For years, the joke “Why did the chicken cross the road?” has been told as a simple, almost meaningless riddle. The typical response—"To get to the other side"—has long been considered an anti-joke, one that lacks an actual punchline.
However, many online users are now realizing that the answer carries a deeper meaning. The phrase “the other side” is not just referring to the other side of the road—it is also a metaphor for the afterlife. In other words, the joke suggests that the chicken was hit by a car, making the punchline much darker than it first appeared.
Social media users have been sharing their shock after realizing the joke’s hidden implication.
“I just figured out that ‘the other side’ means the afterlife. I thought the chicken just walked across the road,” one user posted, summing up the reaction of many others.
Another added, “I’ve known this joke my whole life, and I never thought about it that way.”
The idea that this well-known joke actually carries a morbid twist has led to discussions about other childhood rhymes that may also have hidden meanings.
For example, This Little Piggy, a common nursery rhyme, is also being revisited. Many had assumed that the first piggy “going to market” was simply going on a shopping trip. However, some now believe the phrase actually refers to the pig being taken to be slaughtered.
Similarly, the piggy who had roast beef may have been fattened up, while the final piggy crying “wee wee wee” all the way home could be expressing fear about its fate.
While some people find these interpretations surprising, others argue that the joke and nursery rhymes were never meant to be taken so literally.
Regardless, the discovery has sparked widespread discussion, proving that even the most familiar sayings can hold unexpected meanings.
So, the next time you hear someone ask, “Why did the chicken cross the road?” you might think twice before answering.
Source: New York Post