February 3rd: "The Day The Music Died"

Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Richie Valens died in a plane crash 3rd Feb 1959. This event inspired Don McLean to pen his signature song, American Pie, which was first a hit in 1972. Ever since, people have been trying to analyse the meaning of the cryptic lyrics. McLean himself keeps a dignified silence on the matter, but fans have been only too willing to speculate. 

Here are 10 of the speculations as to what the song might mean:

1. The song begins on “the day the music died” but refers in subsequent verses to events that follow, up to 1970 (hence for 10 years we've been on our own).

2. Miss American Pie – a combination of apple pie and Miss America (not the name of the plane that crashed as some people have suggested). Possibly his date when he drives to the levee, and who stands him up at the school dance – dancing in the gym with someone else and leaving him alone with his pink carnation and pick-up truck.

3. The levee was dry – something that once gave sustenance has evaporated.

4. This'll be the day that I die – reference to That'll be the day that I die from the Buddy Holly song. The worst has happened and “the day that I die” has arrived.

5. Moss grows fat on a rolling stone – parody of the rolling stone gathers no moss proverb – that's not how it used to be. Everything is being turned on its head. Reference to the Bob Dylan song, and possibly The Rolling Stones.

6. The Jester is thought to be Bob Dylan, who is pictured wearing a James Dean coat on the cover of his 1963 album, The Freewheelin' Bob Dylan. The King could represent Elvis, as Bob Dylan became the new symbol of rebellion for the 1960s generation and therefore stole his crown. On the sidelines in a cast refers to a serious motorcycle accident Dylan had in 1966, from which he had to take time out to recuperate.

7. The quartet practising in the park may be The Beatles, especially as John Lennon is mentioned in the previous line. His reading a book on Marx symbolises music becoming more political; while those who grew up on 50s music lament the loss of innocence and simplicity that music represented for them (we sang dirges in the dark).

8. The half time air was sweet perfume while Sergeants played a marching tune: The summer of love, flower power – the scent of flowers – or of marijuana? 

9. Verse 5: A Rolling Stones set at a concert at Altamont Motor Speedway in California in 1969 was marred by violence, with fans storming the stage. One man was killed by security, which was provided by the Hell's Angels (no angel born in hell). Mick Jagger refused to stop playing and was unaware, or indifferent, to the drama unfolding around him.

10. Father, son and Holy Ghost – several theories here. They are the three who died in the crash; they are JFK, Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr (although catching the train for the coast implies the people are still alive); they are Buddy Holly's backing group, the Crickets; America's religious faith, or belief that the innocent times could still return, finally giving up (they held out as long as they could, catching the last train).