The group was created by manager Albert Grossman, who sought to create a folk "supergroup" by bringing together "a tall blonde (Travers), a funny guy (Stookey), and a good looking guy (Yarrow)." He launched the group in 1961, booking them into the Bitter End, a coffee house in New York City's Greenwich Village that was a favorite place to hear folk artists.
The group recorded their first album, Peter, Paul and Mary, the following year. It included "500 Miles," "Lemon Tree","Where Have All the Flowers Gone," and the hit Pete Seeger tune "If I Had a Hammer," ("The Hammer Song"). The album was listed on Billboard Magazine Top Ten list for ten months and in the Top One Hundred for over three years.
By 1963 they had recorded three albums; released the now-famous song "Puff the Magic Dragon", which Yarrow and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton originally wrote in 1959 and was on the charts in 1963; and performed "If I Had a Hammer" at the 1963 March on Washington, best remembered for Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr.'s "I Have a Dream" speech. Their biggest single hit came with the Bob Dylan song, "Blowin' in the Wind," which was an international #1 hit. It was the fastest selling single ever cut by Warner Brothers Records. For many years after, the group was at the forefront of the civil rights movement and other causes promoting social justice. Their later hit "Leaving on a Jet Plane" was actually written by the then unknown John Denver.
The trio broke up in 1970 to pursue separate solo careers, but found little of the success they did as a group, although Stookey's "The Wedding Song (There Is Love)" (written for Yarrow's marriage to Marybeth McCarthy, the niece of senator Eugene McCarthy) was a hit and has become a wedding standard since its 1971 release.
In 1978, they reunited for a concert to protest nuclear energy, and have recorded albums together and toured since. They currently play around 25 shows a year.[1]
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
In 2005, Travers was diagnosed with leukemia, leading to the cancellation of the remaining tour dates for that year. She received a bone marrow transplant and She and the rest of the trio resumed their concert tour on December 9, 2005 with a holiday performance at Carnegie Hall and were scheduled for several additional concerts in 2006.Sadly she passed away in Sept 2009.
Peter, Paul and Mary received in 2006 the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievment Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame.
All Mixed Up
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Is part German, Latin and part Greek
Celtic and Arabic all in a heap
Well-amended by the people in the street
The Choctaw gave us the word "okay"
"Vamose" is a word from Mexico way
And all of this is a hint I suspect
Of what comes next
I think that this whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
Soon mama my whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
I like Polish sausage, I like Spanish rice
And pizza pie is also nice
Corn and beans from the Indians here
Washed down by German beer
Marco Polo traveled by camel and pony
He brought to Italy, the first macaroni
And you and I as well we're able
We put it all on the table
I think that this whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
Soon mama my whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
There were no red-headed Irishmen
Before the Vikings landed in Ireland
How many Romans had dark curly hair
Before they brought slaves from Africa?
No race of man is completely pure
Nor is anyone's mind, that's for sure
The winds mix the dust of every land
And so will woman and man
I think that this whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
Soon mama my whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
This doesn't mean we will all be the same
We'll have different faces and different names
Long live many different kinds of races
It's a difference of opinion that makes horse races
Just remember the rule about rules, brother
What could be right for one could be wrong for the other
And take a tip from La Belle France
"Viva la difference!"
I think that this whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
Soon mama my whole world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Soon mama my whole world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
"All Mixed Up" by Peter, Paul, and Mary is a song that celebrates the diversity and mixture of cultures and languages. The lyrics highlight the linguistic and cultural influences that have shaped our world. The song begins by acknowledging that our language is a blend of different origins - German, Latin, Greek, Celtic, Arabic - all influenced and adapted by the people on the streets. It mentions how the Choctaw contributed the word "okay" and how "vamose" is a Mexican word, showcasing the global interconnectedness of languages.
The second verse shifts the focus to food, mentioning Polish sausage, Spanish rice, pizza pie, corn, beans, and German beer. It underscores how different cultures and cuisines have been embraced and integrated into our daily lives. The lyrics reference Marco Polo bringing the first macaroni to Italy, symbolizing the exchange of culinary traditions across different regions.
The third verse delves into the mixing of races and how it has shaped the world. It challenges the idea of racial purity, pointing out that Viking influence led to red-headed Irishmen and that Romans adopted dark curly hair through African slaves. The song emphasizes that no race or mind is completely pure, highlighting the universal mixing and intermingling of different cultures throughout history.
The chorus repeats the message that the whole world is getting mixed up, celebrating the ongoing blend of cultures, languages, races, and traditions. It acknowledges that this does not mean we will all be the same, but rather celebrates the diversity and differences among us. The song concludes with the French expression "Viva la difference!" promoting the acceptance and appreciation of our unique qualities.
Overall, "All Mixed Up" is a song that celebrates cultural diversity, linguistic fusion, and the interconnectedness of humanity. It encourages acceptance and appreciation of different races, cultures, and ideas, emphasizing that it is our differences that make the world interesting and vibrant.
Line by Line Meaning
You know this language that we speak
The language we communicate in is a mixture of different influences
Is part German, Latin and part Greek
It is influenced by German, Latin, and Greek languages
Celtic and Arabic all in a heap
It also incorporates elements from Celtic and Arabic languages
Well-amended by the people in the street
The language has been shaped and improved by everyday people
The Choctaw gave us the word 'okay'
The Choctaw tribe contributed the word 'okay' to our language
'Vamose' is a word from Mexico way
'Vamose' is a word borrowed from Mexico
And all of this is a hint I suspect
These language influences suggest something important
Of what comes next
About what the future holds
I think that this whole world
I believe that the entire world
Soon mama my whole wide world
Will soon, my dear mother, our entire vast world
Soon mama my whole world
Will soon, my dear mother, our entire world
Soon gonna be get mixed up
Will become intertwined and blended together
I like Polish sausage, I like Spanish rice
I enjoy Polish sausage and Spanish rice
And pizza pie is also nice
Pizza pie is also delightful
Corn and beans from the Indians here
We've adopted corn and beans from the Native Americans
Washed down by German beer
We accompany the meal with German beer
Marco Polo traveled by camel and pony
Marco Polo journeyed using camels and ponies
He brought to Italy, the first macaroni
He introduced macaroni to Italy for the first time
And you and I as well we're able
Similarly, you and I have the ability
We put it all on the table
To embrace and incorporate all these different cultural elements
There were no red-headed Irishmen
Red-headed Irishmen didn't exist
Before the Vikings landed in Ireland
Until the Vikings arrived in Ireland
How many Romans had dark curly hair
Romans didn't have dark curly hair
Before they brought slaves from Africa?
Until they imported slaves from Africa
No race of man is completely pure
No ethnic group is entirely homogenous
Nor is anyone's mind, that's for sure
Nor is anyone's mindset, without a doubt
The winds mix the dust of every land
Winds blend together dust particles from all over
And so will woman and man
Similarly, men and women will intermingle culturally
This doesn't mean we will all be the same
However, it doesn't imply that we will all become identical
We'll have different faces and different names
We will still have diverse appearances and identities
Long live many different kinds of races
Let's celebrate the existence of various racial backgrounds
It's a difference of opinion that makes horse races
Controversies and differing perspectives make life interesting
Just remember the rule about rules, brother
Remember the rule regarding rules, my friend
What could be right for one could be wrong for the other
What might be correct for one person could be incorrect for another
And take a tip from La Belle France
Learn from the beautiful country of France
'Viva la difference!'
'Long live the differences!'
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Written by: Peter Seeger, Traditional
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind