Controversial 60s folk legend who wrote Puff The Magic Dragon and always denied its meaning is dead at 86

Daily Mail UK ^ | January 7, 2025 | JUSTIN ENRIQUEZ

[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.

[Morgana]

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

RIP Peter

[Crusher138]

A dragon lives forever,
but not so little boys...

[Nextrush]

It’s probably worth noting that Peter Yarrow was pardoned by Jimmy Carter.

[AppyPappy]

Paul Stuckey spoke at a church near us a few years back.

[usurper]

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.

Come on, who hasn't had that happen.

[fidelis]

Controversial 60s folk legend who wrote Puff The Magic Dragon and always denied its alleged meaning is dead at 86

There, fixed it. If he said it wasn't about drugs, it wasn't about drugs.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“best known for iconic song Puff The Magic Dragon”

Honestly, is that their “best known iconic song”? There are so many other great songs by PP&M that greatly eclipse that.

[dfwgator]

Always thought it was their cover of John Denver’s “Leaving On A Jet Plane”.

[Jim W N]

It’s pretty obvious what Puff The Magic Dragon was about.

But God bless Peter Yarrow who became a Christian and is now in Heaven, a much better place that where we are right now.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

Can you imagine being in a band and having to play that tune 5,000,000 times?

[Red Badger]

I locked myself out of a Holiday Inn motel room once while in my underwear.

I had to go to the lobby and get the mgr to come open the door and get my ID.................

[Steve_Seattle]

One of the most nauseating songs ever.

[Round Earther]

My guess is that they did not anticipate seeing Peter’s magic dragon.

[Mathews]

Sad song, really.

[ConservativeMind]

I always liked that song.

I hope he was right with God and his loved ones are, as well.

[LittleBillyInfidel]

Peter, Paul, and Mary were close friends of our across the street neighbors. One day, they were there for a summer BBQ but I was too young to appreciate meeting them. Dang.

[metmom]

That song always choked me up.

[Jamestown1630]

There wasn’t an obvious drug meaning at all, to many of us.

[Steely Tom]

When I was in second grade (1962), I begged my parents to get me PTMD to play on my little record player. They never got around to it, kept "forgetting" to buy it. Eventually I forgot about it.

When he was in his final days, I asked my father — age 89 — why they never would buy me that record. He said "we thought it had a pro-drug message."

I never thought they knew about that, at the time.

[Hatteras]

Well, if I had a hammer...