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.
I'd Rather Be in Love
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Here I am in paradise, I'd rather be in love.
Golden sun, silver sand, careless touch of a stranger's hand
I'll be rested, I'll be tanned, I'd rather be in love
I've had more fun on one rainy night
when you were there to call my name and hold me tight
Than a lifetime in this coastal scene
Miles and miles, clear blue skies, not a cloud in paradise
Except the ones here in my eyes, I'd rather be in love
I remember those winter storms
When you were all I needed to keep me warm
Now those summer winds, they blow so cold
Make me wish I'd you here to hold
Ocean breeze, rum on ice, lazy days and party nights
I've had enough of paradise. I'd rather be in love.
Oh, I'd rather be in love.
In "I'd Rather Be in Love" by Peter, Paul & Mary, the singer is expressing a sense of dissatisfaction with the traditional idea of paradise. The song describes the trappings of paradise- the ocean breeze, rum on ice, sunny skies and beautiful beaches. But despite being in such a beautiful place, the singer states that they would rather be in love. The touch of a stranger's hand feels meaningless, and even though they are rested and tanned, the singer is still not satisfied. The bridge of the song explains that even in paradise, the singer has felt more content during a rainy night spent with their loved one. As much as the clear blue skies and beautiful beaches might seem idyllic, they are not where the singer's heart truly lies.
Further on in the song, the singer describes the loneliness they feel in spite of the scenery. They miss the comfort that their loved one provided, remembering the winter storms when they were all they needed to stay warm. Even though the summer winds blow gentle, they still make the singer long for their partner's embrace. The song then concludes by repeating the chorus, underscoring the fact that no paradise could make up for the absence of love.
Line by Line Meaning
Ocean breeze, rum on ice, lazy days and party nights
Enjoying the luxuries of life but still feeling unfulfilled without love.
Here I am in paradise, I'd rather be in love.
Being in a beautiful location, but the lack of love makes it unsatisfying.
Golden sun, silver sand, careless touch of a stranger's hand I'll be rested, I'll be tanned, I'd rather be in love
Having a carefree vacation, but lacking the love that would make it truly fulfilling.
I've had more fun on one rainy night when you were there to call my name and hold me tight Than a lifetime in this coastal scene Just wishing you were here with me
Realizing that a single moment with a loved one is worth more than a lifetime of wishful thinking in a beautiful location.
Miles and miles, clear blue skies, not a cloud in paradise Except the ones here in my eyes, I'd rather be in love
Surrounded by natural beauty but feeling sad without the love that would make it complete.
I remember those winter storms When you were all I needed to keep me warm Now those summer winds, they blow so cold Make me wish I'd you here to hold
Longing for the warmth and comfort of a loved one during a season that's supposed to be carefree and fun.
I've had enough of paradise. I'd rather be in love. Oh, I'd rather be in love.
Choosing love over the superficial pleasures of a beautiful location.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: PATRICK ALGER, WALTER C. CARTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind