This song speaks about Don McLean's disenchantment with high society. The girl he's referring to may be an upper-class socialite with whom he had a relationship, or possibly even describing his dalliances in high society as an affair he had with materialistic, consumerist city life.
Either way, he no longer wants for the dream of more. The song reminds me a little of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in which Jay Gatsby seems to be ever in search for the elusive American Dream, where he can finally be accepted into the old money world. However, after Daisy refuses him yet again, he realizes that perhaps his fruitless efforts to fit in are a blessing in disguise, in that he doesn't have to live a life of immorality and superficiality. The lines:
"For I will not be part
Of her cocktail generation, partners waltz
Devoid of all romance the music plays
And everyone must dance..."
remind me of Gatsby's sparkling parties, as well as the character of Jordan, who epitomizes the philosophy during that cultural paradigm.
The end of the novel sees Gatsby's death, as well as the narrator, Nick Carraway, leaving the East and West Eggs. Nick's casual and barely imperceptible relationship with Jordan, coupled with his subsequent departure from the Eggs corresponds with McLean's need take leave of the relationship with the city life and woman.
Don McLean is rejecting modern life, in all its mundanity, with its trinkets and conveniences, for the beautiful simplicity of nature and the "country life".
This song speaks about Don McLean's disenchantment with high society. The girl he's referring to may be an upper-class socialite with whom he had a relationship, or possibly even describing his dalliances in high society as an affair he had with materialistic, consumerist city life. Either way, he no longer wants for the dream of more. The song reminds me a little of "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald, in which Jay Gatsby seems to be ever in search for the elusive American Dream, where he can finally be accepted into the old money world. However, after Daisy refuses him yet again, he realizes that perhaps his fruitless efforts to fit in are a blessing in disguise, in that he doesn't have to live a life of immorality and superficiality. The lines: "For I will not be part Of her cocktail generation, partners waltz Devoid of all romance the music plays And everyone must dance..." remind me of Gatsby's sparkling parties, as well as the character of Jordan, who epitomizes the philosophy during that cultural paradigm. The end of the novel sees Gatsby's death, as well as the narrator, Nick Carraway, leaving the East and West Eggs. Nick's casual and barely imperceptible relationship with Jordan, coupled with his subsequent departure from the Eggs corresponds with McLean's need take leave of the relationship with the city life and woman. Don McLean is rejecting modern life, in all its mundanity, with its trinkets and conveniences, for the beautiful simplicity of nature and the "country life".