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'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
My parents were not musical, and they were not effervescent people; everything was very quiet. The music that I played was loud; it used to drive them up the wall. My father died, and that was a tragedy for everybody, but suddenly I didn't have anybody to stop me from doing what I wanted to do. Don McLean diedriveeffervescent share on social
I was around in 1970, and now I am around in 2015 ... there is no poetry and very little romance in anything anymore, so it is really like the last phase of 'American Pie.' Don McLean americananymorephase 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
The kids today all seem to think they should be stars, but I wasn't brought up that way. Don McLean bringkidstar Change image and share on social
I just started playing guitar and started singing and started working on this act that I would call 'Don McLean' when I was probably in high school. Don McLean actcalldon Change image and share on social
I think longevity is more important than trying to make people realize you're around every second. Don McLean importantlongevitymake Change image and share on social
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. Don McLean ambiguitycomplexleave Change image and share on social
But I knew - in the old days, if a song was a good song, I don't care if it was 'Yellow Submarine' or, you know, or 'The Times They Are a-Changin' or 'Don't Be Cruel', you knew it, you know? You heard that song, and you were talking about it, and you knew it. Don McLean carechangincruel share on social