die, This'll be the day that I die.__
.
G Am, C Am
Helter skelter in the summer swelter_ the birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Em D G D Em
Eight miles high and falling fast__ it landed foul on the grass
. Am C Em A7 D7
The players tried for a forward pass with the jester on the sidelines in a cast_
. Em Am Em Am
The half time air was sweet perfume while the seargeants played a marching tune
_ C G A7 C D7
we all got up to dance___ but we never got the chance. 'Cause
. G D Em Am C
the players tried to take the field, but the marching band refused to yield
.G D Em C D7 G C G
Do you recall what was revealed _____ the day the music died.
G D7
I started singin' (chorus)
.
. G Am, C Am
And there we were all in one place, A generation lost in space.
. Em D G D Em
With no time left, to start again. So come on, Jack be nimble, jack be quick,
Am C Em A7 D7
Jack flash sat on a candlestick. 'Cause fire is the devil's only friend.
. Em Am Em Am
And as I watched him on the stage my hands were clenched in fists of rage.
. C G A7 C D7
no angel born in hell__ could break that satan's spell
. G D Em Am C
And as the flames climbed high into the night to light the sacrificial rite
G D Em C D7 G C G
I_ saw Satan laughing with delight, the day the music died.
G D7
we were singin' (chorus)
.
. G D Em
I met a girl who sang the blues so
. Am C Em D
I asked her for some happy news but she just smiled__ and turned away.
. G D Em Am C
I went down to the sacred store. Where I heard the music years before.__
. Em C D
But the man there said the music wouldn't play.__ And
Em Am Em Am
in the streets the children screamed, the lovers cried and the poets dreamed.
. C G Am C D
But not a word was spoken.__ The church__ bells_ all_ were_ broken.
. G D Em Am7 D
And the three men I admire most: the father, Son and the Holy Ghost__
. G D Em C D7 G C G
They caught the last train for the coast the day, the music died.
G D7 C D7 G C G
And they were singing:(chorus twice, ending: this'll be the day that I die)
.
Chord fingering chart:
. E A D G B E E A D G B E E A D G B E
A 0 0 2 2 2 0 Am7 0 0 2 0 1 0 D7 x x 0 2 1 2
Am 0 0 2 2 1 0 C x 3 2 0 1 0 Em 0 2 2 0 0 0
A7 0 0 2 0 2 0 D x x 0 2 3 2 G 3 2 0 0 0 3
.
Are there a lot of chord changes or what?
(some people play this song with the intro and the end having the same
chords. If you figure it out, could you send me a copy?
.
SIMP format:. If you also need chords with every verse and like the printout
for this song, check out the following "But I Might Die Tonight" post.
I have a fair number of other songs in this format and am interested in
exchanging them.
Most wanted:
Old Cheap Trick hits, and Cat Stevens from "Harold and Maude"
.
. . Hope you enjoy the song!
.
.
Humor break:
A- "The Education President"B- "No New Taxes"C- "The Environmental" (that's a good one) "President"
. Hmmm, batting three for three.
Read my lips: Somebody will SAY ANYTHING to get elected.
.
.
.
. "Happiness is a learned condition" --Tom Robbins
