"American Pie," Like America Itself, was Born in Philadelphia ⇒

· Joanthan Poritsky

Don McLean talking to Thomas Dimopoulos at the Post- Star about “American Pie”:

“Was the song written in Saratoga Springs? The answer is no. The song was written in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,” McLean said.

He also clarified that the first time the song was performed on stage was not at Caffe Lena, but at Temple University, where he was billed to perform with Laura Nyro.

Legend had it that the seminal song was written on cocktail napkins in Saratoga Springs, New York.

Not only was I smitten to find out that the song was actually written in Philadelphia, where I hail from, but the song’s first performance was at my alma mater. Take that, New York.

(via Gothamist.)