American Pie and Ken Dodd

[wanderer]

An intresting article
RICHARD LITTLEJOHN reveals true meaning behind Don McLean's famous anthem
By RICHARD LITTLEJOHN FOR THE DAILY MAIL
PUBLISHED: 01:22, 10 April 2015 | UPDATED: 09:15, 10 April 2015

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For four decades, music fans and social historians have been arguing over the messages hidden in the lyrics to Don McLean's American Pie, which were sold at auction in New York this week for more than a million dollars.
Today, after extensive research and textual analysis, this column can reveal the true meaning of this famous anthem — and its British origins...

Don McLean's (pictured) famous anthem American Pie could have British origins
+5
Don McLean's (pictured) famous anthem American Pie could have British origins
A long, long time ago.
It was a long, long time ago.
I can still remember how the music used to make me smile.
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.
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.
Although 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.
But February made me shiver.
It was cold.
With every paper I'd deliver.
He was a paper boy.
Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn't take one more step.
A dog had done a whoopsie outside the front door of Number 47. 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.
So bye-bye Miss American Pie.
For 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.
Subsequent research has revealed that McLean was actually writing about a 23-stone woman he saw eating four Steak Bakes outside a chip shop in Blackpool, where he had been performing in a local folk club while touring Britain in July 1969. The woman was on a hen night and dressed up as the Statue of Liberty, hence Miss 'American' Pie.
Drove my Chevy to the levy...
Note that 'levy' is spelled with a 'y', not double-'e'. The popular misconception is that McLean was writing about a river bank, or perhaps a local bar called the 'Levee'.
In fact, he had been driving his imported Chevrolet Impala down the A1 into London and heard on the radio that there may be plans in the future to introduce a congestion charge, or 'levy'. Hence: drove my Chevy to the levy.
Music fans and social historians have argued over the messages hidden in the lyrics to American Pie, which was later performed by Madonna (pictured)
+5
Music fans and social historians have argued over the messages hidden in the lyrics to American Pie, which was later performed by Madonna (pictured)
And good old boys were drinking whisky in Rye, singing this'll be the day that you die.
Note: 'in' Rye, not 'and' Rye, as many wrongly believe. During that same 1969 tour of England, McLean also performed at a folk music concert in a room above a pub in Rye, East Sussex.


When the jester sang for the King and Queen, in a coat he borrowed from James Dean.
Said to describe Bob Dylan in the jacket he wore on the cover of his seminal Freewheelin' album, which was allegedly similar to a windcheater once worn by the film star James Dean.
The truth is a little more mundane. The 'Jester' was not Dylan but Ken Dodd, who entertained the Queen and Prince Philip (the 'King') at the 1969 Royal Variety Performance.
Before he was due on stage, Dodd spilt a cup of tea down his evening jacket and had to borrow one from the assistant manager of the London Palladium, whose name was Jimmy Dean. Hence: the coat he borrowed from James Dean.
Helter Skelter in summer swelter.
The received wisdom is that this was a reference to the mass- murderer Charles Manson, who was influenced by The Beatles' White Album, which contains a track called Helter Skelter. However, this line, too, was written by McLean during his visit to Blackpool, where he amused himself during the day at the Pleasure Beach, sliding down the helter skelter.
The weather was in the mid- eighties and newspaper photographers were frying eggs on the pavement, hence: summer swelter.
Jack be nimble, Jack be quick, Jack Flash sat on a candlestick.
Not, as many stubbornly maintain, an allusion to Mick Jagger at the Rolling Stones' ill-fated concert at Altamont Speedway, California, where a man was stabbed to death in front of the stage by the Hell's Angels hired to provide security.
This is yet another reference to Ken Dodd, whose frenetic performance at the Palladium was a major influence on McLean's career.
The line originally read 'tickling-stick' but was later changed to 'candlestick' because McLean thought 'tickling-stick' might confuse American audiences.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/artic ... z3WzJb5xhK
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[Johnny Lee]

Amazing! I wonder how may people realise the true meaning behind Doddys song, Happiness.

Listen to how he sings it , I have more than my share of ------------

Ken Dodd, one hell of a performer, Saw him at the Civic Hall, (Took my sleeping bag).

[wanderer]

Ken Dodd responsible for traffic jams at 3 am as the crowds leave

[Johnny Lee]

Hope we have some happy faces in the traffic jams in Birmingham today. Hopefully laughing all the way back along the M6.

[wanderer]

Just off to small heath fc fingers crossed

[mrsgee]

Wanderer, our daughter and grandson are going along too......come on you wolves!!!

[laptatony]

Johnny, I was taken shouting and screaming to see him at the Civic hall, amazing guy frightened to get up out of seat incase he picked on us, still there at 11.30pm, nearly missed our train

[turtle]

My company hired a big top to celebrate 100yrs in business and Ken Dodd was the main act...

He emptied the big top in about 15mins.... truly awful act.

[Owl Lady]

I have seen him live in Liverpool and St Helens too many time to recall, absolutely brilliant. Laughed till I cried, going home at 1,00 am!!! ( never liked him until I got married and my late husband converted me!)

[Groucho]

My company hired a big top to celebrate 100yrs in business and Ken Dodd was the main act...

He emptied the big top in about 15mins.... truly awful act.

That's what happens when you set fire to a tent....

[Scoobydoo]

Love this song but did laugh when I read the following lines;

'For four decades, music fans and social historians have been arguing over the messages hidden in the lyrics to Don McLean's American Pie'

and

'Today, after extensive research and textual analysis, this column can reveal the true meaning of this famous anthem — and its British origins...'


I wonder how much they spent on the extensive research and textual analysis?

He is still alive, why did they not just ask him??

[Johnny Lee]

Wanderer, not a good day at the office ! I think TEARS .

Laptatony, he's been going a few years, because I can remember my mom and her sisters going to see him at Dudley Hippodrome I would think around 1965.

Then for some reason we started getting little models of the diiddymen, maybe free with cornflakes, the feather duster turned into a tickling stick.

Like you I was sort of d gagged to see him , but he was incredible.

[wanderer]

Scoobydoo he's been asked what it was about since it was release and he's always refused to say .This week the original lyrics were auctioned for £800,000 so it pays not to say
Johhny no tears we take the result and move to Middlesbrough match on Tuesday the faint chance of automatic promotion has gone
The 4000 wolves fans were in good voice all through the wit is quite cutting and amusing and entertaining
Birmingham have absentee owners and disillusioned fans so the first song of the day from the Molineux choir was "they are here they are there they are every where empty seats"

[Johnny Lee]

My TEARS reference was just a bit of a pun with regard to Doddy (Tears for souvenirs) .

Actually I remember seeing many grown men crying on the coach back from Viila park after we got knocked out of the cup, Was it semi of FA cup ? not sure.

When that goalie who's name escapes me let in a stupid goal, the one who had been involved in match fixing. I have the feeling that Don Goodman had put us in the lead, not sure now. But I think the head lines in the Ex. and Star read The boy Don Good. It was a Sunday Lunch time match I think.

Can't believe it's that time of year already when promotion looms. The name, was it Hans Segers ?

On the way there the coach driver stopped the coach outside the Hawthorns so that people could relieve their selves . In an appropriate place.

[wanderer]

I went to that one a disaster I'd forgotten Seagers McGee had gone out and bought a new side as Sir Jack had given him more money again as he wanted the cup
Console yourself with William Ambrose & young Betty doing the presentations
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY9iy-NmG_I