| The Digital Tradition Folk Song Server | |||
|
|||
SONG CHALLENGE WINNER!
The Song Challenge: When
Pigs Fly OR Never Say Never Again (Philadelphia PA) In a bizarre
episode that rattled flight attendants and embarrassed airline officials, a
300-pound pig was put in the first-class cabin of a US Airways Boeing 757 and
flown with 200 other passengers on a nonstop six-hour flight across the country
from Philadelphia to Seattle. All went well, for most of the flight.
Somehow, the pig's owners, described as two women, one in her 30s, the other a
senior citizen, convinced the airline that it was a "therapeutic companion
pet," like a guide dog for the blind. "I guess it was supposed
to be a Seeing Eye pig," a witness aboard the flight said. "Frankly, I
couldn't tell what kind of therapeutic service it was providing. All I know is,
it was ugly, and it pooped." A chagrined airline spokesman provided
few details. "We can confirm that the pig traveled, and we can confirm that
it will never happen again," US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said.
"Let me stress that. It will never happen again." An internal
report said the owners said they had a doctor's note that required them to fly
with the animal, and that they described pig as weighing only 13 pounds, so
based on this info, authorization was given," the report said. Witnesses
said the pig's owners exhibited no obvious impairments. "I'd estimate
300 pounds," one source aboard the flight said. "It took four people
to wheel it in, past security and to the gate. And they were
struggling." Though flight attendants objected, the pig was cleared
for takeoff and seated on the floor, in the first row of first class. It was so
big, much of its bulk extended into the aisle, according to the report.
"It didn't smell; it was a clean pig," a witness on the flight said.
"It slept almost the whole time." Few passengers complained. It
wasn't till the aircraft taxied into Seattle that the pig wreaked havoc.
Squealing loudly, it ran loose through the aircraft and tried to enter the
cockpit. It finally found refuge in the food galley, where it refused to
budge. Finally, the pig was lured from the galley with food. Then,
the owners -- struggling to control the pig -- dragged it out of the aircraft
and into the Jetway. That's where it left its mess. "Another
passenger on the flight advised pig owner that she picked up her pig's feces and
she was not happy about that," the report stated. "Once the pig
was off aircraft, another passenger had to push while the two women pulled to
get it in the elevator. "The whole time, the pig was squealing so loudly
everyone in the terminal heard it." Federal Aviation Administration
officials in Seattle said they were unfamiliar with the incident, but said they
would investigate.
Pig That Helps Airplane Pilots Steer by Trapper
(Tune: Man That Waters The Workers' Beer / New words by Al Boyce 8/14/2001)
CHORUS:
I am the pig, the very fat pig,
That helps airplane pilots steer
I am the pig, the very fat pig,
That helps airplane pilots steer
And what do I care I shit on the stair,
If I make the other passengers fear
I've the best seat up in first class and
I help airplane pilots steer
Now when I help airlplane pilots steer
In the cockpit I puts my snout
I kick the levers with my hooves
And twist the dials about
The plane started bucking up and down
It made the passengers cheer
So I reaches my tail for the joystick
And I help airplane pilots steer
Now pretzels and peanuts are good for a pig
When he's steering planes a lot
So sometimes I go for a walk
To see what the stewardess' got
I help my self to the galley shelf
And I drink the wine and beer
Then I reach my tail for the joystick
And I help airplane pilots steer
Now when you weigh 300 pounds
You sit where e'er you will
But I gets a bit excited when
They do the landing drill
I squeal and shout and run about
And make the passengers fear
And then I go in the cockpit and
I help airplane pilots steer