2 years ago

191

Nice easy Acoustic Song that the kids will love as well as adults.
Some thought it was a anti-war song???
Tell me what you think in comments, I am sure many one or both of these rumors.
Don’t forget I tabbed them out and make the available “FREE” at this link.
The lyrics tell the story of an ageless dragon named Puff and his friend, a young boy named Jackie Paper. Sadly, as Jackie grows up, he loses interest in Puff, leaving him to be alone. Or does the song have a different meaning as some have suggested?
Puff the Magic Dragon was released in 1963 and became a hit song for Peter, Paul and Mary; most just considered it a children’s song. Others had to find hidden meaning in the lyrics of the song.

Newsweek published an article in 1964 and in the article they claimed that indeed the song was about drugs and smoking marijuana. The article claimed that Puff’s name was referencing taking a “puff” off of a joint (blunt today), and that Dragon was actually a homophone of “draggin” or inhaling smoke.
Jackie Paper’s name was of course a reference to rolling papers.
Coming from a highly respected Rag such as Newsweek the author’s interpretation was widely accepted as the truth thus the song was banded in some countries as well as from airwaves. Remember back then we did not have government propaganda nor Fake News.

Puff the Magic Dragon was Vietnam War Protest Song? Another rumor that was spread and again widely accepted as fact was that Puff’s name was indeed referencing the militaries AC-47 which was armed with three 7.62 miniguns. Each Minigun could fire up to 6,000 rounds per minute to include tracer rounds. The AC-47 could illuminate the night skies with 2-million candlepower flares, between the flares and the tracer rounds the GIs nicknamed it “Puff the Magic Dragon” because the AC-47 resembled a Flying Dragon spewing fire due to the thousands of tracer bullets it unleased. Little Jackie Paper was said to reference LT Jackie Paper a young officer who’s friend was Puff. “One Gray night it happened, Jackie Paper came no more” was said to mean that Jackie had been killed in action as dragons live forever but not so little boys. Each verse was broken down and translated like this and again the rumor was wide spread and accepted by many.

I too fell victim of these claims opting to go along with it being a Anti War
song; so what is the UTH?

Tabs and Lyrics here: https://drive.google.com/drive/my-drive

The truth is simple: Puff the Magic Dragon was a poem started by Lenny Lipton and finished/converted to a song by Lenny’s roommate Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul and Mary.
As they explained, the song is about a boy coming of age and losing his childhood innocents and out growing his imaginary friend Puff.

Now with all that said, Puff the Magic Dragon is a Kid’s Classic and it is also loved by parents. We may never really know the truth about the true meaning of the lyrics.

Read the lyrics and decide for yourself. Peace- Grandpa Allen

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 giant's rings make way for other toys
One gray 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