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.
Goodnight Irene
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Irene, goodnight
Irene, goodnight
Goodnight irene, goodnight irene
I'll see you in my dreams
Well last Saturday night I got married,
Me and my wife settled down
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown
(chorus)
Some folks they like their sugar
Some folks they like their wine
Some folks love their music
And they sing it all the time
(chorus)
Stop your rambling, why don't you stop your gambling
Well stop your staying out so late at night
Go home to your wife and family
Stay there by the fireside bright
(chorus)
Goodnight irene, goodnight irene
I'll see you in my dreams
The song "Goodnight Irene" is a classic American folk song that tells the tale of a man who appears to have recently gotten married but is now separated from his wife. The chorus begins with the repeated phrase "Irene, goodnight" as the song's narrator wishes farewell to the woman, vowing to see her in his dreams. The rest of the song is structured around several different verses, each of which touches on themes of love, heartbreak, and ultimately, the importance of returning to one's family and loved ones.
The first verse speaks of the singer's recent wedding and his desire to settle down with his new spouse. However, things have apparently not gone well as he and his wife have since separated. In the second verse, the singer reflects on the different things that people find joy in - from sugar and wine to music. In the final verse, he urges someone to give up their wandering ways and return home to their family where they belong.
Overall, the song is a poignant and timeless reflection on the ups and downs of love and life, and the importance of staying true to oneself and one's loved ones.
Line by Line Meaning
Irene, goodnight
The singer bids farewell to a woman named Irene for the night.
Irene, goodnight
Repeating the farewell to Irene.
Goodnight irene, goodnight irene
Repeating the goodnight parting to Irene one more time.
I'll see you in my dreams
The singer hopes to meet Irene in his dreams when he sleeps.
Well last Saturday night I got married,
The singer got married on a Saturday night recently.
Me and my wife settled down
The singer and his wife are living together peacefully.
Well now me and my wife are parted,
The singer and his wife have now separated.
I'm gonna take another stroll downtown
The singer plans to go out and take a walk around the town again.
Some folks they like their sugar
Some people enjoy sweet things in life, such as desserts.
Some folks they like their wine
Some people enjoy drinking wine as a form of pleasure.
Some folks love their music
Some people are passionate about music and enjoy listening to it.
And they sing it all the time
These music lovers enjoy singing or listening to songs all day long.
Stop your rambling, why don't you stop your gambling
The singer advises someone to stop wandering around aimlessly and gambling financially.
Well stop your staying out so late at night
The singer advises someone to stop spending too much time outside during late hours.
Go home to your wife and family
The singer advises someone to return home to their family instead of wasting their time outside.
Stay there by the fireside bright
The singer recommends staying at home by the fireplace.
Goodnight irene, goodnight irene
Repeating the farewell to Irene one more time.
I'll see you in my dreams
The singer hopes to meet Irene in his dreams when he sleeps.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Huddie Ledbetter, John Lomax
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind