The group made its television debut in either 1961 or 1962 on a talk show hosted by Mike Wallace and Joyce Davidson, though neither audio nor video footage has yet been found. By 1963, Peter, Paul, and Mary had recorded three albums. All three were in the Top ten the week of President Kennedy's assassination.
That year, the group also released "Puff the Magic Dragon", which Yarrow and fellow Cornell student Leonard Lipton had written in 1959, 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. One of their biggest hit singles was the Bob Dylan song "Blowin' in the Wind. They also sang other Bob Dylan songs, such as: "The Times They Are a-Changin'"; "Don't Think Twice, it's Alright"; and "When the Ship Comes In".
"Leaving On A Jet Plane" became their only #1 hit (as well as their final Top 40 hit) in December 1969, and was written by John Denver (who already had some success with The Chad Mitchell Trio), and first appeared on their Album 1700 in 1967. "Day Is Done", a #21 hit in June 1969, was the last Hot 100 hit that the trio recorded.
The trio broke up in 1970 to pursue solo careers, but found little of the success which they had experienced 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 45 shows a year.[1]
The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999.
The trio became political activists for their commitment to peace in Central America and for supporting musically and personally the peace and social justice movement in America. Their inveterate support for Israel distinguishes them from other major folk singing groups and implies a uniqueness of consideration and courage in their political choices. They were awarded the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience on September 1, 1990.[2]
In 2004, Travers was diagnosed with leukemia, leading to the cancellation of the remaining tour dates for that year. She received a bone marrow transplant and is recovering. She and the rest of the trio resumed their concert tour on December 9, 2005 with a holiday performance at Carnegie Hall.
Peter, Paul, and Mary received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.
The trio sang in Mitchell, South Dakota, for the George and Eleanor McGovern Library and Center for Leadership dedication concert on October 5, 2006.
The trio canceled several dates of their summer 2007 tour, as Mary took longer than expected to recover from back surgery and later had to undergo a second surgery, further postponing the tour.[1] They will make up at least one of the dates, at the Northfork Theatre (formerly Westbury Music Fair) in June 2008.
Apologize
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
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He hasn't been himself for a long, long time.
From the beginning of his minding
other people's dids and don'ts.
He could excuse himself but he won't
And I'm sorry if we busted up your party.
Yes, there was a girl in his life, and then some!
She was exactly half at fault
he thought the other was his own
So only half the man has grown
and it's taking him sometime to get together.
He was the first kid on his block to have one;
And he wants to share it with you all of the time.
He takes advantage of your kindness;
says he needs that just to live
He doesn't want you to forgive him
but he thinks you might if you have half a mind to.
Yes, I think I would enjoy some coffee;
I've had a lot to think in the past few days.
And if I told you all the ways
my friend and I were not to blame
You'd see yourself as just the same
So I think I'll wait and save that for the next time.
The song "Apologize" by Peter, Paul and Mary is a remorseful confession from the character singing, who apologises on behalf of their friend who has been acting strangely for quite some time. The song starts off with an apology on the friend's behalf and the acknowledgement that he has not been himself for a long duration. The character then goes on to offer an explanation of sorts for the friend's behaviour while explaining how the friend was initially always fixated on complying with other people's dos and don'ts.
The second verse briefly refers to a girl who may have been at the centre of the friend's odd behaviour. The friend had a good time with the girl and assumed half the blame, with the girl assuming the other half. Due to this, the friend is unable to grow completely as a whole person, and it's taking him time to get himself together. The song concludes with the character accepting responsibility on behalf of the friend and expressing gratitude to the listener for their kindness but declining an offer to justify themselves more in-depth.
Line by Line Meaning
I would like to apologize for my friend, here;
I take the responsibility to apologize on behalf of my friend.
He hasn't been himself for a long, long time.
My friend has been troubled for a prolonged period, and it has changed him.
From the beginning of his minding other people's dids and don'ts.
My friend has been concerned with the actions of others from the start.
He could excuse himself but he won't
My friend could give excuses, but he chooses not to.
And I'm sorry if we busted up your party.
I apologize for ruining your event.
Yes, there was a girl in his life, and then some!
My friend had a complicated relationship with a woman.
He was had by her and a good time by all.
He was deceived and used by her and everyone enjoyed the time.
She was exactly half at fault he thought the other was his own
My friend believed that the woman was fifty percent to blame while he took the rest of the responsibility.
So only half the man has grown and it's taking him sometime to get together.
He has only grown half-heartedly, and it is taking him a while to recover fully.
He was the first kid on his block to have one;
My friend was the first in his neighborhood to have something.
And he wants to share it with you all of the time.
He desires to share his possession with you often.
He takes advantage of your kindness; says he needs that just to live
He exploits your generosity, claiming that he needs it to survive.
He doesn't want you to forgive him, but he thinks you might if you have half a mind to.
My friend does not expect or want forgiveness, but he hopes that you might forgive him anyway.
Yes, I think I would enjoy some coffee;
I would like a cup of coffee, I think.
I've had a lot to think in the past few days.
I have been pondering a great deal lately.
And if I told you all the ways my friend and I were not to blame,
If I explained to you all the circumstances that prove my friend and I were not at fault,
You'd see yourself as just the same
You would recognize that you share the same circumstances as us.
So I think I'll wait and save that for the next time.
I will hold off on the explanation for another occasion.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: NOEL PAUL STOOKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind