McLean expecting to sell 'American Pie' manuscript for around €1m

Singer-songwriter Don McLean is selling his original manuscript and notes to American Pie for an estimated $1m-$1.5m (€910,000 to €1.36m)

The wistful anthem that asks “Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died?” is going on the auction block today.

Christie’s in New York says McLean is selling 16 pages that include the original working manuscript and typed drafts of the song.

The eight-minute American Pie was released in 1971 and was a No 1 US hit for four weeks in 1972.

“The day the music died” refers to the February 3 1959 deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in a plane crash.

McLean, 69, who lives in Maine, says writing the song was “a mystical trip into his past”.