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.
Rocky Road
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I found a penny on the ground
Met a friend I never know'd,
walkin' down ol' Rocky Road.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Tell me inside out, tell me upside down,
All around the block, all around the town.
Jimmy, come out and play.
Well Red Light, Green Light and I'll be "it" today.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Hey Jimmy Huggins your name's been called
Come and stand beside the wall.
Pick a girl that you know well
You can kiss and you can tell.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Jenny, come out and play.
Well Red Light, Green Light and I'll be "it" today.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Little Miss Jenny, don't you hide
Papa's gonna take you for a pony ride.
One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Cross the line and close the door.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see
Tell me inside out, tell me upside down,
All around the block, all around the town.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Red light green light 'round the town,
I found a penny on the ground
Met a friend I never know'd,
walkin' down ol' Rocky Road.
The song "Rocky Road" by Peter Paul & Mary is a playful composition that mimics the cadence and style of playground games. The lyrics depict children playing games like "Red Light, Green Light" and "One Potato, Two Potato" while walking down the "Rocky Road." The first stanza sets the scene by describing the game of "Red Light, Green Light" and finding a penny on the ground. As the song progresses, it introduces new characters, like Jimmy and Jenny, who come out to play.
The song is essentially a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It provides a glimpse into the mind of a child, with a focus on games and playful activities. The chorus of the song, "Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see," is a call to the imagination, as the children ask the imaginary road to show them what it sees. The lyrics are layered with various rhyming patterns, repetitions, and word plays, creating a fun and carefree tone.
Overall, "Rocky Road" is a simple and enjoyable song that captures the essence of childhood. It reminds us of the importance of play and imagination, elements that often fade away as we grow older.
Line by Line Meaning
Red light green light 'round the town,
Let's play red light green light around the town.
I found a penny on the ground
While walking around, I found a penny on the ground.
Met a friend I never know'd,
I met someone I never knew before.
walkin' down ol' Rocky Road.
We were walking down the road called Rocky Road.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Hey Rocky Road, tell me what you can see around.
Tell me inside out, tell me upside down,
Tell me everything there is to know, from all angles.
All around the block, all around the town.
Everywhere, from corner to corner of this town.
Jimmy, come out and play.
Jimmy, come out and play with us.
Well Red Light, Green Light and I'll be "it" today.
Let's play red light green light, and I'll be the one who is 'it'.
Hey Jimmy Huggins your name's been called
Hey Jimmy Huggins, we're calling you to come play.
Come and stand beside the wall.
Just come over here next to the wall.
Pick a girl that you know well
Choose a girl you know well.
You can kiss and you can tell.
You can kiss her and tell us about it.
Jenny, come out and play.
Jenny, come play with us.
Little Miss Jenny, don't you hide
Hey Little Miss Jenny, don't hide from us.
Papa's gonna take you for a pony ride.
I'm going to take you for a ride on a pony.
One potato, two potato, three potato, four
Let's play the game 'One Potato, Two Potato, Three Potato, Four'.
Cross the line and close the door.
Cross the line and then close the door behind us.
Red Green ol' Rocky Road, tell me what you see.
Hey Rocky Road, tell me what else you can see around here.
Tell me inside out, tell me upside down,
Tell me everything, in great detail.
All around the block, all around the town.
Everywhere, in every nook and cranny of this town.
Red light green light 'round the town,
Let's play red light green light around the town.
I found a penny on the ground
While walking around, I found a penny on the ground.
Met a friend I never know'd,
I met someone I never knew before.
walkin' down ol' Rocky Road.
We were walking down the road called Rocky Road.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ALBERT GROSSMAN, MARY ALLIN TRAVERS, NOEL PAUL STOOKEY, PETER YARROW
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lindadee2053
Something very special about these three voices. The way they blend together is pure musical magic.
@davidanthonystone5165
Just amazing 55 years later.
@heavenleigh4291
My nana who passed away this year used to sing and play this to me on the guitar as a kid and switched "Jonny" out for my name. This is my first time listening to the song in over a decade. I'm crying wow, this brings back so many wonderful memories with her. Rest in peace Nana 🙏❤️☹️
@RickReiley
I saw them in Tulsa in 64 or 65. Still one of the best concerts I've ever seen.
@SethHarcrowmusic
sounds like one of the greatest concerts you'll have ever know'd :0
@alanlane3670
This is REAL talent.......
@michaellazzeri9439
I only saw them one time, so much to my regret, & that was in '64, in Boulder, Colo., & CU Events Center. ---------it was a concert I'll never forget. --------------------------MJL, 74 y/o
@davidanthonystone5165
I just came from Boulder back to NY
Love PPM. I saw them from their
Beginning
@Guffy1944
LOVE this song. So many memories come flooding back. Thanx for posting.
@MASTERMIND2368
I'm probably like the only person born in this century whos here, and for those who aren't, I'm glad to see that at least some of y'all have good music tastes 😉