"Puff The Magic Dragon" by Peter, Paul, and Mary Lyrics Explained |
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Recorded by Peter, Paul, and Mary
Album: "Moving" - 1962
The lyrics for "Puff" were based on a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton, a nineteen-year-old Cornell student. Lipton was inspired by an Ogden Nash poem titled "Custard the Dragon," about a "Really-O, Truly-O, little pet dragon." Lipton passed his poem on to friend and fellow Cornell student Peter Yarrow, who added a tune and additional lyrics to transform the poem into the song. In 1961, Yarrow teamed up with Paul Stookey and Mary Travers to form Peter, Paul and Mary. The group incorporated the song into their live performances before recording it in 1962.
The lyrics tell a bittersweet story of the ageless dragon Puff and his playmate Jackie Paper, a little boy who grows up and loses interest in the imaginary adventures of childhood. The story of the song takes place "by the sea" in the village of Hanalei, Hawaii.
Believed by many people to refer to smoking marijuana (a rumor later incorporated into the film Meet the Parents), it became a hippie anthem. The authors of the song have repeatedly and vehemently denied any intentional drug reference. On stage, they have often asserted their innocence by comparing it to other songs like the Star-Spangled Banner that could be construed as a drug song if the listeners had a mind to make it that way.
(Chorus:)
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
(Chorus, twice)
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 whene'er they came,
Pirate ships would lower their flag when Puff roared out his name. Oh
(Chorus)
A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys.
One grey 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 life-long friend, Puff could not be brave,
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave. Oh
(Chorus, softly)
(Chorus, loudly)
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