'... packed the elusive prune' wha?

Subject: '... packed the elusive prune' wha?
From: GUEST,Jon Bartlett
Date: 14 Feb 26 - 01:43 AM

A line from a Haywire Mac song, listing the jobs he's had. Is this slang, or does he actually mean "prune"? Enquiring minds need to know.

Jon Bartlett

Subject: RE: '... packed the elusive prune' wha?
From: GUEST,Phil d'Conch
Date: 14 Feb 26 - 02:31 AM

Origins: Great American Bum

Subject: RE: '... packed the elusive prune' wha?
From: Lighter
Date: 14 Feb 26 - 08:12 AM

He means "prune."

For an inexplicable reason, back in the '20s, "elusive" was sometimes used as a jocular adjective without real meaning. "Festive" was similar.

A prune might humorously be considered "elusive" because you can't find them growing like other fruits.

Subject: RE: '... packed the elusive prune' wha?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 26 - 02:58 PM

'Echo softly in the distance through the canyons of your mind'
- The Elusive Prunes

In our hometown there was a Prune Exchange
and in the neighboring town a Nut Exchange
both the butt of many a youthful joke.

Subject: RE: '... packed the elusive prune' wha?
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Feb 26 - 04:31 PM

'no matter how young a prune may be it's always full of wrinkles'- Frank Crumit