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.
Stewball
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
He never drank water, he always drank wine.
His bridle was silver, his main it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.
Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and Stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.
And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
If I'd have bet on ol' Stewball, I'd be a free man today.
Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
I'm a poor boy in trouble, I'm a long way from home.
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.
The song Stewball by Peter, Paul and Mary is a ballad that tells the story of a racehorse named Stewball. The singer of the song wishes that Stewball was his own horse and describes the horse's unique qualities. Stewball never drinks water, only wine, and is adorned with a silver bridle and a golden mane. The worth of his saddle is priceless and cannot be measured. The song goes on to describe a horse race where Stewball competes against a bay and a mare. Despite heavy betting on the bay and the mare, Stewball gallops ahead of them all, prancing and dancing.
The singer admits to making the wrong betting choice, wagering on the bay and the mare instead of Stewball. He regrets his decision and acknowledges that if he had bet on Stewball, he would be a wealthy man today. The song ends with a somber tone, as the singer reflects on his misfortune and the sounds of the hooting owl and moaning turtle dove that emphasize his troubles as a poor boy far from home.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
Stewball was a magnificent racehorse, how I longed to call him my own.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.
This horse was unique and distinguished, he didn't drink water like most horses, but wine always quenched his thirst.
His bridle was silver, his main it was gold.
Stewball was a beautiful animal, his silver bridle and golden mane shone bright in the sun.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.
His saddle was priceless, no amount of money could equate to its real value.
Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and Stewball was there
The fair was bustling with people, and Stewball was one of the main attractions.
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.
Despite Stewball's strength and beauty, most people were placing bets on the weaker and less impressive horses.
And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
Suddenly, in the distance, Stewball was seen prancing and dancing ahead of all the other horses.
Came a-prancin' and a-dancin' my noble Stewball.
Stewball was confidently and gracefully showing off his strength and speed as he approached the racetrack.
I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
The artist decided to place their bets on the less impressive horses and not on Stewball.
If I'd have bet on ol' Stewball, I'd be a free man today.
The artist regrets not betting on Stewball, as he won the race and they would be rich and free if they had wagered on him.
Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
The surrounding wildlife echo the singer's sadness and despair.
I'm a poor boy in trouble, I'm a long way from home.
The artist is a poor and troubled individual who feels lost and far away from comfort and familiarity.
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
The song ends with the singer's lament of not owning such an impressive and valuable horse like Stewball.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Ralph C. Rinzler, Robert A. Yellin, John Herald
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Michael Watson
"The horse was foaled in 1741 and originally owned by Francis, 2nd Earl of Godolphin,
and later sold. His name has been recorded as "Squball", "Sku-ball", or
"Stewball". He won many races in England and was sent to Ireland. The
Irish turf calendar states that he won six races worth £508 in 1752,
when he was eleven years old, and was the top-earning runner of that
year in Ireland.[1] His most famous race took place on the plains of Kildare,
Ireland, which is generally the subject of the song of the same name.
The early ballad about the event has Skewball belonging to an Arthur
Marvell or Mervin. Based on the horse's name, Skewball was likely a skewbald horse. " ref: Wikipedia
Annie and Kate
Stewball Lyrics
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.
His bridle was silver, his main it was gold.
And the worth of his saddle has never been told.
Oh the fairgrounds were crowded, and Stewball was there
But the betting was heavy on the bay and the mare.
And a-way up yonder, ahead of them all,
Came a-prancin' and a-dancin' my noble Stewball.
I bet on the grey mare, I bet on the bay
If I'd have bet on ol' Stewball, I'd be a free man today.
Oh the hoot owl, she hollers, and the turtle dove moans.
I'm a poor boy in trouble, I'm a long way from home.
Oh Stewball was a racehorse, and I wish he were mine.
He never drank water, he always drank wine.
snpsea
it's almost 7 years since i lost my son, Stewart. he was only 44. I called him Stewball. i sang this to him many a night, putting him to bed as a baby and child.
through all my pain, at the cemetery, as he was being buried, I sang the song under my breath, crying all the time.
I miss him so much. I was his father. this is the first time I have heard this song since that day, I did not want to hear it by PP&M, but today, for whatever reason, i reached out for it . I still sing it to myself very often. I miss my Stewball terribly. How I loved him.
norman duke
Bless you, brother. I know we see these people again. They are waiting for us. I promise you.
Paul Heffron
As a musician myself, I am so often amazed at what I may learn about who is in the audience and what they are going through. Yours is a most touching story and one which Peter, Paul and Mary would have been very touched by. They were more than musicians and singers.They cared deeply about everyday people who were affected by their music. I wish you great comfort and peace as you continue to heal from your loss.
José Frajtag
Very sad, it made my cry! Bless you!
Linda Dee
@José Frajtag Instantly made my eyes tear up too. Bless you all.
Peter Richert
looking for and so this is christmas
i found your moving words.
Think of my gone wife and your son steward,
A lot of strength and love, a strong song, greetings Peter from Hamburg, Germany
Linda Dee
I kove this tune and how their harmony builds verse by verse. When they finally sing "came a prancin' and a dancin'", I could almost cry - it's just such beautiful harmony.
michael romeo
I still tear up when I hear those words!
Deanne Carroll
This Peter, Paul and Mary album was the first LP we bought for our first stereo in about 1963, so we raised our kids on "Stewball" and "Puff". It was all magic to them and us. Still is. Thank you, Peter, Paul and Mary, wherever you are.
Susan P Jamieson
there were 6 of us and mom and dad joined Columbia record club. We had this and Andy Williams and the Rolling stones, so many more. Thanks mom and dad for educating us early on about the joys of music!