Don McLean sells American Pie manuscript, saying all will be revealed

Question 1

a) False. Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. Auctioneers Christies predicted the papers could fetch around $1.5m (£1m).

b) True. But he has been elusive about the meaning of most of the lyrics, which has heightened interest and led to countless interpretations

c) False The fact that the drafts, the working process of it, are all being offered as this lot makes it a remarkable insight into the mind of Don McLean and into this incredible song that has touched so many people”

d) False. Bob Dylan’s lyrics for Like A Rolling Stone sold for just over $2m at auction in 2014, resetting the record for a handwritten manuscript, previously held by John Lennon’s lyrics for A Day in the Life, which sold for $1.2m.

Question 2

a) The original manuscript of American Pie (16 pages of handwritten and typed drafts which include notes and deletions). He decided to sell it on a whim

b)         – it reflects the social upheavals of the 1960s and early 70s.

- it captures the era of that period and there is a kind of innocence to it, a loss of innocence in America.

Question 3

a)      To fetch

b)      renowned

c)      countless

            d) remarkable

            e) to take place

Question 4

a.      Notes and deletions for the recording are included in the 16 pages of handwritten and typed drafts

b.      McLean said the writing and the lyrics would divulge everything there was to divulge.

c. Wahlgren said there was something about that song that captured the era of that period and there was a kind of innocence to it, a loss of innocence there.