Comments on: “American Pie” by Don McLean http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/ By Russell D. Moore. Russell D. Moore serves as the teaching pastor at Highview Baptist Church in Louisville, Ky. In addition, Dr. Moore is the Dean of the School of Theology and Senior Vice President for Academic Administration at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Find sermons and other resources to help Christians engage the culture from a biblical worldview at www.russellmoore.com. Wed, 22 May 2013 13:28:58 +0000 By: MRS http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-105898 MRS Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:02:40 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-105898 @MRS, - add sentimentality to nostalgia, as well. @MRS, - add sentimentality to nostalgia, as well.

]]> By: MRS http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-105896 MRS Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:02:15 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-105896 Like the point about nostalgia. I've heard a dear preacher friend say many times that the danger for Christians at Christmas isn't commercialism - it's nostalgia. Like the point about nostalgia. I’ve heard a dear preacher friend say many times that the danger for Christians at Christmas isn’t commercialism - it’s nostalgia.

]]> By: Jeremy http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-105017 Jeremy Sat, 16 Apr 2011 23:13:10 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-105017 I would love to hear an analysis of "The Piano Man" by Billy Joel. I think it really speaks of the human condition and the sadness of depravities pursuit of emptiness. This was very interesting however, thanks for doing "American Pie." I would love to hear an analysis of “The Piano Man” by Billy Joel. I think it really speaks of the human condition and the sadness of depravities pursuit of emptiness.

This was very interesting however, thanks for doing “American Pie.”

]]> By: Ralph Neal http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-104839 Ralph Neal Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:30:38 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-104839 @Ralph Neal, Excuse me -- correction -- "write more" @Ralph Neal, Excuse me — correction — “write more”

]]> By: Ralph Neal http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-104838 Ralph Neal Sat, 16 Apr 2011 16:27:48 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-104838 Listening to American Pie. Here are some of the explanations that I have always been told about the song. Byrds - Eight Miles high -- first drug song. Angels from hell -- Stones singing Sympathy for the Devil in the Hell's Angels were their stage guards and they killed someone storming the stage in LA during the concert. The Stones didn't play the song for many years. Marching Band refused to yield -- Sargent Pepper's Lonely Heart Club band -- Beetles refused to yield the field. Janice Joplin is the one who sang the blues I have spent many years trying to figure it all out too. Not sure if I have it all right. You ought to do "Imagine" by John Lennon and talk about New Age. I think it influenced many in that direction. I used it in a paper to Dr. Cabal and he loved it! I could right much more, but I would have to comment while listening. Again, I am enjoying this. Ralph Neal, DMin -- Southern 2010 Listening to American Pie. Here are some of the explanations that I have always been told about the song.

Byrds - Eight Miles high — first drug song.
Angels from hell — Stones singing Sympathy for the Devil in the Hell’s Angels were their stage guards and they killed someone storming the stage in LA during the concert. The Stones didn’t play the song for many years.
Marching Band refused to yield — Sargent Pepper’s Lonely Heart Club band — Beetles refused to yield the field.
Janice Joplin is the one who sang the blues

I have spent many years trying to figure it all out too. Not sure if I have it all right.

You ought to do “Imagine” by John Lennon and talk about New Age. I think it influenced many in that direction. I used it in a paper to Dr. Cabal and he loved it! I could right much more, but I would have to comment while listening. Again, I am enjoying this.

Ralph Neal, DMin — Southern 2010

]]> By: Susan Stilley http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-104581 Susan Stilley Sat, 16 Apr 2011 06:12:37 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-104581 Interesting analysis. I always considered the line about "..the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost...they took the last train for the coast, the day the music died", as referring to a feeling of God abandonment in the face of tragedy - the sense that if God was really there and engaged that the plane crash would have never happened. Sort of an echo of when Mary said to Jesus, "Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (John 11:32) Interesting analysis. I always considered the line about “..the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost…they took the last train for the coast, the day the music died”, as referring to a feeling of God abandonment in the face of tragedy - the sense that if God was really there and engaged that the plane crash would have never happened. Sort of an echo of when Mary said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. (John 11:32)

]]> By: Rob http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-104411 Rob Fri, 15 Apr 2011 23:40:04 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-104411 Well, this takes the prize as my least-favorite of the broadcasts so far. I've enjoyed learning more about some of the obscure country-western "cryin-in-the-beer" songs and the deeper messages behind them, but this song, "American Pie", takes the cake as one of of the most heady and pretentious songs I've ever had the misfortune of hearing. I remember not-so-fondly traveling with my parents as a boy and listening to oldies radio, and when "American Pie" would come on it would elicit a collective sigh from both my brother and I, knowing that this song would probably take up most of the drive to wherever we were going (this song, and that "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida" song, could both have benefited immeasuarably from a sizable engineering edit) Anyhow, aside from the bad memories of having to hear this one again, I was appreciative of the thought shared in the broadcast, of how the gospel of Christ is indeed an afront to the concept of nostalgia, particularly in context of Israel (yet also fitting, I suppose, in terms of oldies rock.) But tell me, Dr. Moore, isn't there a shade of blasphemy to referencing the holy Trinity in context of "drinking whiskey and rye"? That particular lyric (even if it was in reference to the Big Bopper and his friends) still makes me a little bit uncomfortable when I hear it. Plus I'm pretty confident that if the Holy Trinity wouls take a train ride anywhere, it's not likely to be anywhere near the coast. Well, this takes the prize as my least-favorite of the broadcasts so far. I’ve enjoyed learning more about some of the obscure country-western “cryin-in-the-beer” songs and the deeper messages behind them, but this song, “American Pie”, takes the cake as one of of the most heady and pretentious songs I’ve ever had the misfortune of hearing. I remember not-so-fondly traveling with my parents as a boy and listening to oldies radio, and when “American Pie” would come on it would elicit a collective sigh from both my brother and I, knowing that this song would probably take up most of the drive to wherever we were going (this song, and that “In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida” song, could both have benefited immeasuarably from a sizable engineering edit)

Anyhow, aside from the bad memories of having to hear this one again, I was appreciative of the thought shared in the broadcast, of how the gospel of Christ is indeed an afront to the concept of nostalgia, particularly in context of Israel (yet also fitting, I suppose, in terms of oldies rock.) But tell me, Dr. Moore, isn’t there a shade of blasphemy to referencing the holy Trinity in context of “drinking whiskey and rye”? That particular lyric (even if it was in reference to the Big Bopper and his friends) still makes me a little bit uncomfortable when I hear it.

Plus I’m pretty confident that if the Holy Trinity wouls take a train ride anywhere, it’s not likely to be anywhere near the coast.

]]> By: John Underdown http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-104326 John Underdown Fri, 15 Apr 2011 20:03:10 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-104326 you should examine some Simon and Garfunkel.. you should examine some Simon and Garfunkel..

]]> By: kyle dorminey http://www.russellmoore.com/2011/04/15/american-pie-by-don-mclean/#comment-104094 kyle dorminey Fri, 15 Apr 2011 14:20:22 +0000 http://www.russellmoore.com/?p=6484#comment-104094 I dont know if it is a mistake or not but it's funny that Weird Al's version plays at the end and its about Star Wars. I dont know if it is a mistake or not but it’s funny that Weird Al’s version plays at the end and its about Star Wars.

]]>