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.
I'm In Love With A Big Blue Frog
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A big blue frog loves me.
It's not as bad as it appears
He wears glasses and he's six foot three.
Well I'm not worried about our kids,
I know they'll turn out neat.
They'll be great lookin' 'cause they'll have my face,
Well I'm in love with a big blue frog,
A big blue frog loves me.
He's not as bad as he appears,
He's got rhythm and a PhD.
Well I know we can make things work
He's got good family sense.
His mother was a frog from Philadelphia
His daddy an enchanted prince.
The neighbors are against it and it's clear to me
And it's probably clear to you
They think value on their property will go right down
If the family next door is blue.
Well I'm in love with a big blue frog
A big blue frog loves me
I've got it tattooed on my chest
It says P-H-R-O-G (It's frog to me!)
P-H-R-O-G
The song "I'm In Love With A Big Blue Frog" by Peter Paul & Mary is a playful tune about a woman's love for a blue frog. Despite the disapproval of her neighbors, who fear that a blue frog family would lower their property values, the woman is unapologetic about her relationship with the frog. She even has a tattoo of "P-H-R-O-G" on her chest to show her dedication.
The lyrics use humor and irony to suggest that people should be more accepting of differences and not judge solely on appearances. The frog is described as having a PhD, glasses, and good family sense, which challenges the idea that those who look different are inferior or less intelligent. The woman is also confident that her children will turn out great due to their unique mix of genetics from her and the frog.
The song is a timeless classic that still resonates with audiences today. It promotes the idea of acceptance, love, and diversity, which are important values to uphold. It reminds us that looks aren't everything and that there's more to a person (or frog) than meets the eye.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in love with a big blue frog,
I am in love with someone that people may not understand or accept.
A big blue frog loves me.
The person I am in love with accepts and loves me back.
It's not as bad as it appears
The situation is not as negative as people might think.
He wears glasses and he's six foot three.
The person I am in love with has unique physical features.
Well I'm not worried about our kids,
I am not concerned about our future family.
I know they'll turn out neat.
I am confident our children will be exceptional.
They'll be great lookin' 'cause they'll have my face,
Our children will have my attractive facial features.
Great swimmers 'cause they'll have his feet!
Our children will inherit the physical prowess of the person I am in love with.
He's got rhythm and a PhD.
The person I am in love with has intellectual and creative talents.
Well I know we can make things work
I believe our relationship will succeed despite challenges.
He's got good family sense.
The person I am in love with values family and relationships.
His mother was a frog from Philadelphia
The person I am in love with has a unique heritage and background.
His daddy an enchanted prince.
The person I am in love with has connections to royalty or mystical elements.
The neighbors are against it and it's clear to me
Our relationship faces social opposition and disapproval.
And it's probably clear to you
It is likely that outsiders can see the negative reactions we face.
They think value on their property will go right down
The neighbors are concerned that our relationship will negatively impact their property value.
If the family next door is blue.
The neighbors are especially concerned that they will live next to a family that is different from them.
I've got it tattooed on my chest
I am so committed to this relationship that I have made it a permanent part of me.
It says P-H-R-O-G (It's frog to me!)
My tattoo symbolizes my love for the person I am in love with, even if others do not understand.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LES BRAUNSTEIN, LESTER (LES) BRAUNSTEIN, MARY ALLIN TRAVERS, NOEL PAUL STOOKEY, PETER YARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind