1: It 's hard to believe that his phenomenal 8 1/2 minute allegory , which millions of Americans know by heart , is 44 years old . 2: What makes  American Pie  so unusual is that it is n't a relic from the counterculture but a talisman , which , like a sacred river , keeps bringing joy to listeners everywhere . 3: Douglas Brinkley : The song , a talisman for its age , brings joy to people 44 years later .
1: his phenomenal 8 1/2 minute allegory 2: American Pie 3: The song