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 Shall Be Released
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And yet every distance is not near
So I remember every face
Of every man that put me here
And I see my light come shinin'
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
They say every man needs protection
They say every man must fall
But I swear I seen my reflection
Somewhere so high above this wall
Then I see my light come shinin'
From the west down to the east
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
You're standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Is a man who says he's not to blame
And all day long I hear him crying so loud
You're shouting out that he was framed
But I see my, I see my light come shinin'
From the west down to the eastc
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
I see my light come shinin'
From the west down to the eastc
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
Any day now, any day now
I shall be released
The song "I Shall Be Released" by Peter, Paul & Mary is a timeless classic that is both haunting and uplifting. The song is about a person who is currently in some kind of confinement, possibly in prison, but who believes that they will soon be released. Through his words, the singer reveals a sense of determination and hope that despite everything he’s been through, he believes that he will eventually be set free.
The first verse of the song "They say everything can be replaced, And yet every distance is not near, So I remember every face, Of every man that put me here" is about the singer's memories of those who put him in this situation. He remembers their faces and his experiences. He is now in a place of confinement, where his freedom is restricted, but he still remembers every face of those who put him here.
The second verse of the song "They say every man needs protection, They say every man must fall, But I swear I seen my reflection, Somewhere so high above this wall" is about the singer's perception of the necessity of protection and the inevitability of failure. The singer is confident, and he sees himself overcoming these barriers and achieving freedom. The lyrics "I swear I seen my reflection, somewhere so high above this wall" indicate that the singer envisions his future self up high, beyond the walls that keep him confined.
Line by Line Meaning
They say everything can be replaced
It is said that everything in this world has a replacement
And yet every distance is not near
And yet, distance can't be shortened, it remains far
So I remember every face
Therefore, I remember every person that has wronged me
Of every man that put me here
Whether they were involved directly or indirectly in putting me in this situation
And I see my light come shinin'
I visualize my freedom and happiness
From the west down to the east
I can see the brightness emanating from all directions
Any day now, any day now
It could happen at any moment now
I shall be released
I will break free from my suffering
They say every man needs protection
People say that everyone needs security
They say every man must fall
People also say that everyone goes down at some point
But I swear I seen my reflection
But I'm sure that I saw my true self
Somewhere so high above this wall
Somewhere above this barrier that's blocking my way
You're standing next to me in this lonely crowd
Although you stand with me, we're still alone in this world
Is a man who says he's not to blame
There's a man here who claims he's not at fault
And all day long I hear him crying so loud
And he cries out loudly all day long
You're shouting out that he was framed
You're saying that he was set up
But I see my, I see my light come shinin'
Despite all this, I still see my light shining
From the west down to the eastc
I can see the brightness spreading across the sky
Any day now, any day now
It could happen any day now
I shall be released
My problems will be over soon
I see my light come shinin'
I can see my liberation and happiness on the horizon
From the west down to the eastc
I can see my brightness expanding across the day
Any day now, any day now
My freedom could arrive at any moment
I shall be released
I will finally be free to live as I please
Any day now, any day now
Freedom is just a heartbeat away
I shall be released
My trials will be over and I will break free
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind