The original lyrics for Don McLean’s “American Pie” (including rejected and edited lines) fetched $1.2 million at a New York auction Tuesday (April 7). The buyer remains anonymous. As for the meaning to the song, Don said in the auction catalog, “Basically, in ‘American Pie’ things are heading in the wrong direction. [Life] is becoming less idyllic. I don’t know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song, in a sense. I thought it would be interesting as I reach age 70 to release this, so that anyone who might be interested will learn that this song was not a parlor game It was an indescribable photograph of America that I tried to capture in words and music, and then was fortunate enough through the help of others to make a successful recording.” The catalog did say it was “fair to surmise” that “The King” was Elvis, “The Jester” was Bob Dylan and “Helter Skelter” refers to the Charles Manson murders.The original lyrics for Don McLean’s “American Pie” (including rejected and edited lines) fetched $1.2 million at a New York auction Tuesday (April 7). The buyer remains anonymous. As for the meaning to the song, Don said in the auction catalog, “Basically, in ‘American Pie’ things are heading in the wrong direction. [Life] is becoming less idyllic. I don’t know whether you consider that wrong or right but it is a morality song, in a sense. I thought it would be interesting as I reach age 70 to release this, so that anyone who might be interested will learn that this song was not a parlor game It was an indescribable photograph of America that I tried to capture in words and music, and then was fortunate enough through the help of others to make a successful recording.” The catalog did say it was “fair to surmise” that “The King” was Elvis, “The Jester” was Bob Dylan and “Helter Skelter” refers to the Charles Manson murders.