Peter, Paul & Mary Performing 'Puff The Magic Dragon' Is Exactly The Performance We Need

May 27, 2020 by apost team

Peter, Paul & Mary were one of the most popular and enduring folk-pop acts to emerge from the 1960s scene. Over the years, they became famous for their mellow, perceptive lyrics and warm, likable personas.

Their hits have included classics like Leaving On A Jet Plane, I Dig Rock and Roll Music, and Blowing in the Wind. But they're best known for a song that embraces the imagination and creativity of youth, Puff, the Magic Dragon.

Puff tells the story of a boy, Jackie Paper, and his imaginary best friend. With his magical companion, Jackie frolics in a wonderland of his own creation. They met princes and kings and sailed the seas together.

Sadly, as Jackie grows older, he forgets his old friend Puff. The song has stayed with generations of listeners as a reminder of the innocence of childhood. Every listener can relate to the idea that everyone eventually has to give up play for grown-up responsibilities.

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However, Peter, Paul & Mary never outgrew their signature song. They started performing it live during the early 1960s. When it was released in 1962 the song made it to No. 2 on the Billboard chart. But it remained a part of their live sets throughout the decades.

Their changing performances are preserved on YouTube. It's possible to see the trio performing Puff as idealistic young people, middle-aged adults, and finally, as grandparents. They never forgot the magic of that rascally dragon, and from the comments it's clear that neither did their fans.

The lyrics Peter, Paul & Mary made so famous were based on two poems, one by the legendary Ogden Nash, and one by Leonard Lipton, reported Spinditty. Peter Yarrow adapted the idea of a dragon and a child into a hit song.

Later, Puff was adapted into cartoon features that ran on family-friendly networks like the Disney channel throughout the 1990s. Since the 1960s, teens have insisted that Puff, the Magic Dragon was an allusion to marijuana use. As much as the song is about forgetting a dragon named Puff, it's clear that no one has. Puff remains as much of an icon today as he ever was.

How old were you when you first heard the tale of Puff? Reach out and tell your story in the comments, then pass this on to your friends and family!