 Although Novak wrote the majority of the episode , Jennifer Celotta and Paul Lieberstein were actually the ones that came up with the graveyard scene in the end . The original song for Michael to sing was going to be a parody of " Candle in the Wind " by Elton John . Elton John however , refused to give The Office permission to use the song , because 30 Rock had requested permission for a parody of " Candle in the Wind " that offended Elton John , and he did not want to have his song parodied again . So then , the writers wrote parodies of " Legs " by ZZ Top and " Ruby Tuesday " by The Rolling Stones , but eventually " American Pie " by Don McLean cleared , so the writers went with that . 
