Have I misunderstood this joke my whole life?

[AhBiscuits]

Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the other side.

My understanding: The chicken wanted to die. It knew it would get flattened and therefore cross to the other side.

A friend said that I have this all wrong and the chicken literally just wanted to cross the road. It's sort of a groan inducing non joke.

Who is right?

Why did the chicken go to the seance?

to get to the other side.

Thank you! I'm glad to finally know the answer even though it is crap and not at all funny.

Wowzers - the stuff one learns on mumsnet!!! 🤯

It’s a non-joke. The point is you think the answer is going to have something in it relating to the fact that the subject is a chicken. But really it’s just why anyone/ thing would cross a road. The chicken part is moot and that’s the “surprise”.

The “other side” - as in afterlife- meaning, I think this idea came a lot later.

Because " get to the other side" means die

Fucksake finally

And it wasn’t even the right name all along? Aaghh

Your friend is right. Your interpretation has never occured to me and is definitely overthinking it!

I like the variations.

Why did the chewing gum cross the road?
It was stuck to the chicken's foot.

Why did the chicken jump off the cliff?
He was fed up with people making jokes about him.

Omg 😲 I never thought of it like that. Its like when I found out the little piggy didn't go to market to shop 🥺

I heard a chicken version of Talking heads 'Psycho killer' on the radio today:

'Psycho killer, qu'est ce que c'est, bwak bwak bwak bwaak bwak bwak bwak bwak bwaaak bwaaak'

Made me laugh so I thought I'd share!

To me the joke is taking the piss out of jokes. You’re expecting a funny answer but the answer is just “to get to the other side of the road.” That’s why it’s become a classic. OP interpretation is just too deep tbh and misses the point of the silly joke.

That one took me far, far too long as well. Like most people, I first heard it as a child and just naturally pictured a little piggy carrying a wicker shopping basket and going into the village to buy provisions!

I agree with you, suicidal chicken 😁

Ohhhhh... I agree with your friend but now you mention it, I see, that's dark.

Why did the narcissist cross the road?

Because they thought it was a boundary

Don't worry about it OP..
I only got the meaning of "I saw Mummy kissing Santa Claus" a couple of years ago..
and I'm in my 50's!

OH NO!!! Whut??

I never knew this :( My childhood is restrospectively wrecked. Thanks, 1970s for the horror

Never crossed my mind that the chicken was suicidal! But the other side is making me question myself.

It's both. I thought it was obvious. The punchline has a double meaning which is why it is funny.

It crosses the road to get to the other side (of the road) but in doing so, it is quite likely to get to the other side (i.e. die).

when thought about the joke i thought why would a suicidal chicken want to get to the other side of the road. Then it dawned on me. The other side = the after life so in now agree with you.

Oh, the Other Side!

I never thought of that but now I'm howling woth laughter. Your version is much better, OP! 😂😂

Before I read the joke I guessed it would be this one! 😂

I've always been confused about this too. When I was a toddler/tiny child my grandmother told me the chicken crossed the road to get to the other SEED.

Mind-boggled, even at 4 😂 I'm still not sure what it's actually about!

to get to the other side, of the road, or the other side, ie to die.
i think i have more recently thought it was about death.
but it really is a playy on words, in that it can be both

Why did the chicken cross the road?
To get to the idiot’s house. Knock Knock.
Who’s there?
The chicken.

My nephews favourite joke!

@Differentstarts

my little piggy did, with his basket & red gingham cloth! I refuse to buy into any other option

I don't know your nephew, but pound to a penny, he would change his favourite joke if you told him the Europe one:

Knock, knock!
Who's there?
Europe...