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 dig Rock And Roll Music
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I love to get the chance to play (and sing it)
I figure it's about the happiest sound goin' down today
The message may not move me
Or mean a great deal to me
But hey! It feels so groovy to say
I dig the Mamas and the Papas at "the trip"
And they got a good thing goin'
When the words don't get in the way
And when they're really wailing
Michelle and Cass are sailin'
Hey! they really nail me to the wall
Donovan kind of in a dream-like, tripped out way
His crystal images tell you 'bout a brighter day
And when the Beatles tell you
They've got a word "love" to sell you
They mean exactly what they say
I dig rock and roll music
I could really get it on in that scene.
I think I could say somethin' if you know what I mean
But if I really say it, the radio won't play it
Unless I lay it between the lines
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
The lyrics to "I Dig Rock and Roll Music" by Peter, Paul & Mary speak to the joy and exuberance that rock and roll music can bring. The singer loves playing and singing rock and roll because of how happy it makes them feel. The song pays tribute to some of the great rock and roll musicians and bands of the time, including The Mamas and The Papas, Donovan, and The Beatles. The singer highlights certain qualities that they appreciate in these artists, such as the lyrical simplicity of The Mamas and The Papas and the dreamlike quality of Donovan's music.
The line "But if I really say it, the radio won't play it / Unless I lay it between the lines" speaks to the censorship and conservatism of the time, when some radio stations would ban songs they deemed too risqué or controversial. The singer acknowledges that they can't simply say whatever they want in their music without risking the ire of radio censors. Despite this, rock and roll music is still incredibly important to the singer, and they feel that it represents a happy, joyful sound that is unmatched by anything else on the radio.
Line by Line Meaning
I dig rock and roll music
I love rock and roll music.
And I love to get the chance to play (and sing it)
I enjoy playing and singing rock and roll music.
I figure it's about the happiest sound goin' down today
Rock and roll music is the happiest sound around today.
The message may not move me
The lyrics of the music may not have a strong effect on me.
Or mean a great deal to me
The song's meaning may not be significant to me.
But hey! It feels so groovy to say
But it feels good to listen to and sing along with the music.
I dig the Mamas and the Papas at "the trip"
I really like The Mamas and The Papas, especially when they perform at "the trip" (possibly referring to the club Troubadour in LA).
Sunset strip in L.A.
The Sunset Strip in Los Angeles, California, where many famous rock and roll clubs and venues are located.
And they got a good thing goin'
The Mamas and The Papas have something special about the way they perform and create music.
When the words don't get in the way
Their music is especially enjoyable when the lyrics don't overpower the music.
And when they're really wailing
Their performance is especially powerful and impressive when they are "really wailing" or playing intensely.
Michelle and Cass are sailin'
The voices of Michelle Phillips and Cass Elliot (members of The Mamas and The Papas) are soaring and impressive.
Hey! they really nail me to the wall
Their performance is so good it "nails me to the wall" or captivates and impresses me.
Donovan kind of in a dream-like, tripped out way
Donovan's music often has a dream-like, trippy quality.
His crystal images tell you 'bout a brighter day
The imagery in his lyrics suggest a more positive and bright future.
And when the Beatles tell you
When The Beatles sing about
They've got a word "love" to sell you
Their music promotes the idea of love.
They mean exactly what they say
The Beatles truly believe in the message of love they promote in their music.
I dig rock and roll music
I love rock and roll music.
I could really get it on in that scene.
I really enjoy the atmosphere of the rock and roll music scene.
I think I could say somethin' if you know what I mean
I feel like I have something to contribute to the rock and roll music scene or culture.
But if I really say it, the radio won't play it
If I were to express my true thoughts and feelings in my music, it might not get played on the radio.
Unless I lay it between the lines
I would need to subtly convey my message within the lyrics in order for it to be accepted by the mainstream audience.
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
The repetition of these syllables doesn't have a concrete meaning, but rather adds to the overall rhythm and groove of the song.
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
The repetition of these syllables doesn't have a concrete meaning, but rather adds to the overall rhythm and groove of the song.
Pa pa pa pa pa pa pa
The repetition of these syllables doesn't have a concrete meaning, but rather adds to the overall rhythm and groove of the song.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: DAVE DIXON, JAMES MASON, NOEL PAUL STOOKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Pro1er
A masterpiece of both lyrics and music as is Creeque Alley by the Mamas & The Papas. They don't write songs like that anymore.
@MikeJones-rk1un
MSM censorship. Don't tell the truth whatever you do.
@klaytonvonkluge4905
Amazing music and time;
Mary T.'s enthusiasm and stage presence are positively infectious!
@bpabustan
Mary is the rocker of the three hehehehehe
@Milesco
@bpabustan : Well, she was the only one without an instrument, so she was more able to move around freely. But we like Mary. :-)
@paulwagner688
Especially considering her almost paralyzing stage fright. Why do you think her hands were always clenched in fists?
@jean-pierrejipi5720
Excellent
@angelicwolf909
Happiness is when you belt out music in front of a live audience for the very first time and you know, and they know, you not only have a hit ... but a masterpiece that will be iconic for decades.
@KellysClassics
I hear that...the music I grew up with in the 60s in Saskatchewan will always be w me...including P, P & Mary
@NKEEFE54
I miss going to their shows. They were always like you were sitting with them and everyone was singing together. I miss Mary so much but have been able to see both Paul and Peter since her passing. Great timeless music, it is still as relevant today as it was 50 years ago.