Don McLean's 'American Pie': The Original Lyrics

On April 7, Don McLean’s original working manuscript for “American Pie” sold for $1,205,000 (£809,524/€1,109,182) in Christie’s dedicated sale of Don McLean's 'American Pie': The Original Manuscript.  Arguably the most iconic and recognizable American song of the Twentieth Century, the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts named it a “Song of the Century.” The complete working manuscript and typed drafts for the song was written in Cold Spring, NY and Philadelphia, PA, 1970-71.

Tom Lecky, Head of Department, Books & Manuscripts, comments: “Don McLean’s manuscript of ‘American Pie’ achieved the 3rd highest auction price for an American literary manuscript, a fitting tribute to one the foremost singer-songwriters of his generation. This result is a testament to the creative genius of Don McLean and to the song’s ability to still engage and inspire.”