Ever since I heard the Sheb Wooley song on a novelty cassette tape (remember those?) from the 1980s (remember when?), I've been curious about this song.
Here is my question: Is the creature purple or are the people he eats purple? Or, does he only eat flying purple people?
Any help is appreciated.
As I recall, it was pretty clear by the end of the song that he ate purple people. You can debate the rest.
But read the lyrics and judge for yourself.
Fair enough.
Here's my other question: Using proper English, should the creature be called a "one-horned, one eyed flying eater of purple people?"
Perhaps clearer, but it wouldn't have made a good song.
I'm thinking that the use of a hyphen between the operative words would maintain the word order and make the meaning clear: purple-people eater. Without the hyphen, you could also interpret the song to mean that the people he eats are not only purple but gifted with the ability to fly (or are on an airplane).