Posted on 01/07/2025 11:28:03 AM PST by Morgana
Peter Yarrow who was part of the legendary 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul, And Mary who are best known for iconic song Puff The Magic Dragon is dead at 86.
The controversial musician passed away after battling bladder cancer for four years his publicist confirmed.
He was the lead vocalist of the hit track Puff The Magic Dragon - which was released in 1960 - as he denied that the song was about drugs for years which is what many had believed.
Yarrow staunchly denied that it was about drug taking and has maintained that the actual meaning of the song is about the hardships of growing up.
The musician has previously said that the song 'never had any meaning other than the obvious one' and is about the 'loss of innocence in children.'
Yarrow had also been embroiled in controversy as he was sentenced to three months in jail over a 1969 incident in which the 14-year-old and her 17-year-old sister went to his hotel seeking an autograph and he answered the door naked.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
This is funny. The next song to play on Spotify after “J’entends siffler le train” was “Itsy bitsy, petit bikini.” That French song title lost a wee bit in translation!
I thought it was another anti-war song and that poor Puff ended up where all the flowers had gone.
Little girl + flower + mushroom cloud = Puff.
I always thought if was about C130 gunships :-)
I sang that song to my children and grandchildren many times. Chokes me up to this day.
Meet the Parents had Robert DeNiro certain that Ben Stiller was a pothead, referencing the Puff song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LNA5SvbzqI
I had to look that one up.
https://youtu.be/U6DVOqdayU8?si=G2Ybf9_a4ExU-WSD
and White Rabbit was about making stew.
true
It was probably just what he said.
“It’s probably worth noting that Peter Yarrow was pardoned by Jimmy Carter.”
I did not know this. Pardoned for what?
LOL
“Sad song, really.”
Yes kinda like Harry Chapin’s “Cats in the Cradle”. It’s talking about a child growing up and childhood is forever gone.
Or perhaps their predecessors, the AC-47 gunships, armed with aft-mounted Gatling guns, who terrorized the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
I interpret “Cat’s in the Cradle” as being about a cat who is always demanding attention—sort of like my neighbor’s cat.
I think the land is Hanalei, next to the misty Mt. Waialeale, the rainiest spot in the world.
I think the land is Hanalei, next to the misty Mt. Waialeale, the rainiest spot in the world.
Is that near Mount Wanahakaloogie?
And they wandered in From the city of St. John Without a dime Wearing coats that shined Both red and green Colors from their sunny island From their boats of iron They looked upon the promised land Where surely life was sweet
In that song the Cats are in the cradle because there are no more babies to sleep there.
It may have inspired the Saturday morning cartoon “H.R. Pufnstuf”.
Lucy sky diamonds;-)
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