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 Wonder As I Wander
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
How Jesus the Saviour had come for to die
For poor orn'ry creatures like you and like I
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
With wisemen and shepherds and farmers and all
And high in the heavens a star's light did fall
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
Like a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing
Well, he surely could have had them, for he was their King
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
How Jesus the Saviour had come for to die
For poor orn'ry creatures like you and like I
I wonder as I wander, out under the sky.
The song, "I Wonder as I Wander," performed by Peter Paul and Mary, begins with a question that is at the heart of the Christian faith - why would Jesus, the savior of mankind, come to earth to die? The singer ponders this question as they wander under the vast sky. The second verse describes the circumstances of Jesus's birth, in a humble cow's stall surrounded by wise men, shepherds, and farmers. The star that shone above them signaled the fulfillment of an ancient promise. The singer then muses that if Jesus had wanted anything in the world, he could have had it - he was the king of angels, stars, and everything else in heaven.
The song is a powerful reflection on the spiritual mysteries of Christmas, with a particular focus on Jesus's humanity and self-sacrifice. By wondering about Jesus's reasons for coming to earth, the singer is acknowledging the profound mystery and wonder of the Incarnation. Like many Christmas songs, "I Wonder as I Wander" encourages us to contemplate the deeper meaning of the holiday season beyond the commercial trappings of gifts and decorations.
Line by Line Meaning
I wonder, as I wander out under the sky
Amidst the vastness of the sky, I ponder over Jesus' sacrifice
How Jesus the Saviour had come for to die
The purpose of Jesus' coming was to die for our sins
For poor orn'ry creatures like you and like I
His sacrifice was for ordinary, unworthy beings like us
When Mary birthed Jesus, 'twas in a cow's stall
Jesus was born in a humble place with simple folk around him
With wisemen and shepherds and farmers and all
He was visited by various people, rich and poor, who were moved by his birth
And high in the heavens a star's light did fall
A bright star appeared in the sky, a sign of the arrival of the messiah
'Twas the promise of the ages, it then did recall
The star reminded us of the long-awaited promise of the messiah's arrival
If Jesus had wanted for any wee thing
Jesus had the power to have anything he desired
Like a star in the sky, or a bird on the wing
Even if he wished for something simple or grand, he could have had it with his power
Or all of God's angels in heav'n for to sing
He could have commanded the angels in heaven to sing his praises
Well, he surely could have had them, for he was their King
Jesus was the king of all, and thus had the power to command anything
I wonder as I wander out under the sky
Once again, I am lost in thought and amazement of Jesus' sacrifice
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: TRADITIONAL, ROBERT MATHES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind