Don McLean’s original ‘American Pie’ lyrics sell for RM4.3mil

US singer songwriter Don McLean in his younger days with the handwritten chorus to his biggest hit "American Pie".

Sixteen pages of lyrics that became one of the most iconic songs of the 20th century sell for US$1.2mil (RM4.3mil), according to auctioneers Christie’s.

Although the April 7 auction for singer songwriter McLean’s American Pie lyrics fell short of the US$2mil record set last year for Bob Dylan’s hand-written lyrics for Like A Rolling Stone, it was no less a momentous occasion for the song that has beguiled generations of listeners around the world since its release in 1971.