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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 2:07 pm
  

I've been playing and singing Arlo's song, "Coming into Los Angeles," for about 3 years. There is one line that baffles me. I do not know what it means and whether it is figurative or literal. Can someone tell me what the line below from the 1st verse means?

"Chicken flying every where around the plane"

Thanks much (Vielen Dank) from Stuttgart, Germany.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:09 pm
  

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I think that it refers to the fact that it was a rough flight(turbulance and all that), and people's airline food chicken was taking wing all by itself, sans feathers of course. If you have ever had airline food, you might agree that it flies better than it eats anyway.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:12 pm
  

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I'm thinking it means that a certain passenger on the plane might have been under the influence of an illegal substance, hence the vision of flying poultry.

Of course, if it's "chicken", not "chickens" flying all over the plane (and I've seen the lyrics in print both ways), it might just mean some sloppy flight attendants at meal-serving time, or maybe a particulary turbulent flight.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:15 pm
  

I've been wondering if it is an abstract way of saying passengers were afraid (chicken) and their nervousness could be felt throughout the cabin.


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:17 pm
  

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Nows a great opportunity for Arlo to come on here & explain it to us. (If he wants to.) I'd love to know. :)


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 5:37 pm
  

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Joined: Sep 05, 1999
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I seem to remember a thread about this very subject a year or two ago, and people came up with all kinds of possible explanations back then. Arlo didn't enlighten us then as to the possible meaning of the chicken line. He was probably having too much fun reading our posts. Hey, Arlo, want to explain it to us now, or are you still into being a Man of Mystery?


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 Post subject: Mexican airlines?
PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 6:44 pm
  

Probably an old DC-3 that Mexican Airways had in service, lots of poultry smuggled.... 8)


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PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:11 pm
  

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It was a "big airliner" flying the polar route from London to LA. I'd be chicken too if it was a DC-3!


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 Post subject: Damn it!
PostPosted: Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:54 pm
  

You guys are going to make me break out the old vinyl....


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 12:56 am
  

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It must be karma 'cos I just lent a young 21 year old budding musician (a Hendrix fan) at work a copy of Alices and also Best of Arlo. I started thinkin' about how I might have to explain some things to him like the Chicken flyin' everywhere,and like Mikey, have always gone with the 'under the influence' explanation.
Then I decided that I should also tell him about the 'runway sniffin' guy'
and also how it was only MJ he was bringin' in and not something else!
'Course then I had tell him how parts of Alice's really happened etc. etc.
and how the movie was never released on Video here but I happen to have a copy. 'Course then I'll have to tell him about which people in the movie are real or not and how Alice isn't the real Alice but the real Alice is in the movie etc. etc. It never ends does it? And I don't think it ever will!
But we don't want it to do we!! It's fun seeing people still delight in hearing Alices for the first time after all these years.


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:36 am
  

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My original take on this was a bunch of chickens flying around the plane like on some third world bus or train, but the rough flight and airline food explanation is the one I'm sticking with. I think Arlo did mention that it was something like that, but I'm not sure.
Maybe they should study this in colleges, like The Motorcycle song? :wink:


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PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 9:40 am
  

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Of course if it WAS some third world airline with old unsafe planes, the chickens could have been safety equipment. I mean in place of parachutes, if the plane goes down, you just grab two chickens by the legs with each hand and let the chicken fly you to safety.......or not. :?


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 Post subject: Plates fly too
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:24 pm
  

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Joined: Sep 07, 1999
Posts: 54
Location: Richmond, VA
I once asked Arlo what the heck he was talkin' about with the chicken. He said it was the airline food.

I'll keep on posting this each time it comes up every year or so. Oh bother.

If I'm tired of it, can you imagine how the folksinger feels, same questions all the time, same requests at every show.

Poor Arlo, his fans have no memory...

(I wonder why????)

P--


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 Post subject:
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 5:50 pm
  

Petie,
Thanks.


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 Post subject: Yea
PostPosted: Wed Jul 27, 2005 8:12 pm
  

Yea, but what are the chickens for????? :lol:


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