American Pie

A circle during American Pie at Duke West

American Pie is or has been a traditional song at all of the main campuses. At the last dance of the term, a lot of people start bawling when it is played, especially fourth years.

How to Do It

The traditional dance for the song is to form a large circle (with most or all of the TIPsters). Then everyone begins kicking their legs in rhythm with the song. Eventually, the circle breaks down into smaller ones and some people (usually during the faster parts) link their arms and spin. However, at some campuses, traditions differ, such as there are always separate circles, and/ or the absence of a kick line. After the line "This will be the day that I die" is sung, it is traditional for everyone to shout "Die, die, die!". TIPsters should know, however, that during the chorus following the slow verse, "Die, die, die!" is not chanted, except by two or three random second years who have no idea what they are doing, and should be subsequently jeered at. Others believe that it is insulting to yell the "Die, die, die" due to the fact that Don McLean (writer of the song) was writing the song about Buddy Holly, who was supposedly "the next Elvis" and tragically died in a plane crash. Some consider it to be equally offensive (if not more so) to sing the Weird Al Yankovic parody of the song, "The Saga Begins."

At ASU

There is no particular method to the madness at ASU, and many TIPsters slow danced, coming together only for the choruses, and those who did not have partners moved off to the sides. Although in 2008 Term 2 giant circles were formed and hand motions to the chorus were used.

There was a scare term II 2011, where American Pie was intentionally not played at the second dance. This outraged numerous ASU die-hards, who threatened to drive up to Boone and beat the RC's into submission to play the song.

At East

It's like this: there's one big circle (on the circle quad, naturally) composed of all second years and third years. Inside that, there is a fourth year circle. The fourth year circle is holy. You can't really imagine what it's like to be in this one until you're actually in it. Outside of all of this (usually on the street) the staff makes its own circle. Kicking happens during all the main verses except for the slow part, which is just swaying. It has not always been the tradition during Term 2 at East for the large circle to form. This is a recent occurrence (2002ish). At Term I 2006, the students had to form one large circle for a minute in order to "earn" the right to stay up the whole night, as mandated by Sam Prevatt, the OSC. The fourth years did, however, form their own circle after the first verse and chorus. In addition, at Term 2, 2008, all TiPsters had to form a circle to win back the Llama. This was a blow to the fourth years, as it is tradition to have a separate 4th year circle, but they decided that Llama Llove was stronger than that tradition. A few unloyal TiPsters merely ran around the circle, determined NOT to get back the Llama, but their efforts failed, and Kyle [the Llama Mama] and Steve Wazny [the guy who lost the Llama] went to the steps of the Union to retrieve the Llama from Laurel [the Mind and Manuipulation TA who stole the Llama]. Similar events occurred at Term 2, 2009, when the Llama was stolen during the flight. On this occasion, there were no more dances to win the Llama back during, so TIPsters formed a large circle and sang the song with Fat Tony Giovanni playing guitar in the center.

In 2010, Duke University requested (demanded) that TIPsters stay off the quads. While this request (demand) went ignored for the first dance of Term 1, the OSC and Main Office did not put up a sufficient fight, and thus both the second and third dances were held on the street in between the quad and the Union. TIPsters accepted this, and they danced, YATTA'd, and awkwardly grinded (grind chains were started by some ridiculously epic 3rd years)in the street- but nothing could stop American Pie. As soon as the music started, every single tipster rushed the quad. Not one stayed behind to avoid trouble; the circles were formed just as they had been in past years. Not a single staff member stopped them.

At Davidson

The staff stays on the upper level of the 900 room, which is continued until the end of the dance. In 2005, students popularly acted out parts of the chorus, such as miming drinking whisky and rye. As of 2007, students would break into some smaller groups with one HUMONGOUS group in the center and kick their legs and yell "die, die, die" after the line "this will be the day that I die", except for the slow part.

TiPster Testimony: Honestly, in my two years at Davidson (08 and 09), we never did American Pie. The song was perhaps played once, but then I was warding off a particularly courageous TiPster attempting to garner my romantic attention. Anyway, nobody to my knowledge regarded American Pie as a TiP tradition, TiP song, or even remotely associated it with TiP. When I went to West, I was enlightened. 2nd Testimony: At term 2 2011 it varied. The first dance the staff were a big circle and all the tipsters got the idea, and they formed sort of kicking lines. The first and second dances were in the back of Chambers. The second dance was the same as the first. The third dance, however, the staff was at the top of the 900 room, giving all tipsters a beautiful view of the process, and circles of about 12-15 tipsters were formed, complete with shoeless-feet.

At West

West is usually along the same lines as East when it comes to the circles. Though there has never been a time when the fourth years have not been allowed to form their own circle. The large circle usually forms in Kilgo but does not go around the Magnolia tree because it is so large. A few second and third years also always try to crash the fourth year circle, which has led to a few punches being thrown by fourth years that care about tradition. It also should be noted that the RCs form a line along the steps and kick as well. A few other TIPsters also jump on top of the Sigma Nu bench and form a kicking line, it seems they think they are too cool for tradition, which is really just sad. After the traditional shouting of "die, die, die," Fourth year TIPsters shout "live, live, live, live, sex, sex, sex, sex" followed by "more, more, more, more." Note that it is disrespectful to shout this directly before the slow part or shout it at all if you aren't a fourth year, but there are always some ridiculous second years who do this. During term II 2011, during the line "you both kicked off your shoes," 4th years actually kicked off their shoes into the circle.

At the University of Georgia

At UGA, the tradition of the 'fourth year circle' was adopted from ASU. No other TIPsters are allowed within the smaller circle. The exception to this rule is during the last dance, when two third years have joined their significant others in the fourth year circle. One was Lauren Frankle who was joining her boyfriend "Vinny the TIPtator" Glass. This was silently questioned by some, but ultimately let slide with the understanding that it was a break which would only be acceptable in such situations and only on the last night. Honorary fourth years may not join the circle, despite the honorary status. All second and third years had their own, larger circle, in which they all put their arms around each other and sway. Also, the staff has a circle in which they do not put their arms around each other, but rather dance wildly and sway only during the slow portion.

At term II 2010, there was a second year who attempted to break into the circle and thence stole some tossed glo sticks at the Rave dance. She immediately became a most-hated person by the fourth years at UGA. It would be advised not to do this.

Unlike other campuses, there is simultaneous kicking to the beat at UGA. The shouting of 'Die, die, die!' is in common with TIP tradition, and is never shouted after the slow verse. When the lyric "We all kicked off our shoes" is sung, all of the 4th years kick off their shoes (this tradition was started at Term 1 2011). It is also customary to throw in your lanyard during American Pie at the last dance to symbolize you're passage out of the program. Some fourth years of 2009 chose to perform a default choreography to the chorus (invented in 2006 at ASU and brought to UGA), but it was not performed by all fourth years.

At TAMU

At Texas A&M, form a large circle of second years and third years, with a group of fourth years only inside. If you are not a fourth year, prepare to die if you stand inside the circle. During the song, everyone puts their arms around each other, whilst swaying, and kicking their feet to the beat. After " This'll be the day that I die", you yell DIE DIE DIE, even during the slow section (adjust to the beat/tempo as necessary). People normally sing along to what they know, and everyone joins in for the chorus. Unlike at UGA, honorary fourth years, and significant others of fourth years DO NOT join in the circle.

At DUML

At the Duke Marine Lab in 2009, when the song was played TIPsters formed multiple circles and swayed to the song. That year, a special "Dorm 5" circle was formed during the song at one of the dances because it was the only co-ed dorm on campus and the TIPsters in that dorm had a very special bond. Some other songs that are (or were when I went there) important to the TIPsters at DUML include: Living on a Prayer and I'm on a Boat.

Variations By Year/Term

• At West II 2005 a new part of the tradition was borrowed from the Center for Talented youth program (CTY), where after "This will be the day that I die" you yell "die, die, die, die, live, live, live, live, sex, sex, sex, sex, more, more, more, more" and then go back to being sad in your circle.

• It was also attempted at East Term 1, 2005 to change the "Die, die, die" to "love, love, love," which should be appreciated as a demonstration about the unconditional affection that TIPsters should feel for each other. However, the purpose of the chant is to remind TIPsters of the way the program is a metaphor for life

• At West II 2004 & 2005, the circle was broken during the fast part...people would separate to dance and then get back in the main circle for the end.

• At Texas I 2008:
  • Swaying during first verse, then moshing, than kneeling on the ground for the last verse
  • Getting into a circle, swaying during the verses, kicking on all verses except last verse, and than returning to kicking for the final refrain
  • Getting into a circle for the first verse, swaying, circle breaks up, people start jumping around solo moshing until last verse where circle starts swaying again

• At Texas II 2009
  • A legendary man by the name of John Jak Alouicious Doughtery III was responsible for a brand new segment of the American Pie dance. During the the section where DIE DIE DIE is yelled, immediately after, he would yell LIVE LIVE LIVE. This tradition was upheld by several 4th years including Holden Van Houtan first round, Holden and Kyle Duazo second round, and Holden, Kyle and Damien Murphy? (i think) third round. There is great hope that the tradition will continue at A&M for many years to come. and if its not, Holden will be back as an RC to make sure it will be.
• At East II 2009:
  • Due to the early departure of the TiPsters (Swine09), everyone gathered in a circle and sang the whole song a capella to win back the Llama from the staff, and as a final tribute to the fourth-years.
• At Texas II 2011
  • As an attempt to continue tradition, the words LIVE LIVE LIVE were shouted after the second "This'll be the day that I die" in the chorus. This was also shouted at the end of the song.
  • At West II 2009:

A seperate circle was formed consisting of mostly Asians. Toward the middle of the song, one guy suggested shouting "AZN AZN AZN, etc" instead of the traditional "die, die,etc" so thus everyone obeyed and everyone heard them, causing many weird looks.

Lyrics

It is customary to sing along with the song when one knows the words.

A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every paper I'd deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn't take one more step

I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died

So bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

Did you write the book of love?
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Now do you believe in rock and roll?
Can music save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died

I started singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

Now for ten years we've been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin' stone
But that's not how it used to be
When the jester sang for the king and queen
In a coat he borrowed from James Dean
In a voice that came from you and me

Oh, and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned

And while Lennon read a book on Marx
The quartet practiced in the park
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died

We were singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fall out shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast
It landed foul on the grass
The players tried for a forward pass
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast

Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to dance
Oh, but we never got the chance

'Cause the players tried to take the field
The marching band refused to yield
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?

We started singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again
So come on Jack be nimble, Jack be quick
Jack Flash sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend

Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage
No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell

And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day the music died

He was singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away
I went down to the sacred store
Where I'd heard the music years before
But the man there said the music wouldn't play

And in the streets, the children screamed
The lovers cried and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken

And the three men I admire most
The Father, Son and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died

And they were singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

They were singin'
Bye, bye Miss American Pie 
Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry 
And them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye 
Singin' "This'll be the day that I die 
This'll be the day that I die"

Lyrics from Lyricwiki.org