It actually gets funkier than that, with the "quartet" part, did you know that at one point there was a member in the beatles, called "Stuart Sutcliffe". And at that time they were 5 members, not the famous 4.and if you see the lyrics it says "And while Lennon read a bork of Marx, the quartet practiced in the park". It could be that he was reffering to the beatles as the group that was once a 5-man group and later became the famous 4-man group, he could be reffering to that.
It actually gets funkier than that, with the "quartet" part, did you know that at one point there was a member in the beatles, called "Stuart Sutcliffe". And at that time they were 5 members, not the famous 4.and if you see the lyrics it says "And while Lennon read a bork of Marx, the quartet practiced in the park". It could be that he was reffering to the beatles as the group that was once a 5-man group and later became the famous 4-man group, he could be reffering to that.
The song's narrative after the intro begins with what happened AFTER "the day the music died".
The Jester is Dylan.
McLean takes artistic liberties in his use of the term "The King". The "King" is two people: First John F. Kennedy, who found himself addressed by Dylan in a few songs; the second reference being Dylan's usurping of Elvis Presley's voice of America.
The most important thing to remember is that Elvis was a STAR PRIOR to Buddy Holly's ascension up the charts. If anyone stole anyone's crown there, it would have been Buddy. But neither stole the others spotlight. As for "the coat he borrowed from James Dean" being a reference to the leather jacket Dean (and Brando - and Elvis) made Americana, remember that Elvis wore the coat before James Dean did.
@Ferthuko...Congrats ,on 13 points. Don't know how but nice try.
1 The last verse is NOT about Janis Joplin; it is about Billie Holiday. See my explanation on page 5. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. The one verse about the marching band: Why does everyone think the meaning is symbolic? Every other verse is literal i.e., events that actually happened. Think literal, not symbolic.
@Ferthuko...Congrats ,on 13 points. Don't know how but nice try.
1 The last verse is NOT about Janis Joplin; it is about Billie Holiday. See my explanation on page 5. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. The one verse about the marching band: Why does everyone think the meaning is symbolic? Every other verse is literal i.e., events that actually happened. Think literal, not symbolic.
"Day the Music Died" = Plane crash (buddy holley, etc.)
"Jester" = Bob Dylan
"Jester on the sidelines in a cast"= Bob Dylan appears in the "cast of characters" on the Sgt. Pepper album on the side.
"King" = Elvis
"Quartet" = Beatles
"The Byrds" = The Byrds. Eight miles high was one of their songs.
"Sweet Perfume" = smell of marajuana
"Marching band refused to yield" - Beatles were top of the charts thru '60's
"Devil" - Mick Jagger
"Girl who sang the blues" = Janis Joplin
"Father, Son & The Holy Ghost" = John Kennedy, Robt. Kennedy & Martin Luther King.
"Jester on the sidlines in a cast" could also refer to Bob Dylan's motorcycle accident, which took him out of the music scene for a while.
"Jester on the sidlines in a cast" could also refer to Bob Dylan's motorcycle accident, which took him out of the music scene for a while.
It actually gets funkier than that, with the "quartet" part, did you know that at one point there was a member in the beatles, called "Stuart Sutcliffe". And at that time they were 5 members, not the famous 4.and if you see the lyrics it says "And while Lennon read a bork of Marx, the quartet practiced in the park". It could be that he was reffering to the beatles as the group that was once a 5-man group and later became the famous 4-man group, he could be reffering to that.
It actually gets funkier than that, with the "quartet" part, did you know that at one point there was a member in the beatles, called "Stuart Sutcliffe". And at that time they were 5 members, not the famous 4.and if you see the lyrics it says "And while Lennon read a bork of Marx, the quartet practiced in the park". It could be that he was reffering to the beatles as the group that was once a 5-man group and later became the famous 4-man group, he could be reffering to that.
The King is Buddy Holly, Elvis is the Jester that steals his crown.
The King is Buddy Holly, Elvis is the Jester that steals his crown.
Some more
Some more
Book of Love - 50s song reference
Book of Love - 50s song reference
Sergeants played a marching tune - Sergeant Pepper reference
Sergeants played a marching tune - Sergeant Pepper reference
Angel born in hell - Hell's Angels Altamont reference
Angel born in hell - Hell's Angels Altamont reference
Helter Skelter - Beatles and Charles Manson reference
Helter Skelter - Beatles and Charles Manson reference
Coat he borrowed from James Dean - Bob Dylan had a similar jacket on the 'Freewheelin Bob Dylan' album cover to Dean's famous NY photo shoot.
Coat he borrowed from James Dean - Bob Dylan had a similar jacket on the 'Freewheelin Bob Dylan' album cover to Dean's famous NY photo shoot.
FOR THOSE THAT THINK "JESTER" = "BUDDY"
FOR THOSE THAT THINK "JESTER" = "BUDDY"
The song's narrative after the intro begins with what happened AFTER "the day the music died". The Jester is Dylan.
McLean takes artistic liberties in his use of the term "The King". The "King" is two people: First John F. Kennedy, who found himself addressed by Dylan in a few songs; the second reference being Dylan's usurping of Elvis Presley's voice of America. The most important thing to remember is that Elvis was a STAR PRIOR to Buddy Holly's ascension up the charts. If anyone stole anyone's crown there, it would have been Buddy. But neither stole the others spotlight. As for "the coat he borrowed from James Dean" being a reference to the leather jacket Dean (and Brando - and Elvis) made Americana, remember that Elvis wore the coat before James Dean did.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Header was supposed to read: FOR THOSE THAT THINK "JESTER" = "ELVIS" Also, @jgm4661 nailed the leather coat reference
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Header was supposed to read: FOR THOSE THAT THINK "JESTER" = "ELVIS" Also, @jgm4661 nailed the leather coat reference
@Ferthuko...Congrats ,on 13 points. Don't know how but nice try. 1 The last verse is NOT about Janis Joplin; it is about Billie Holiday. See my explanation on page 5. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. The one verse about the marching band: Why does everyone think the meaning is symbolic? Every other verse is literal i.e., events that actually happened. Think literal, not symbolic.
@Ferthuko...Congrats ,on 13 points. Don't know how but nice try. 1 The last verse is NOT about Janis Joplin; it is about Billie Holiday. See my explanation on page 5. Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly. The one verse about the marching band: Why does everyone think the meaning is symbolic? Every other verse is literal i.e., events that actually happened. Think literal, not symbolic.
@Ferthuko Fire is the Devil\'s only friend = Friend of the Devil Grateful Dead American Beauty.
@Ferthuko Fire is the Devil\'s only friend = Friend of the Devil Grateful Dead American Beauty.