The original manuscript of Don McLean's enigmatic song 'American Pie' sold at auction in New York today for $1.2 million (€1.1m), Christie's said.

The 18 pages of manuscript, written in pencil, ink and typescript, had been expected to fetch between $1 and $1.5 million at the auction house.

Mr McLean said he wanted to release the manuscript to help people understand the true meaning of the song.

It was released in 1971 and depicts turbulent upheavals of the latter half of the 20th century.

"It was an indescribable photograph of America that I tried to capture in words and music," he said in February in the Christie's catalogue.

"I would say to young songwriters who are starting out to immerse yourself in beautiful music and beautiful lyrics, and think about every word you say in a song," he added.

The auction house described the song, which is around eight minutes long, as "alternately wistful, buoyant, and enigmatic".

Its reference to "the day the music died" is about the deaths of rock 'n' roll pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper in a 1959 air crash.

'American Pie' made the charts again in 1991 when a re-issue got to number 12, before Madonna's cover version finally topped the chart in 2000.

McLean's other hits include the 1972 chart-topper 'Vincent' and 'Crying'.