The original manuscript of Don McLean’s American Pie, which was No1 in the US and No2 in the UK singles chart in 1972, has sold for $1.2m (£806,000) at a New York auction.

The 16-page draft of manuscript of Don McLean’s American Pie had been estimated to be auctioned for as much as $1.5m (£1m) at the Christie’s sale. Don McLean had teased in February that the original manuscript would reveal the song’s lyrical meaning:”The writing and the lyrics will divulge everything there is to divulge.” The meaning behind American Pie has always been something of  a mystery and a riddle and therefore has been the source of much debate over the years.

Don McLean has indicated in the past that the beginning of the song is about the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper ( Jiles P Richardson ) in a plane crash, but has remained mute and mysterious about the symbolism and references made in the rest of the song, merely stating that it was “a mystical trip into his past”. For the Record Press author, I always interpreted the song as being about the death of the “American Dream” in the 1960s with the assassination of President John F Kennedy, his brother Senator Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King.

Either way, I’m not sure I want to know the meaning of the lyrics, intended by Don McLean. Surely part of the magic of music, is being able to put your own spin and interpretation on song lyrics? This is amply illustrated by this Top 5 Most Baffling Songs –

Top 5 Most Baffling Songs

1) Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody ( No1 1975 )

2) Procol Harum – Whiter Shade Of Pale ( No1 1967 )

3) Don McLean – American Pie ( No2 1972 )

4) Beatles – A Day In the Life ( – 1967 )

5) Procol Harum – Pandora’s Box ( No16 1975 )

Which song lyrics do you find most baffling? Let us know in the Reply Box below.

Read more: What do American Pie’s lyrics mean?