© 2025 KUNR
Illustration of rolling hills with occasional trees and a radio tower.
Serving Northern Nevada and the Eastern Sierra
Donate
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
The threat of catastrophic funding cuts for public media looms, and while we don’t know what the U.S. Senate will do, we do know this: We need your help protecting this vital service.
Learn what you can do to support KUNR and public media today ➡️

'American Pie' Lyrics Sell At Auction For $1.2 Million

Published April 8, 2015 at 4:03 AM PDT

(SOUNDBITE OF SONG, "AMERICAN PIE")

DON MCLEAN: (Singing) Bye, bye, Miss American Pie.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Good morning. I'm Renee Montagne. Even Don McLean doesn't know the meaning of the lyrics to his song "American Pie." It opens with the death of Buddy Holly, but the other lyrics have been endlessly debated. I mean, who is the Jester? The original manuscript might offer some clues. It's 16 pages, a mix of handwritten and typed drafts including notes. That manuscript sold at auction yesterday for $1.2 million to an anonymous mysterious collector. It's MORNING EDITION. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.