Anatomy of a Joke

The Lone Ranger and Tonto go camping in the Southwest.

After they get their tent all set up, both men fall sound asleep.

Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo Sabe, look towards sky, what you see?"

The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars."

"What that tell you?" Tonto asks.

The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, it tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets.  Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three in the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant.  Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. That's what it tells me.  What's it tell you, Tonto?"

"You dumber than buffalo shit.  Someone stole the tent!"


This is a short and simple joke that has a lot going for it.  

Here are two companions, or 'pardners' in the language of the Old West, whom we know from radio, comic books, movies, and later, television.

The Lone Ranger is a masked avenger, a fighter for justice, and a former Texas Ranger—the Anglo equivalent, one might suppose, of the Hispanic Zorro. He is a white man.  His companion Tonto is a Native American, either an Apache or a member of the Potowatami tribe (his origin is unclear).

Tonto calls the Lone Ranger by the name Kemo Sabe.  Kemo Sabe is a real phrase in the language of the Potowatami Indians of Michigan.  It means 'trusted friend'.

On the other hand, Tonto in Spanish means 'stupid' or 'foolish', and in the American Southwest that is how it will be understood.

The Lone Ranger speaks in the cultured tones of a man of education, well-versed in astronomy, astrology, theology, and meteorology.  He is also able to tell sidereal time.

Tonto, however, speaks broken English.

In this joke, the tables are turned when the smart, well-educated Lone Ranger is shown to be the real tonto, who does not realize that the beautiful night sky he is contemplating really means that their tent is no longer there.