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PUFF, THE MAGIC DRAGON Lyrics

Performed by Peter, Paul & Mary
Review The Song (34)

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 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 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 giants' 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 Honah Lee,
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah Lee.

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The loss of childhood. | Reviewer: Sweeney | 2/29/12

What idiots still think this song is about drugs? Peter stated many years ago and on many occasions that it was a song about growing up. You probably also think the world is run by shape shifting lizards and the CIA bombed the Twin Towers! Idiot.


Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder | Reviewer: Anonymous | 2/23/12

Personally, I choose to believe that the song speaks of a child losing his innocence as he grew. It would be a beautiful story. A sad, but wonderful description of leaving childhood behind. Kinda reminds me of "Toy Story 2" without the happy ending.

Maybe if you looked at it another way, it could be about drugs. Those who do perfectly demonstrate the song's innocent meaning, I believe. Personally, I think it's better to not look at it that critically. Isn't the song better if one simply takes it at the face meaning? I doubt the kids will really connect the song to drugs when they hear it, so why not. Maybe if it wasn't a kid's song, then I might be convinced but since it is...well, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.

love this song | Reviewer: nobody | 1/3/12

If you people think this song is about drugs dont say it because I have a little boy who loves this song he gets sad at sad part but he sings it all day and come on people we are all.old enough to know this is a childen song and nothing else so dont write a comment if you think it is about drugs

Puff is NOT about drug use! | Reviewer: Anonymous | 10/4/11

Good grief ... really people, I can't believe some of you haven't researched before writing. There are numerous interviews and even video on the internet where Peter Yarrow says straight out that Puff the Magic Dragon is NOT and never was about drugs of any kind. Nor was it about Anti drugs. No drugs. Get it? It is about the innocence of childhood and growing up. Peter said, "What kind of SOB would write a drug propaganda song in diguise as a children's song?". In other words, he would not have. No drugs. Puff is innocent ... Leave it sweet as it was meant to be.

THE REAL MEANING IS NOT ABOUT DRUGS | Reviewer: Anonymous | 7/11/11

Poet Ogden Nash once wrote a poem titled "Custard the Dragon". This poem inspired Leonard Lipton to write a poem of his own that became "Puff the Magic Dragon". Leonard was 19 years old at the time & to this day will argue that drugs NEVER entered into the meaning of the song. Peter Yarrow - who wrote the music - will agree. The song's only meaning is exactly what it says. It's about growing up & the loss of innocence. It is a lovely, sweet song and anyone who tries to subvert the meaning needs to get a real life (and possible psychiatric help). Those of us who have grown up with this song & love it for what it is, know that some urban legend cannot ruin the true meaning.

love this song | Reviewer: Anna | 6/30/11

This song has always made me cry.
I used to sing this with my dad when i was younger and i still love it to this day and i know that when i have kids i will definitely sing this to them. I will forever love this song.

My childhood beliefs | Reviewer: Barbara | 6/16/11

When I first heard this song I remember loving it and not really understanding it. As I got older I remember thinking it was a song about a little boy's imaginary friend. When he moved on to other toys it reminded me of that moment in every child's life where imaginary friends make way for real friends.

The movie was also awesome to watch as a child. I think if there were double meaning to the song then someone would have made a spoof of the cartoon to symbolize the deeper meaning. Whether about drugs or not it is a beautiful peace of music and I cannot wait to share the song with my babies which is why I looked up the lyrics to begin with.

Puff a kite, Jackie a boy going thru childhood | Reviewer: lynn | 6/3/11

I think I was 11 or 12 when this song came out. Immediately, I thought Puff was a kite. He is made from paper (Jackie Paper). Jackie would bring him string and sealing wax (which used to be used when making a kite) Jackie kept a look out perched on tail, could be the string you hold when flying your kite. The wind is used to keep a kite going (billowed sails). And then Jackie gets older and moves on.

Real Meaning | Reviewer: Anonymous | 4/27/11

My Music Teacher, a long time ago knew Peter Paul and Mary- they were present at the Christian Music Camp he went to over the summer-
Puff the Magic Dragon does talk about drugs like Maruana (ugh don't know how to spell it) and "Puff" symbolized that. However, it is an ANTI drug song, NOT a drug song. In fact, they were almost forced out of the country because people thought it was a song about drugs. So some of you are right in the drug part, but it was an ANTI DRUG SONG,

Simple | Reviewer: Katie | 3/13/11

Puff the magic dragon is a beautiful song. It means something different to everyone who hears it. To me personally it reminds me of my childhood and grandfather who gave me the tape before he died. People who think it is about drugs are generally teenagers who haven’t done drugs but think they understand everything and that every song must have an ulterior motive.
It is so sad the people cannot just appreciate the song.

who cares | Reviewer: CS | 12/23/10

It certainly has tied up both regular ol' sad story as well as the symbolic reference to beautiful green stuff, does it matter what the writer's intent was? People getting all angry and snobbish against the drug reference are just being bitter, closed-minded grumpsters. No one has had the chance to talk to the creator to inquire if there was a deeper meaning, but it certainly has a high probability of it. Peter Paul & Mary came from an era that many of us did not get to encounter... and those of us who did will either agree (had they been engulfed in the scene) or disagree (if you were "Closing your eyes and having a piece of that American Pie")

Nate the slayer needs to take an English comp class | Reviewer: Ned Clampett | 12/18/10

Allusions to smoking a joint do not create a basis for your argument. By the way, Oregon has led the nation in legal marijuana sales since 2005. Get your facts straight. No one has stats on illegal pot sales. Unless maybe you do? That would be fascinating. Also, in Norse mythology, as well as Japanese, scales falling off a dragon is symbolism for it's defeat. So, while the small number of allusions you point out fit, you seek to base your conception of a song off them, which is silly. Your own ignorance (or perhaps it is arrogance) is appalling. It's sad that the world can only work one way for you. Open your own eyes.

It's MY story | Reviewer: Mike | 8/6/10

The beauty of music as art is that it's the the observer who gets to assign meaning to the lyrics. We hear the story we want to hear and the song becomes that story, even if that strays from the artist's original intent (there may even be a Freudian element at work, but that's a whole 'nuther topic). It's an individual interpretation. Thus, to say that the song is about "..." and that we're naive to not accept it is to remove it from the realm of art.

To me, the bittersweet story of Puff and Jackie is just that. Sorry if anybody finds that offensive.

NOT about drugs | Reviewer: Reviewer | 6/5/10

The friggin writer of the song cleared it up about 100x, and he finds it dispicable how everyone can turn such a simple, mellow song into something about drugs. Shows you how screwed up this world is. It's about the loss of innocence, which has been told to us about a billion times by Peter, Paul and Mary. Jesus people.

Double Meaning | Reviewer: Abby | 6/4/10

There are clear references to drugs but that doesn't negate the fact that the song is sad and is also about lost childhood. It can be about both can't it? When finding the alternate meaning in something, one cannot forget the literal meaning as well.


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