Don McLean is auctioning off an original manuscript of his most famous song, the 1971 smash hit “American Pie,” on April 7.
The 16-page document includes both handwritten and typed lyrics, including lines that didn’t even make the mammoth eight-minute song.
Christie’s is hosting the auction and they believe it will go for at least $1.5 million. The document has never been seen by the public before.
In an interview with Rolling Stone, McLean said that he’s doing it for a very simple reason.
“I'm going to be 70 this year,” he told the magazine. “I have two children and a wife, and none of them seem to have the mercantile instinct. I want to get the best deal that I can for them. It's time.”
The singer/songwriter didn’t even know he had the manuscript until fairly recently, when former Rolling Stone editor Ben Fong-Torres asked him about it for a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame exhibit. He did find the papers, which were ripped from a spiral notebook.
The manuscript includes several lines that didn’t make the final song, which is considered one of the great rock anthems of the early ‘70s. While it is clearly obvious that the track starts with lines about Buddy Holly’s death, McClean has never specifically revealed who the other lyrics refer to.
Auctions for rock manuscripts aren’t that rare. In June 2014, Bob Dylan’s “Like A Rolling Stone” manuscript was sold for $2 million. Bruce Springsteen’s “Born To Run” manuscript was auctioned off in December 2013.
McLean still performs and has several tour dates scheduled throughout 2015.
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