Peter, Paul and Mary - Puff The Magic Dragon [ Original Radio Airplay ]

[kobraf150]

Ceiling wax and other fancy stuff (to kill the smell of dope), puff (smoking), draggin (inhailing), dragon (what you may see while doing drugs), Jackie (junkie), Hanalee (Hanalei Hawaii known for Hippies and it's dope), a dragon lives forever but not so little boys (dope isn't strong enough, had to go for blow, heroin, and acid)...JUST SAY NO!!!!!!!

[kobraf150]

@kobraf150 Oh and Paper (rolling dope)

[trinityblood22112212]

@kobraf150 Nah. It's a friendly kid song. About a Dragon. Who lived in a land called Hanalee. Had a best friend named Jack Paper, And Jack brought him gifts. and Jack Paper grew old but he didn't. :'(

[semkobenko]

richard pridemoore hippensteel funeral home how is your anus?

[semkobenko]

need some tree hun

[katch1021]

A dragon lives forever--but not so little boys. That line always gets me.

[dianedamico]

This song reminds me of Cape Hatteras, because I first heard it on a car radio in our friends Jeep while riding on the beach during a family vacation trip to North Carolina in June 1963 when this song was popular. When I hear this song it's like reliving my childhood memories of our trip to North Carolina.

[SuddenSparkles]

Still exquisite. Eternally pretty song. Cherry lane and sealing wax.

[strawberrycbp]

nice music. i like these ol' sweet folk music

[TheCalliBaby]

Are you a pothead, Focker?

[Gaintone100]

I also get teary eyed listening also

[Anusfisch]

ich hab mir zu dem lied einen gehobelt

[elburromjf]

I perform this song on guitar for children and I get choked up every time. Good thing someone else has to sing it.

[manduth]

I was 10 when this song came out. It always made me cry and still does.

A very touching song of childhood innocence. If only all the world was as innocent nowadays!!

[GermanShepherd1983]

I've always believe the song was about smoking opium and there is really nothing wrong with a song about it. We can all fantasize. Puffing the dragon, lived by the sea (water bong), Little Jacky "Paper", smoking roll your owns, He's in the Land of Hanalieh, which is the Greek word for dream or hallucination.. So many clues, it's obvious. It just captures the spirit of the '60's.

[ShadowsGathered]

@GermanShepherd1983

There are no clues, so nothing is obvious. The rumor of this being a "drug" song has persisted for decades even though the artists themselves have clarified that it has nothing to do with drugs, but rather with childhood innocence and the loss of same.

[MIKECNW]

@ShadowsGathered What's even more interesting that this was recorded in 1963 and it wasn't till the mid to late 60's when drug use was a big thing and you began to hear songs about getting stoned.

[johnny2o2o]

@GermanShepherd1983 it's not about drugs you imbecile - for 'imbecile' you can read the phrase 'I am another prize idiot'

[ladycheru]

@GermanShepherd1983 The Greek word for "hallucination" is "paraisthisi" or "aftapati." The actual allegation was that "Honah Lee" was based of the Hawaiian town of Hanalei, which was known for marijuana plants. However, this allegation is untrue, and merely baseless speculation. Also, this song was written in 1958.

[badmotorhead]

Zero dislikes. that's what I call an epic win.

Well done Peter, Paul & Mary.

[daffydad]

omg used to listen to yhis on ed "stewpot" Stewart radio 2 prog on a sat morning way back

[MontanaSenzation]

omfg. finally. i have clicked on so many songs looking for something that wasn't live because i don't like it (and it never has good sound, can barely hear) and something by peter paul and mary. too many covers and other crap. thank you!!!!

[johnrutho1]

Thanks for posting this.  All the others I found had applause or words and this is just pure music. Love it

[Dt0x75]

thumbs up if you sung this in school in the 80s!

[FlyingZamora]

why do i love this so much? it makes me cry! 

[NickInfante92]

The original poem had a verse that did not make it into the song. In it, Puff found another child and played with him after returning. Neither Yarrow nor Lipton remember the verse in any detail, and the paper that was left in Yarrow's typewriter in 1958 has since been lost

[Shea23100]

Fn great song!!

[Rokuwhitefox]

The more I listen to older music, the more I hate music today

[Jupicus16]

Someone told me this song was aobut weed, ruined my child hood forever...D:

[BFMV1100]

@Jupicus16 there's controversy with this song about it being either about a childhood fantasy or a heroine induced hallucination, or somethin like that, its been a while since i looked it up, so i might be a bit off

[BFMV1100]

@BFMV1100 wait it was weed nvm

[6180able]

I love this song it brings back such childhood memories for me!! I was 4 years old at that time!

[nutballgazette]

We sang this song in 3rd grade (1964) music, I just knew it was about a little boy and his playmate

Like What else could it be about?

[GlassAintFull]

Wow, I was... -34 years old then? Love this song though :D

[badgercub]

wow i was 2 years old at the time the song came out but back then . songs good ones just stayed with you not gone in two weeks like today . but today is what it is . so find your hang ten t shirt put on your hush puppies shooes . put a sceren saveer of a record playing . turn the lights low . turn on good old music and time travel back with me .

[Raysynn]

After reading all the comments, I realized it needs mine too.

To me........This is the greatest piece of audio that could ever reach into the heart of a child. Actually......this is the BEST SONG PERIOD ! I believe.....or would like to believe that this song has helped more people to retain a youthful outlook than any other single force in the universe. i sure can tie mine directly. This song was new & on the radio when I was about 4. Im 52.......it takes me right back there everytime

[jackdoldseven]

Earliest memory is hearing this song. Had a purple stuffed dragon. I always wished dragons were real and friendly like in the song. God, I must have been 3. I'm 17 now. I'm glad I remember that after all these years. If I went any longer without acknowledging that reminiscent feeling I probably would have forgotten the memory. Not asking anyone to care. Just had to get it down somewhere and this is the first time I've heard the song in forever.

[DanceIrish87]

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

What a tear-jerker!! :(

[rainbowmuppet]

it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing when I hear this song, I will start crying. 

[samanthasingun]

My dad introduced me to this song when i was a kid. Sucks that things have change now that we're getting older. I love this song so much that it sometimes hurts me just by listening to it. Because i miss those days/moments when i was a kid, where me and my parents would always be together, do fun things. Now that i'm in college, we barely talk, see each other and i miss them so much. I listen to this whenever i think of them.

[JetpackMcGee]

fun to play on guitar :D

[rxfloyd1]

My sister was a big Peter Paul and Mary fan and used to play this for me when I was 5 yrs. old. I still have a stuffed dog toy I named Puff after this song that I would tell my secrets to and cry with. Love this song and all the innocence with it!

[mkend3]

I heard that this song meant like smoking weed. Puff The Magic Dragon means smoking a marijuana joint.

[LadyAryun]

@mkend3 Peter Yarrow, who wrote the song, said it's about childhood lost and how when we grow up, we loose all those beautiful things that make children, children. Our innocence in the world and our imagination and, basically, our freedom. Being as he's the man that wrote it, and has never wavered from that stance from the begining, I doubt that it's about weed. Sometimes the simplest answer is the correct one.

[oneexseal]

This is a great, great old song that has survived the test of time, and makes one wish they could be a young child again. Thanks!

[KarenAnne1277]

What a wonderful lil' song that has endured so well across the years. After all this time, it's still touching to see poor Puff going back to his cave to stay.

[icecubeismyboy]

My daddy use to play this song for me when I was a little girl. When he passed away, I was 7. So, for my wedding, my Uncle Mike (dad's brother) danced with me to this song for the father-daughter dance. I love this song.

[TheDeliverater]

my mom sang this to me when i was a baby

[MeredithOD]

I love this song :o) idc what anyone says, lol, it tells a beautiful story regardless!!! It's like The Giving Tree (a book) in song form! :o)

[LoverOfMusic120]

@MeredithOD I can see how you connect this song to that book, growing up, aahhhhhh.....

[trentXmusic]

im 20 and i listen to this i love it

[Coldplay200000]

@jdogg288 I'm 25 and I still like this song.

[StrangeCognitivism]

Probably the best folk song ever written. A poignant and personal storyline with such an alluring melody. I love this song.

[mariaygarcia15]

thumbs up for all the 16 year olds who listen to this wonderful song (including me)!!!

[jdogg288]

@mariaygarcia15 +1 up from me

[jdogg288]

I'm the only 16 year old who probably listens to this...

[VintageTeenQueen]

@jdogg288 Not really, I'm 16 and this has been one of my favorite songs for as long as I can remember :)

[jdogg288]

@VintageTeenQueen yaya i'm not the only one :D

[nancythefanciful]

This is one of my Favourite Folk song! I love the catchy lively tune!

Thanks for this up-load!

[PaulMax1957]

I was 5 years old when this song first came out and I loved it just like I love it to this very day

[pervysage35]

god damnit this song made me cry,

[xbones101]

@pervysage35 Me too, damnit!

[Raysynn]

@pervysage35 me too.....almost always does

[SaiyanLady]

@Raysynn Same here, Sniff. :(

[smwca123]

One of 2 PP&M songs that more than most others I consider timeless classics; the other being "Blowin' In The Wind".

[PurpleDavidBowie]

Thank you for putting this up here :)