Don McLean’s “American Pie” Original Lyrics Sell for $1.2 Million
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Anthony Pidgeon/Redferns(NEW YORK) — It has been more than 40 years since Don McLean’s “American Pie” was released, but the song is more iconic than ever.
Proof of that could be seen Tuesday when Christie’s auctioned off the working manuscript of the original lyrics for more than $1.2 million.
There’s no word on the winning bidder.
The “complete working manuscript” of McLean’s had “numerous revisions and unpublished deleted sections,” according to the auction house website.
“Comprising: 4 pages manuscript in pencil on four sheets of blue paper stock, 11 pages manuscript on 10 sheets in pencil and ink on ruled spiral paper (including one a half sheet), 2 pages manuscript in pencil on two sheets of yellow paper stock, and one page typed manuscript on blue paper (with four lines holograph notes on verso in purple ink and pencil). Together 18 pages of manuscript on 17 sheets,” the site’s description reads.
Singer-songwriter McLean, 69, told Christie’s about this sale: “I thought it would be interesting as I reach age 70 to release this work product on the song ‘American Pie’ 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.”
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