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.
Wedding Song
Peter Paul & Mary Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on his part.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love. there is love.
A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
And there is love. there is love.
Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
And if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
Oh there's love, there is love.
Oh the marriage of your spirits here has caused him to remain
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
There is love. there is love.
The Wedding Song by Peter Paul & Mary is a beautiful and insightful song about the union of two souls in marriage. The first verse describes the presence of a troubadour among the people who are gathered to witness the union of two spirits. The troubadour is there to confirm the love that exists between the couple and to ensure that their union creates a strong bond.
The second verse talks about the sacrifice that is made when a man leaves his mother and a woman leaves her home to be with each other. The verse reflects on the ancient belief that women draw their life force from men and return it back to them. It also suggests that love is the primary reason for two people to come together, to be united and become one.
The third verse poses the question, “What’s to be the reason for becoming man and wife?” And suggests that loving is the answer. It asks if the giving in the relationship is all there is to love, or if there is something beyond it. The verse confirms that there is indeed love that is unseen, but is present in the union of two spirits in marriage.
Overall, The Wedding Song by Peter Paul & Mary is a beautiful and uplifting song that inspires the listener to believe in the power of love and the union of two people in marriage.
Line by Line Meaning
He is now to be among you at the calling of your hearts
The singer is present at the ceremony because his music speaks to the hearts of those in attendance.
Rest assured this troubadour is acting on his part.
The singer is performing his part in this event and doing so with confidence.
The union of your spirits, here, has caused him to remain
The singer is grateful to be a part of the spiritual union between the couple that has caused him to stay.
For whenever two or more of you are gathered in his name
The couple's love is greater than themselves and shows the presence of a higher power.
There is love. there is love.
Love is present in the union of the couple and is the reason for the singer's presence.
A man shall leave his mother and a woman leave her home
The couple is leaving their old lives behind and starting anew together.
And they shall travel on to where the two shall be as one.
They will travel together through life as a united couple.
As it was in the beginning is now and til the end
Love and union between man and woman have always existed and always will.
Woman draws her life from man and gives it back again.
The woman gains life from the man and gives it back in the form of their love and union.
And there is love. there is love.
Their love and union is present throughout their lives together.
Well then what's to be the reason for becoming man and wife?
The singer questions the reason for the couple's decision to get married.
Is it love that brings you here or love that brings you life?
The singer wonders whether the couple's love is what brought them to this point, or whether it is the love that they will create together that will give them life.
And if loving is the answer, then who's the giving for?
If love is the reason for marriage, then who will be the one to give more?
Do you believe in something that you've never seen before?
The singer asks if the couple believes in the power of love, even if they cannot physically see it.
Oh there's love, there is love.
Love is the underlying presence throughout the ceremony and is the reason for the couple's union.
Lyrics © MUSIC & MEDIA INT'L, INC.
Written by: NOEL PAUL STOOKEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Annette Koch
Paul Stookey sang beautifully. I wish Mary was still here. The best wedding song ever!!! Who agrees?
James West
🙋♂️
One_who_walks A_head.
I was married to this song, in ‘89
Now our oldest daughter is walking with me on her special day to this song.
Mark Lawrence
I know I am "oldish", but I remember the first time I heard these divine voices - 54 years ago. They were and still remain unique in the music world. The very best!
David Meredith
Simply a Perfectly, Beautiful, Amazing song!!!
Barbara Koeppe
I love it
Becky Edwards
This was our wedding song 46 years ago.
I heard this song watching an old 70s TV show last night. When I heard it, it brought me to my knees in tears. My husband passed in December of 2020 due to covid.
He will always be in my heart, and my true ❤️.
Sarah Bauer
This was my song as I walked down the aisle in 1973.. It was played on the Church organ by one of my students, a 7th grader who also used it for her wedding song 12 years later.
m Morris
We played this song as we entered the chapel 37 yrs ago, May God bless and have mercy on all of us
Bark Angel
I did as well. My mother picked out this song for us. 34 years ago.