...offensive to those with so-called 'Estuary' accents.

I have to say that particular line has always got to me as well, since most of my family do speak with one. As did I until the Grammar School "corrected it". I know Steve means "the spread of Estuary English beyond the South East", particularly to the South West, and he explained that again on Bob Harris on Sunday morning. But I just don't hear it that way in the song.

http://www.savefile.com/files/640845

My retaliation is that I'm currently taking elocution lessons from Russell Brand in order to be able to call out for American Pie even more annoyingly next Autumn and will be going to see Don McLean twice when he comes to the UK then just in case SOH still won't play it.

NB I never, ever asked for SOH to play American Pie until they started moaning about it. Thinking about it, I'm at the Bury Met tomorrow night for Phil solo, and last time he DID give me several bars of Duelling Banjos, so I might be lucky...