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 House Song
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And taken off the market in the afternoon.
You can buy a piece of it if you want to
It's been good to me if it's been good for you.
Take the grand look now the fire is burning
Is that your reflection on the wall?
I can show you this room and some others
Careful up the stairs, a few are missing
I haven't had the time to make repairs
First step is the hardest one to master
Last one I'm not really sure is there.
This room here once had childish laughter
And I come back to hear it now and again
I can't say that I'm certain what you're after
But in this room, a part of you will remain.
Second floor, the lady sleeps in waiting
Past the lantern, tiptoe in its glance
In the room the soft brown arms of shadow
This room the hardest one to pass.
How much will you pay to live in the attic?
The shavings off your mind are the only rent
I left some would there if you thought you couldn't
Or if the shouldn't that you've bought has been spent.
This house goes on sale ev'ry Wednesday morning
And taken off the market in the afternoon.
You can buy a piece of it if you want to
It's been good for me if it's been good for you.
The House Song by Peter, Paul & Mary is a powerful and emotive tribute to the different stages of life that a house can bear witness to. The house, referred to in the song, is presented as having a personality of its own with the ability to offer redemption and salvation to those who stay within its walls. The first verse describes the process of buying and selling the house as a regular occurrence, with the implication that all the possessions and memories that it contains will be sold off along with it. However, the refrain declares that the house has been "good" to both the person currently inhabiting it and any future occupants. This sense of gratitude towards the house is reinforced throughout the song.
As the song progresses, the lyrics spend time exploring different parts of the house and the memories attached to them. Each room holds a different emotion and a different story, and the singer is keen to share these experiences with the listener. There is a sense of nostalgia and reflection throughout the song, as though the singer is conscious of the fact that their time in the house is coming to an end, and they want to hold on to these memories.
The song is also notable for its musical styling, which is both gentle and contemplative. The melody is simple and haunting, with the harmonies of Peter, Paul & Mary providing a sense of warmth and comfort.”The House Song” has become a classic folk tune and is often cited as a fan favorite.
Line by Line Meaning
This house goes on sale ev'ry Wednesday morning
This house is regularly up for sale every Wednesday morning
And taken off the market in the afternoon.
However, it is sold very quickly and taken off the market in the afternoon
You can buy a piece of it if you want to
If interested, you may purchase a section of the house
It's been good to me if it's been good for you.
If the house has been beneficial to you just as it has been to me, then go ahead and acquire it
Take the grand look now the fire is burning
Observe this magnificent scenery with the fire blazing in the background
Is that your reflection on the wall?
Do you notice your reflection in the wall?
I can show you this room and some others
I can take you around this and other rooms in the house
If you came to see the house at all.
Of course, if you actually came to see the house
Careful up the stairs, a few are missing
Be cautious as you climb the stairs because some of them are not there
I haven't had the time to make repairs
Unfortunately, I haven't had the chance to get the necessary repairs done
First step is the hardest one to master
The first step is the most challenging one to climb
Last one I'm not really sure is there.
I am not precisely certain if the final step is included.
This room here once had childish laughter
In this room, children's laughter once filled the air
And I come back to hear it now and again
From time to time, I return to the room to reminisce
I can't say that I'm certain what you're after
I am unsure of your intentions or desires
But in this room, a part of you will remain.
However, a portion of yourself will be left behind in this room
Second floor, the lady sleeps in waiting
On the second floor, a lady awaits her slumber
Past the lantern, tiptoe in its glance
Proceed quietly past the lantern's light
In the room the soft brown arms of shadow
In the room, the gentle, dark shadows envelop everything
This room the hardest one to pass.
Out of all the rooms, this is the hardest one to go through
How much will you pay to live in the attic?
What would you be willing to pay to reside in the attic?
The shavings off your mind are the only rent
The sole payment would be the tiny pieces of your thoughts
I left some would there if you thought you couldn't
If you believed you couldn't pay, I've already left some wood there for you
Or if the shouldn't that you've bought has been spent.
Or in case you've already expended the 'shouldn'ts' you had
This house goes on sale ev'ry Wednesday morning
Once again, this house goes up for sale every Wednesday morning
And taken off the market in the afternoon.
And it is removed from the market by the afternoon.
You can buy a piece of it if you want to
If you're interested, a portion of the house can be purchased
It's been good for me if it's been good for you.
This house has been great for me, and if it has been wonderful for you, then that's fantastic
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: BANNARD ROBERT H, H BANNARD ROBERT, NOEL PAUL STOOKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind