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.
The Cuckoo
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She never gets lonesome till the first day of July.
I've gambled in England, and I've gambled down in Spain.
I gambled with five aces, now I've gambled my last game.
Oh, it's gamblin' that's brought me prison,
And it's gamblin' that's brought me pain
I'll never see the cuckoo or hear her song again
Jack o' diamonds, jack o' diamonds, I know you of old
You robbed my poor pockets of silver and of gold.
Oh the cuckoo she's a pretty bird, she sings as she flies
She never gets lonesome till the first day of July.
The lyrics to Peter Paul & Mary's The Cuckoo tell the story of a gambler who has hit rock bottom. He has lost everything he has to gambling, and it has led him to prison and pain. He reflects on the beautiful cuckoo bird, a symbol of freedom and joy, and realizes that he will never be able to experience its song again. The line "she never gets lonesome till the first day of July" suggests that the gambler has been incarcerated for a while and is longing for the freedom that the cuckoo represents.
The gambler then addresses the Jack o' Diamonds, a classic figure in gambling folklore. He accuses Jack of robbing him of his wealth, further cementing the theme of gambling as a destructive force. The repetition of the cuckoo's beauty and freedom contrasts with the despair and hopelessness of the gambler's situation, emphasizing the tragedy of his downfall.
Overall, The Cuckoo's simple lyrics and folksy melody belie the depth of its message about the dangers of gambling and the consequences of our choices. It is a cautionary tale that reminds us to be mindful of how we spend our time and resources.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh the cuckoo she's a pretty bird, she sings as she flies
The cuckoo is a delightful bird that sings while in flight
She never gets lonesome till the first day of July.
The cuckoo's contentment is short-lived and ends in July
I've gambled in England, and I've gambled down in Spain.
I have experienced gambling in England and Spain
I gambled with five aces, now I've gambled my last game.
My last gamble was with five aces and now I cannot gamble anymore
Oh, it's gamblin' that's brought me prison,
My addiction to gambling has resulted in me going to prison
And it's gamblin' that's brought me pain
Gambling has caused me pain and suffering
I'll never see the cuckoo or hear her song again
I regret my mistakes that have led me to lose the ability to enjoy the beauty of the cuckoo's song
Jack o' diamonds, jack o' diamonds, I know you of old
I am familiar with the jack of diamonds
You robbed my poor pockets of silver and of gold.
The jack of diamonds took away my silver and gold
Oh the cuckoo she's a pretty bird, she sings as she flies
The cuckoo is a beautiful bird that sings while flying
She never gets lonesome till the first day of July.
Summer is short for the cuckoo bird and it may lead to a lonely existence
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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