Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Puff the Magic Dragon

My kids are currently fascinated with the song Puff the Magic Dragon by Peter, Paul & Mary.  They follow the lyrics (and can sing most of them), and listen attentively every time we sing it or play it. They are intrigued by the idea of a boy with a magic dragon to play with, but they are puzzled by the fact that the boy grows up and deserts his friend. You can see on Ethan's face that he feels the dragon's pain on that day that "Jackie Paper came no more." Caleb's favorite part is the chorus, which he sings with gusto, but Ethan is captivated by that final verse..."the sad part," as he calls it.

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 flag 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 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.

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