Overall about difficult moments of disappointment and vulnerability. Having hope and longing, while remaining optimistic for the future. Encourages the belief that with each new morning there is a chance for things to improve.
The chorus offers a glimmer of optimism and a chance at a resolution and redemption in the future.
Captures the rollercoaster of emotions of feeling lost while loving someone who is not there for you, feeling let down and abandoned while waiting for a lover. Lost with no direction, "Now I'm up in the air with the rain in my hair, Nowhere to go, I can go anywhere"
The bridge shows signs of longing and a plea for companionship. The Lyrics express a desire for authentic connection and the importance of Loving someone just as they are. "Just in passing, I'm not asking. That you be anyone but you”
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
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
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 whenever they came
Pirate ships would lower their flag 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 Honah Lee
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
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 Honah Lee
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
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
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
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 whenever they came
Pirate ships would lower their flag 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 Honah Lee
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
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 Honah Lee
Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee
Lyrics submitted by exeventu
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what's wrong with you people? it's not about weed. it's about childhood, and how you change when you get older.
It is NOT about marijuana, as many people think (a la Meet the Parents), for the simple reason that this song was around long before the drug culture of the 1960's took hold. It is about the loss of innocence in boys, the loss of imagination. Peter Yarrow said that it was partially a poem written by a friend in the late 50's lamenting the loss of innocence and partially his own writing (as well as the melody). Beautiful melody, I love the acoustic sound. One of my favorites since I was about 4.
Just because it was written before the drug culture of the 1960's, doesn't mean that drugs weren't around. Every song is open to interpretation, unless the writer has stated exactly what he was going for.
"...this song was around long before the drug culture of the 1960's took hold."<br /> <br /> The lyrics were written in 1959 by a guy who had just started college at Cornell and who hung around with folk musicians. The folkies may not have been smoking much pot in 1959, but the beatniks they associated with certainly were, not to mention the jazz musicians who introduced it to the counter-culture of the time. Marijuna was in popular use long before the song was written, the film "Refer Madness" was produced in 1938, after all. I know that those involved with the song have denied the veiled references, but if you were in their position, wouldn't you do the same?
you're wrong exevntu. Drugs have been around since the Arabs started smoking condensed poppy juice. (long before the 1960's)
I work with young children. This is very much an example of how kids imagination works. Pirate Ships, Kings/princes, a magical land of Hona Lee... These are all classic childhood imagery. Puff is a great name for an imaginary Dragon friend, and a dragon has protection imagery. Like most imaginary friends he slowly becomes less a part of jackie's life.
I think this song has great insight into how a child grows and the way we lose our innocence and become adults.
I COMPLETELY agree that this song is about loss of innocence NOT weed... what the hell is wrong with you people.. not every song is about sex or drugs... and I don't know who considers smoking weed as "losing their innocence"... "A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys."... please find me a quote about loss of innocence = smoking weed in this song.. thats what I thought.
well, considering that you didn't wait for a reply to your comment, you obviously know that you're wrong and you're just being a general dipshit. Shut up for the good of mankind
I dare any of you to listen to this song while alone and sing along.
Someone asked "why would he bring the dragon sealing wax?"
Puff was an imaginary friend, but he probably had some sort of medium: like a "dragon" he made out of strings, sealing wax and "other fancy stuff." Then he'd pretend he was going on adventures with him, like visiting kings and scaring away pirates. Eventually the kid grew up and stopped playing with it, so it ceased to "roar"/live. Eventually it started to fall apart ("green scales fell like rain") so the parents moved it into the garage...or threw it away ("sadly slipped into his cave").
I can relate to this. When I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend that was basically the rocking horse I sat on 24/7 as a toddler.
I concur
While this song may have what appear to be drug references to stoners and others who are so drugged up that they can't think clearly, the song was written as a children's song pure and simple. After rumors that Peter Yarrow was actually singing about marijuana, the band started performing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts stopping at different times to explain how past lines could be about drugs, to show how ludicrous the claimes were.
This site (SongMeanings) is slowly losing its legitimacy--way to many morons chiming in with "its about drugs dude..."
Hey, here's a thought: STFU.
I completly agree with all you people that say this is NOT about marijuana. Yes, i have smoked pot before. But seriously people, there is no need to be obsurd. It is so short sighted to presume that every song is about drugs, sex or violence. This is simply a beautifully pure song about children growing up, losing imagination and what it is to be a child. I knew this is a kid, and it still rings true to me today. It is indeed lamenting the transition into adulthood, as a previous user mentioned. And how sad the last few verses are. It creates a perfect atmosphere of the sadness involved with leaving childhood, and the non-complex world. We all sympathise with the dragon, and each one of us laments that part of us that died.
I must say it is unfortunate that these lyrics are able to be interpreted as about marijuana. They were never meant to be.
Wrong
considering this song was first performed in 1961, i highly doubt the vietnam reference. Also, this song was originally a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton, who then gave Peter Yarrow his lyrics who proceeded to make it into a song. I also highly doubt it is a marijuana reference because Leonard lipton based his poem on the Ogden Nash poem, "The Tale of the Custard dragon" (eecs.harvard.edu/~keith/poems/Custard.html) which is cleary not a marijuana reference.
I remember this song used to make me cry when I was like 7, my dad would play it on his guitar for my little sister because she loved it A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys. Painted wings and giant's 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! as a second grader those lines broke my heart!!! Even now at 20, I get a little misty-eyed at the song...I don't want to grow up and leave my imagination behind! Also those who believe this song is about drugs are probably on drugs themselves...if Peter Paul and Mary (the writters of the song) says it's not about drugs (and seeing as how they hardly seem to type to light up a doobie) then it's probably NOT!
It really is a sad song so Peter Yarrow recently added a happy ending to the song in a book they made for it. I still cried about the song until I was 15!!! Until they finally made a happier ending that is (phew)
The main reason Peter Yarrow changed the song was because it wasn't entirely true: We DON'T lose our imagination as we get older, honestly. Sometimes, when life seems troublesome, we can pay a visit of our own to Honalee... for a while, at least.