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.
Don't Think Twice It's All Right
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It don't matter, anyhow
And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
If you don't know by now
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You're the reason I'm travelin' on
Don't think twice it's all right
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
Light I never know'd
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
I'm on the dark side of the road
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
To try and make me change my mind and stay
We never did too much talkin' anyway
So don't think twice it's all right
I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
But goodbye is too good a word gal
So I'll just say "fair-thee-well"
I ain't saying you treated me unkind
You could have done better, but I don't mind
And you just sorta wasted my precious time
But don't think twice it's all right
It ain't no use in callin' out my name gal
Like you never did before
It ain't no use in callin' out my name gal
I can't hear you anymore
I'm thinkin' and wonderin' all the way down the road
I once loved a woman, a child I'm told
I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul
Don't think twice it's all right
The lyrics to "Don't Think Twice It's All Right" by Peter Paul & Mary reflect the sentiments of a man who believes his relationship is heading nowhere, and it's time to move on. The song features the qualities of a ballad with slow, melancholic, and introspective notes that reveal how the singer is trying to cope with a relationship that's coming to an end. The repetition of the opening verse, "It ain't no use to sit and wonder why babe," suggests acceptance, resignation, and also a warning to the woman he's addressing.
The song's opening verses give the impression that the singer is dealing with a painful break-up, but he still holds a fondness for his former love. Regardless, the lyrics show that he has come to a decision to move on, and no amount of persuasion will change his mind. The phrase "Don't think twice it's all right" almost comes off as a benevolent assurance, a way of telling his partner not to feel guilty about their failed relationship, indicating that he bears no grudges or ill feelings towards her. However, the words also imply something else - the man is giving up and leaving, and he doesn't care whether he's missed or not. The final verse ("I ain't saying you treated me unkind...But don't think twice it's all right") reinforces the message of resignation and detachment; he acknowledges his partner's imperfections but still concludes that parting ways is the best option.
Line by Line Meaning
It ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
There's no point in pondering over the reasons, dear
It don't matter, anyhow
Whatever it is, it doesn't really have any significance
And it ain't no use to sit and wonder why, babe
Again, there's absolutely no point in thinking too much about it
If you don't know by now
If you haven't figured it out already
When the rooster crows at the break of dawn
The next morning when the first light appears
Look out your window and I'll be gone
You'll see that I've already left
You're the reason I'm travelin' on
The fact is, it's you who motivated me to move on
Don't think twice it's all right
So there is no need to hesitate or worry, everything is fine.
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
There's no point in switching on the lights, dear
Light I never know'd
I never did encounter this kind of a moment
It ain't no use in turnin' on your light, babe
Once again, I have to say this to make it clear
I'm on the dark side of the road
I'm on the side of the road where the light is scarce
Still I wish there was somethin' you would do or say
However, I was hoping you would do or say something that would change everything
To try and make me change my mind and stay
To make me reconsider and stay in this relationship
We never did too much talkin' anyway
Our communication was barely effective anyway
So don't think twice it's all right
Therefore, you shouldn't feel like you have to think deeply about it
I'm walkin' down that long, lonesome road, babe
Now, I'm walking through this difficult, lonely journey
Where I'm bound, I can't tell
I don't know where I'm going
But goodbye is too good a word gal
But I think 'goodbye' is too much and inappropriate
So I'll just say "fair-thee-well"
Instead, I will say 'fair-thee-well'
I ain't saying you treated me unkind
Let me make it clear that I'm not saying you treated me poorly
You could have done better, but I don't mind
Although you could have done better, I'm not angry or resentful
And you just sorta wasted my precious time
However, you did waste my time knowingly or unknowingly
But don't think twice it's all right
Please, don't think twice about it, though
It ain't no use in callin' out my name gal
It's pointless to call out my name, girl
Like you never did before
As if you never did before
It ain't no use in callin' out my name gal
I'm reaffirming the fact that calling out my name won't help
I can't hear you anymore
Regretfully, I can't hear your voice anymore.
I'm thinkin' and wonderin' all the way down the road
Throughout my journey, I'm contemplating and wondering about many things
I once loved a woman, a child I'm told
I once loved a woman, a young girl I was told
I gave her my heart but she wanted my soul
However, I gave her my heart, but she appeared content to take my soul
Don't think twice it's all right
Nonetheless, don't worry or hesitate, everything is going to be okay
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@nicholas-smyrnios
I have heard this awesome song countless times during my life. In my 72, still brings tears to my eyes...
@stevefirth6472
77 years old. Me too!
@nicholas-smyrnios
@@stevefirth6472 ✌👌🤞
@thegamerplayz7034
15 take care
@user-gu3vc6wu2k
@@stevefirth6472
@greenwolfegreen6028
This is Dylan's best composition. And this is the best rendition of the song.
@dustman96
Agreed
@andyperson6142
My Dad loved this song he would play it on his guitar and sing, he had a lovely voice, i lost him 2 years ago i was 34, i miss him so much, this song makes me cry but also makes me smile, i can close my eyes and still see him playing this song to me, love you daddy xxx
@mypfpiswhatourphonesees4294
Sorry for your loss, i hope you're doing better nowadays
@jamessilva7991
My condolences. Keep those good memories alive.