In a sense, 'American Pie' was a very despairing song but it can also be seen as very hopeful.

American Pie speaks to the loss that we feel. That's why that song has found the niche that it has.

You've already decided the process.

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 met a girl who sang the blues, And I asked her for some happy news; But she just smiled and turned away

The Day the Music Died