PETER PAUL AND MARY PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON

youtube music ^ | June 14, 2015 | Peter Paul and Mary

[Morgana]

Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee

Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff

And brought him strings, and sealing wax, and other fancy stuff

Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail

Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puff's gigantic tail

Noble kings and princes would bow whenever they came

Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name

Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys

Painted wings and giant's rings make way for other toys

One gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more

And Puff, that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

His head was bent in sorrow, green scales fell like rain

Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane

Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave

So Puff, that mighty dragon, sadly slipped into his cave

Oh, Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist, in a land called Honah Lee

[Ueriah]

Loved to listen to this as a kid.

[Jim W N]

The metaphor seems so obvious, it’s hard to imagine denying it.

[PGR88]

I don’t know how anyone reading the lyrics could think this is about LSD.

To me, it reads like AA Milne and Winnie the Pooh

[MtnClimber]

RIP Peter Yarrow.

[doorgunner69]

Wasn’t that the song that idiot algore’s wife condemned as a drug song?

I still recall the ridicule she got.

[Jamestown1630]

It was never ‘obvious’ until someone decided to declare it to be so; and most of us still didn’t see it.

[MtnClimber]

Peter Yarrow died today. I think that was the reason for the post.

[Dilbert San Diego]

I remember people saying Mister Tambourine Man was a song about drugs.

I guess it all depends on whether you see the symbolism, or if you take song lyrics literally. Some songs make no sense if you interpret the lyrics literally.

[Jamestown1630]

It never struck me that either was about drugs; and I still don’t believe either one is.

[Fiji Hill]

A dragon lives forever

However, Puff did not. According to "Emperor" Bob Hudson, a disc jockey on KRLA also known as Beautiful Bob, Puff was killed in Hanalei Bay by dragon hunters in 1982.

[Jim W N]

This was the age of “weed”, “grass”, marijuana and they were right in the middle of it.

Common, “Puff” the magic dragon who Jackie “Paper” loved in a misty place? It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to see it.

Nevertheless, I’m glad that at least Peter and Paul if not Mary, came to Jesus and that Peter is in Heaven right now.

[Jamestown1630]

Sorry, I never saw it; and still don’t.

[Jim W N]

This was the 60’s. Were you a teenager in the 60’s when weed (MJ) became popular?

[stylin19a]

thanks for that. a bunch of lefties(as was i in the mid 60’s) that had a nice harmonious sound.

[DesertRhino]

I don’t see it at all. None....

[KevinB]

Written by the recently departed Peter Yarrow. A noted Commie. Also a noted pedophile.

[Jamestown1630]

I was 10 years old in 1963 when the song first came out, and heard it and sang it throughout my teens.

I didn't see it as being about drugs and still don't.

There were certainly popular songs that symbolically referred to drugs in the 1960s; but I've never thought that this was one.

Here, according to Wiki, is what the author of the original lyrics, Leonard Lipton, conveyed about the meaning:

'Lipton was 19 when he wrote the poem that was adapted into the lyrics for the 1963 song "Puff, the Magic Dragon", performed by Peter, Paul and Mary. His inspiration was a 1936 Ogden Nash poem, "The Tale of Custard the Dragon". "Pirates and dragons, back then, were common interests in stories for boys", Lipton said. "The Puff story is really just a lot like Peter Pan." Lipton spent decades denying that the song was about marijuana and believed that the myth was created by New York columnist Dorothy Kilgallen.'

[John Milner]

After the theory that it was about drugs came out the author denied it. And continued to deny it.

The fact that someone sat down and decided all the lyrics were symbolism for drugs does not make that the intent of the composer.

It’s like gay activists finding any excuse to determine that some historical figure was gay.

That said, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds was definitely about LSD (Just kidding. It isn’t.)

[Jamestown1630]

Peter Yarrow didn’t write it; he adapted a poem someone else wrote to go with a melody.