The Sad Tale of "Puff, The Magic Dragon"

​Honestly who can hear Peter, Paul and Mary sing this magical song without crying for poor faithful Puff and childhood left behind?  I can still see him waiting in that cave ...

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​This is the picture of "Puff, The Magic Dragon" that I remember best, though it is a more comical rendition of the song.  But wait!  Isn't that a picture of "The Reluctant Dragon" on the cover!?!  Not Puff?

33 RPM Record Cover, c 1963 © Walt Disney Records

45 RPM Record Cover, c 1963 © Walt Disney Records

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Right!  It's The Reluctant Dragon - an absolutely fantastic Victorian story.  Disney did a lot of records with stories and songs that fit a theme and Puff was included along for the ride in this one.

​~ Puff, The Magic Dragon ~

"Oh Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea,
And frolicked in the autumn mist,
in a land called Honnah Lee ... 
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 . . .  A dragon lives forever but not so little boys,
Painted wings and giant's 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."

Excerpt from "Puff, The Magic Dragon" by Leonard Lipton, Peter Yarrow © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc, BMG Rights Management US, LLC

Meadow Sweet Grove © V. Buchanan 2017 / edited 2021