Unfortunately, Don stepped in it and couldn't proceed with his paper round until he had used the racing section of the New York Times to clean it off.įor more than 40 years, it was thought this referred to the winner of a beauty pageant sponsored by the Betty Crocker Corporation, which manufactures the ingredients for cakes, pancakes and pastries. However, some eminent musicologists believe that Don McLean could have been referring to Benny Hill's smash hit, Ernie, The Fastest Milkman In The West.Īlthough Ernie was released in 1971, the same year as American Pie, it had been performed on television a year earlier and could have inspired McLean.īad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step.Ī dog had done a whoopsie outside the front door of Number 47.
Thought to be a reference to the novelty song Splish, Splash (I Was Taking A Bath), by Bobby Darin, which reached Number Three in the American singles chart in April 1958.
I can still remember how the music used to make me smile. Don McLean's (pictured) famous anthem American Pie could have British origins
