They’re poetry.') except to acknowledge that he did first learn about Buddy Holly's death while folding newspapers for his paper route on the morning of Febru(the line 'February made me shiver/with every paper I'd deliver'). McLean has generally avoided responding to direct questions about the song lyrics ('They’re beyond analysis. sorry to leave you all on your own like this but long ago I realized that songwriters should make their statements and move on, maintaining a dignified silence.' 'You will find many interpretations of my lyrics but none of them by me. When asked what 'American Pie' meant, McLean replied, 'It means I never have to work again.' Later, he more seriously stated, Although McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Buddy Holly, none of the musicians in the plane crash is identified by name in the song itself. The song is well known for its recondite lyrics that have long been the subject of curiosity and speculation.
