The boulder felt taken for granite

This joke is a masterclass in punny wordplay, specifically a delightful double entendre. The humor hinges on the phrase "taken for granite," which sounds almost identical to the common idiom "taken for granted." The setup creates an expectation of a boulder feeling unappreciated, then cleverly swaps out "granted" for a type of rock, immediately signaling the joke's geological theme. It's a classic sound-alike pun that makes you do a mental double-take, blending a common human emotion with a literal piece of the earth.

The idiom "taken for granted" means to not show appreciation for someone or something, assuming they will always be there. It's a very relatable human experience, which makes applying it to an inanimate object like a boulder inherently absurd and funny. The punchline, "It had a rocky relationship with everyone," extends the rock-themed wordplay using another common idiom. A "rocky relationship" implies difficulty or instability, perfectly fitting the literal rock theme while also providing a humorous, metaphorical reason for the boulder's initial "misfortune." It's a solid joke that really gets the ball rolling.