When people ask me what 'American Pie' means, I tell them it means I don't ever have to work again if I don't want to.

I think longevity is more important than trying to make people realize you're around every second.

We all got up to dance. Oh, but we never got the chance!

Do you believe in rock 'n roll? Can music save your mortal soul?

It's really hard to teach me anything. I can't read music. I never learned how to read music. I read books about things and try to learn - I don't like to learn from anybody. Later on I would, once I'd get the hang of things. Like I ride horses, I'm good at that, Western riding. I learned all about it reading and studying. I'm always learning about horses, I like that.

People ask me if I left the lyrics open to ambiguity. Of course I did. I wanted to make a whole series of complex statements. The lyrics had to do with the state of society at the time.

Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died?