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.
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."
"...this song was around long before the drug culture of the 1960's took hold."
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...
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?
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.
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."
"...this song was around long before the drug culture of the 1960's took hold."
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...
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)
you're wrong exevntu. Drugs have been around since the Arabs started smoking condensed poppy juice. (long before the 1960's)