Puff, the Magic Dragon Karaoke - Peter, Paul and Mary

"Puff, the Magic Dragon" (or "Puff") is a song written by Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow and made popular by the group Peter, Paul and Mary in a 1962 recording. Leonard wrote the complete lyrics, Peter found and used them, and later gave Leonard the credits.




Puff, the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary Song Trivia

The lyrics for "Puff, the Magic Dragon" were based on a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton, a 19-year-old Cornell University student. Leonard was inspired by an Ogden Nash poem titled "Custard the Dragon", about a "realio, trulio little pet dragon."

The lyrics tell a story of the ageless dragon Puff and his playmate, Jackie Paper, a little boy who grows up and loses interest in the imaginary adventures of childhood and leaves Puff to be with himself. (The line "A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys" is generally thought to imply only that "little Jackie Paper" grew up.)

The story of the song takes place "by the sea" in the fictional land of "Honalee". Leonard Lipton was friends with Peter Yarrow's housemate when they were all students at Cornell. He used Peter's typewriter to get the poem out of his head.




He then forgot about it until years later, when a friend called and told him Peter was looking for him, to give him credit for the lyrics. On making contact, Peter gave Leonard half the songwriting credit, and he still gets royalties from the song.

In 1961, Peter, Paul and Mary incorporated the song into their live performances before recording it in 1962. Their 1962 recording of "Puff" reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and spent two weeks atop the Billboard easy listening chart in early 1963. It also reached number ten on Billboard's R&B chart.


Puff, the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul and Mary Song Lyrics

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

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



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