What's the Ice Cream Truck Song?

The song Mister Softee has been reduced to catchy 20-second hook that plays on infinite repeat from a music box and piped through loudspeakers atop every truck. CREDIT: Mavi/flickr View full size image

Early each summer, ice cream trucks begin to slowly wind their way through suburban towns and city streets, playing that haunting, eerie chime. The "Mister Softee" tune, often referred to simply as "that ice cream truck song," is a summer staple that's here to stay.

The music was originally written for an advertising agency by Les Waas in 1960 as part of an early radio campaign for Mister Softee, according to the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia, a nonprofit group that tracks significant contributions to the field of communications. Written in E-flat major with a lively beat, the song "Mister Softee" has been reduced to a catchy 20-second hook that plays on infinite repeat from a music box and piped through loudspeakers atop every truck.

Several years ago, in an effort to strengthen New York City's noise code, city officials tried to put an end to the blaring – and often crackling – sound of the song. However, due to public outcry against the proposal to ban the unofficial anthem of summer, the city settled on allowing all ice cream trucks to play the music only when they are in motion.

Mister Softee was founded in 1956 by William and James Conway, two brothers who decided to put an ice cream machine in their truck and drive around the neighborhoods of West Philadelphia, handing out green ice cream on St. Patrick's Day, according to the company's website. The company grew until it became the multimillion-dollar family-owned business that it is today, with more than 600 trucks in 15 states.

Although the trucks only play an instrumental version, the original Mister Softee song had words. Below are a few lines of the original lyrics, according to the company's website:

My milkshakes and my sundaes and my cones are such a treat,
Listen for my store on wheels, ding-a-ling down the street.
The creamiest, dreamiest soft ice cream,
You get from Mister Softee.

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