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.
Puff The Magic Dragon
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
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And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff, oh
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came
Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name, oh
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys
One gray night, it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave
So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave, oh
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
The song "Puff, the Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul and Mary is a classic folk tune and a bittersweet meditation on the innocence of childhood and the loss of that innocence. The song tells the story of Puff, a magical dragon who lives by the sea and frolics in a land called Honalee. Little Jackie Paper is Puff's best friend, bringing him strings, sealing wax, and other fancy things. Together they travel on a boat with billowed sail, with Jackie Paper perched on Puff's tail. They are greeted with respect by kings and princes and strike fear in the hearts of pirates. However, one gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more, and Puff was forced to slip into his cave and let his scales fall like rain.
Line by Line Meaning
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
Puff was a magical dragon who lived near the ocean
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee
He played and had fun in a place known as Honalee during autumn
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff
A boy named Jackie Paper adored the mischievous Puff
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff, oh
Jackie would give Puff gifts like strings, sealing wax, and other fanciful things
Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
The two of them would go on adventures on a boat with a beautiful sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail
Jackie would keep a watchful eye and sit on Puff's enormous tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene'er they came
When Puff and Jackie arrived, even the most esteemed royalty would pay their respects and bow down
Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name, oh
Even pirates would show reverence by lowering their flags when Puff thunderously roared his name
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Dragons are immortal, but children grow up and move on
Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys
As Jackie grew older, he lost interest in Puff's magical world and moved on to other things
One gray night, it happened, Jackie Paper came no more
Sadly, one night, Jackie stopped coming to see Puff
And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar
Without Jackie, Puff lost his spirit and stopped roaring fearlessly like he used to
His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain
Puff was deeply saddened and his green scales fell off like tears
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without Jackie, Puff did not feel like playing anymore
Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave
Jackie was Puff's life-long companion, and without him, Puff lost his courage
So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave, oh
Puff retreated to his cave, feeling despondent and listless
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Royalty Network, Spirit Music Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leonard Lipton, Peter Yarrow
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind