The Real Meaning Behind ‘Puff The Magic Dragon’ And True Facts About The Song
It doesn’t matter how old we are, we have probably heard the song, Puff the Magic Dragon dozens of times, if not more. Many of us started listening to it when we were children and we can probably sing along with it by heart. It’s hard to believe that it was written back in 1963 and even though it has been around for decades, very few people understand what is behind the lyrics. We probably listen to it and perhaps even cried along with it regularly.
Both adults and children seem to appreciate Puff the Magic Dragon but you might be surprised to learn that it wasn’t actually written as a children’s song. It has that type of appeal but that is because the Magic Dragon helped little Jackie Paper. I’m sure that the song is going to be around for a very long time but being more familiar with why it is written and some facts about the song can help to enhance your appreciation of it.
Leonard Lipton and Peter Yarrow wrote the song and it was sung by Peter Paul and Mary. The original recording took place in 1963 and there has been a lot of speculation since then about the meaning behind the song. You’ve probably heard some of those theories yourself.
Even if you haven’t heard Puff the Magic Dragon in years, you can probably still hear it playing in your mind. It seems like it just sticks up there from our youth but have you ever wondered, what does it mean to frolic in the autumn mist? You may have even had your words that filled those spaces.
Most of us think about the magical time of youth in our lives when we hear the song. Imagination was a very important part of our life and we tended to live a simpler life as well. Perhaps we wanted to be someplace like Honnahlee with magical creatures.
Some people think that the song is about smoking marijuana and it may be somewhat related to that possibility. For many of us, however, the song is about a little boy who didn’t have any friends so he made up a Dragon to play with. We may never fully understand the truth behind the song but sometimes, it’s just nice to believe what you want to believe.
You can watch the video and follow along with the lyrics here:
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
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 Honnahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
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 Honnahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
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 Honnahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
in a land called Honnahlee
