| 100% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___ " (first line of Don McLean's "American Pie") |
| 53% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___ ..." ("American Pie" opening line) |
| 53% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___ ..." (start of "American Pie") |
| 52% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___ ..." (start of the song "American Pie") |
| 51% | PILOT | 5 | First in a long line of sitcoms? |
| 50% | SAGA | 4 | "The ___ Begins" song by "Weird Al" Yankovic which is a parody of "American Pie" by Don McLean |
| 45% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___" (Opening lyrics to "American Pie," a cover by Madonna) |
| 45% | AGO | 3 | Song American Pie starts "A long, long time __" |
| 45% | RUBADUBDUB | 10 | First line of a nursery rhyme |
| 45% | IAMSAM | 6 | First line of a Seuss classic |
| 44% | NOR | 3 | Conjunction used three times in the first line of Shakespeare's Sonnet 65 |
| 44% | ITWOULDBEASHAME | 15 | First line of a three-line poem |
| 44% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___ ..." ("American Pie") |
| 44% | NAME | 4 | First line of a mailing address, usually |
| 44% | NOSHIRT | 7 | First line of a three-line eatery sign |
| 44% | MOAT | 4 | First line of defense built around a castle |
| 44% | IAMSAM | 6 | First line of a classic Dr. Seuss book |
| 43% | AGO | 3 | "A long, long time ___ ..." ("American Pie" lyric) |
| 43% | TICTACTOEISAMID | 15 | First line of a couplet pertinent to this puzzle |
| 43% | ERA | 3 | A long, historically significant period of time |
| 43% | EON | 3 | A long period of time |
| 43% | ERA | 3 | A long passage of time |
| 43% | THY | 3 | Word used three times in the first four lines of the Lord's Prayer |
| 42% | ERA | 3 | A long, historical period of time |
| 42% | HEARSE | 6 | First in a line of cars |
| 42% | SUNDAYS | 7 | Very long time, a month of __ |
| 42% | RYE | 3 | What "them good old boys were drinkin'," in Don McLean's "American Pie" |
| 42% | SAGA | 4 | "The ___ Begins," "Weird Al" Yankovic song that parodies Don McLean's "American Pie" |
| 42% | UPC | 3 | Lines first used on a pack of Wrigley's gum: Abbr. |
| 42% | COLONNADE | 9 | Long line of columns supporting a roof |