Something touched me deep inside The day the music died.

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.

I'm glad that my music has helped other people as it's helped me. It makes me glad that I did what I did with my life.

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 had asthma when I was a kid, asthma so bad that it would turn into pneumonia and I almost died several times. Nobody knew why back then, but now it's obvious.

Devoid of all romance, the music plays and everyone must dance. I'm bowing out.

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