Is it a purple creature that eats people, or is it a creature that eats purple people?
2006-10-22 23:29:30 · 21 answers · asked by Jimmy H 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Mythology & Folklore
One eternal question about the song is caused by an ambiguity in the English language: is the eponymous creature a one-eyed, one-horned flying purple creature that eats people, a creature that eats one-eyed, one-horned, flying purple people, or somewhere in between? The lyrics clarify matters somewhat: the creature is described as having one eye and one horn, and it comes out of the sky (presumably by flying). However, it is also stated that the creature is a "purple people eater". There are two conclusions to be drawn from this; it is either a purple creature that eats people, or, it is a creature that eats purple people. (The exact color of the creature is therefore open to debate, but most artwork assumes that it, too, is purple.) However, the lyrics also include "I said Mr. Purple People Eater, what's your line? He said it's eatin' purple people and it sure is fine." Clearly the creature eats purple people, and may or may not be purple itself. The song is based on a schoolyard joke popular around the same time: Q: What has one horn, one eye, flies, is purple, and eats people?
I reckon the moster is purple and eats purple people too.
2006-10-23 01:05:16 · answer #1 · answered by Purple.Space.Cadette 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I loved that movie as a kid.
Its a purple creature that eats people.
I've got the theme song stuck in my head now!!!
2006-10-22 23:37:46 · answer #2 · answered by *** K *** 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wow, what great memories that brings back.....about 1958??
Now to be totally serious, since there are no purple people for said creature to eat, the creature itself must be purple.
LMAO
2006-10-22 23:35:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
"I said, 'Mister Purple People Eater, what's your line?' He said, 'Eating purple people and it sure is fine. But that's not the reason that I came to land; I want to get a job in a rock and roll band.'"
Now my brain hurts. Time to go lie down.
2006-10-23 06:51:16 · answer #4 · answered by dognhorsemom 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
and old song my mom had' -- it's a purple creature that eats people
2006-10-25 09:11:44 · answer #5 · answered by deedee 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
a Creature that eats purple people, so fortunately I am safe!
2006-10-22 23:39:26 · answer #6 · answered by cgroenewald_2000 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
creature is purple & eats people
2006-10-22 23:37:41 · answer #7 · answered by anitababy.brainwash 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Purple monster that eats people.
2006-10-23 03:34:45 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always saw it as a monster that was purple and ate people. And - by the way, I never understood what was so cute and funny about that song...
2006-10-23 00:20:41 · answer #9 · answered by Bran McMuffin 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The former.
Sad but true fact - I had that song on a 78 rpm record. And I had a record player that had a setting for 78. Isn't that sad?
2006-10-23 02:16:41 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋