I got my first guitar when I was 16. I'd play for my family and friends, but taking that guitar out there into the wide, wide world wasn't something I ever thought about. Don McLean familyfriendguitar Change image and share on social
That song didn't just happen. It grew out of my experiences. 'American Pie' was part of my process of self-awakening: a mystical trip into my past. Don McLean americanawakenexperience Change image and share on social
I developed this fantasy world. I found that that was much more fun and more interesting and exciting than real life was to me. Then, once I got the guitar going when I was a teenager, I set sail for the direction I've been in my whole life. Don McLean developdirectionexcit share on social
I mean, I've been given a terrific life by the audiences who stuck with me all over the world. Don McLean audiencehavelife Change image and share on social
No matter how happy or hopeful I am, I always tend to drift back to that. It's underneath all the music I've ever written... An artist is trying to tell you how he's feeling. And if that accidentally becomes entertaining, it becomes a career. Don McLean accidentallyartistback share on social
Before the Beatles, America was musically a very conservative country. You can see film footage of people at a baseball game, they all had hats and ties on, and the women were dressed up like they were going to church. That was the America that I started getting interested in musically. Don McLean americabaseballbeatles share on social
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. Don McLean gladhelplife Change image and share on social
My expectations for myself were never high. I had a very unusual way of writing songs and of thinking about music. I wasn't at all like Bob Dylan or Simon and Garfunkel. I was completely different - I didn't have a David Geffen at my side. Don McLean bobcompletelydavid share on social
I have a weird sense sometimes of what's going to happen before it happens, and I kind of live by that, which is how my instincts operate, I suppose. Don McLean happeninstinctkind Change image and share on social
I'd listen to all the stuff that was going on around me and drift off into my fantasies about it. My fantasies have fuelled all the songs I've ever written. Don McLean driftfantasyfuel Change image and share on social