It’s difficult to believe that it has been over 50 years since Puff the Magic Dragon was released. It was back in 1963 and like many people, I found that the music truly changed my life. It was one of the catchiest songs I’ve ever heard and, even though I didn’t fully understand what they were singing about, it seemed like it was exactly what I needed to hear at the time. I would find myself crying over the song and singing along every opportunity I had.
It is not only adults who appreciated Puff the Magic Dragon, it was also children as well. Although it may not have been written as a children’s song, it seemed to appeal to them because of the magical Dragon and the fact that he helped little Johnny Draper. This song is certainly one that is going to live forever but many people are not really familiar with why it was written. Here is some information you will find interesting.
Puff the Magic Dragon was written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow. It was sung by Peter’s group, Peter Paul and Mary in a recording that took place in 1963. Many people speculated about the meaning of that song and more than likely, you have heard some theories. It’s time for the truth to come out.
You can probably remember this song and sing along with it, even if you haven’t heard it in years. It seems to be emblazoned in our mind but when we were younger, did we really know what it meant to frolic in the autumn mist? Perhaps we even had our own words that filled those spaces.
When most of us hear Puff, we think about the magical time in all of our lives when we were young. Life was simpler and we let our imagination rule the day. We would find ourselves traveling to lands like Honahlee with magical creatures such as Puff the Magic Dragon.
Some people believe that the song is about smoking marijuana and perhaps it could have its roots in that meaning. For the rest of us, it is a story about a little boy who had no friends so he made up a Dragon and a place where they could play together. The truth about the song may never fully be known. Maybe it is just about what it means to you and it should stay that way. It’s time to relive that song again. You can watch the video and follow along with the lyrics below:
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
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 Honnahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
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 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 Honnahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
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!
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
