Sunday, November 17, 2002

Puff the Magic Dragon

Throughout the history of music, there have been many doubts as to the actual meaning behind the lyrics of many songwriters. ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ is a song that is still in question to this day.
The song ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ was originally performed and sold by the popular musical group ‘Peter, Paul, and Mary’. Leonard Lipton, a student at Cornell University, originally wrote the poem. He was in a fraternity with band member, Peter, and was considered his ‘little brother’. Initially, the poem was intended for a children’s book or for a popular children’s song, but was simply pushed aside on Lipton’s desk. Peter happened to stumble upon the poem, asking Lipton if he could manipulate the song to fit a melody. The current lyrics of the song are approximately half written by Lipton and half written by Peter. After changing the lyrics, ‘Peter, Paul, and Mary’ began selling many copies of the song on record, making millions. The song was loved mostly by children, because of the fairy tale it described. It described a young boy who became friends with a dragon named ‘Puff’. Upon first hearing the song, parents and music critics both overlooked the possible drug inference in the song. A little less than a year after the song was performed by the band, skepticism arose about the morality of this ‘children’s song’.
Many people began to believe that the lyrics of ‘Puff the Magic Dragon’ referred to the commonly used drug marijuana. The song refers to a young boy whose last name is ‘Paper’. The lyrics also refer to a ‘gray night’, indicating the characteristic clinging smoke of marijuana. The song’s lyrics could easily be translated in this way, but according to Peter, were never intended to refer to drug abuse. He claims that they simply wanted a children’s folk song to play, not to subliminally entice children to do drugs. Aside from the drug accusations, many people also believe ‘Puff’ refers to a powerful weapon used in the Vietnam War. Many veterans claim that they coined the name ‘Puff’ for several types of missiles and heavily armored war ships. Peter also denies these claims and still argues that the song was written for the purpose of child enjoyment.
In my opinion, the song inadvertently refers to drugs in many obvious ways. The idea that the dragon was named ‘Puff’ and that the boy’s last name was ‘Paper’ is not ironic, it is was the intention of the songwriter to include this possible message. The lyrics of this song could easily be changed to avoid any drug references, but the author(s) decided to include the obvious messages portrayed in the children’s song. Any common man reading these lyrics and vaguely recalling the history of the band ‘Peter, Paul, and Mary’ could easily assume that the lyrics were intended to paint a magical picture of smoking marijuana. Regardless of what the songwriter claims, I believe that his basis for the song is corrupt. He is obviously lying about the lyrics, to protect his name and the image of the band. It is also possible that he wrote the scandalous lyrics to promote record sales. If the public hears that a children’s song refers to drugs, it will go out and buy the record to observe the legitimacy of the accusations.
The lyrics of this song were intended to portray the use of drugs, particularly marijuana. After interpreting the lyrics of the song, I have concluded the band ‘Peter, Paul, and Mary’ to be denying a fact that they possibly feel ashamed of, regretting past involvement with drugs. I feel that the song portrays a good children’s story, but includes too many references to drugs to be considered accidental.

Here are the lyrics:

Puff the Magic Dragon –by Peter, Paul, and Mary

Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.
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 Honalee.
Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honalee.

Together they would travel on 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.

CHORUS

A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys
Painted wings and giants's rings make way for other toys.
One gray 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 lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave
So, Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave, oh

CHORUS

In case you didn't know I am a straight edge, extremely against alcohol intake and drug use or abuse (is there a difference?). I believe that drinking and drugs will mess up your life, unfortunately there are those of us in society that can not resist temptation to fulfill their lives by looking cool or fleeing pressure. Drinking and drugs will control your body and soul, too many people have fallen into their trap, forgetting the reality of the world.



posted by Adam @ 4:13 PM Comments: 0