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.
For Baby
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
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I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.
I'll do anything to help you understand,
I'll love you more than anybody can.
And the wind will whisper your name to me,
Little birds will sing along in time,
The leaves will bow down when you walk by,
I'll be there when you're feeling down,
To kiss away the tears if you cry.
I'll share with you all the happiness I've found,
A reflection of the love in your eyes.
And I'll sing you the songs of the rainbow,
Whisper all the joy that is mine.
The leaves will bow down when you walk by,
And morning bells will chime.
I'll walk in the rain by your side,
I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.
I'll do anything to help you understand,
I'll love you more than anybody can.
The leaves will bow down when you walk by,
And morning bells will chime.
The song "For Baby" by Peter Paul & Mary is a beautiful dedication to a child. The lyrics are filled with promises of unconditional love and support, as the singer assures the child that they will always be there for them. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the singer promises to walk with the child through life's challenges, holding their hand and helping them understand the world around them.
The song also includes vivid imagery of nature, with the wind whispering the child's name, little birds singing along, and leaves bowing down as the child walks by. This imagery symbolizes the child's place in the world and the importance they hold, as even nature seems to recognize and acknowledge their presence.
The chorus repeats the promises of love and support, with the added assurance that the singer will be there for the child during their darkest moments. The final lines once again bring in the imagery of nature, with morning bells chiming as the child walks by, representing the hope and joy that the child brings to the world.
Overall, "For Baby" is a touching tribute to the deep love and connection between a parent or caregiver and a child, and serves as a reminder of the importance of supporting and nurturing the children in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
I'll walk in the rain by your side,
I'll always be there for you, even when things get tough.
I'll cling to the warmth of your tiny hand.
I'll protect you and keep you close to me.
I'll do anything to help you understand,
I'll guide you through life and explain things to you.
I'll love you more than anybody can.
I'll always love you, no matter what.
And the wind will whisper your name to me,
The world will reveal its wonder to us as we explore together.
Little birds will sing along in time,
Nature will lend its song to our happiness.
The leaves will bow down when you walk by,
The world will respect and honor you.
And morning bells will chime.
The world will celebrate your existence and our bond.
I'll be there when you're feeling down,
I'll support you during your hardest times.
To kiss away the tears if you cry.
I'll comfort you and help you find peace.
I'll share with you all the happiness I've found,
I'll show you the things that make me happy, and help you find your own.
A reflection of the love in your eyes.
Our love will be mirrored in each other's eyes.
And I'll sing you the songs of the rainbow,
I'll teach you about beauty, diversity, and wonder.
Whisper all the joy that is mine.
I'll share with you the positive parts of my life.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Reservoir Media Management, Inc.
Written by: John Denver
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind