The original manuscript of Don McLean's 'American Pie' lyrics has been sold for 1.2 million dollars at a New York auction.
The 16 pages of hand-written and typed drafts included notes and amendments for the recording which became a hit after its 1971 release, the BBC reported.
McLean had hinted in February the original manuscript would reveal the song's lyrical meaning, which had always been kept a mystery.
The 69-year-old had previously acknowledged that the beginning of the song was about the death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper, Jiles P Richardson, in a plane crash, but has remained elusive about the rest of the track.
The mystery has made American Pie one of the most debated songs in music history.
The singer said he decided to sell the manuscript, which includes multiple drafts with handwritten notes and deletions, on a whim.