Two empty chairs stand beside a small round dining table with a white cloth, folded swan napkin and lamp.

Original artwork, not a still

Henny Youngman

Some people ask the secret of our long marriage, We take time to go to a restaurant two times a week. A little candlelight dinner, soft music and dancing. She goes Tuesdays, I go Fridays.

Behind the line

What it means

Our interpretation.

The setup sounds like sweet marriage advice, with dinner, music, and dancing. Then the punchline flips it: the couple goes on different nights. The joke plays on the idea that a long marriage survives partly through generous amounts of time apart.

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