Puff - The Magic Dragon

Dear One,

The uplifting melodious notes of the song "Puff - The Magic Dragon" gently wafts through the early morning air. I wonder who's playing this timeless number; in fact I begin to wonder now, who still cares to listen to this unknown but the most beautiful number. Coffee mug in hand, I gently close my eyes and let my soul wander and merge in the rhythms of this beautiful song. Time stands still, memories flood and wash my soul and I am least complaining.

It feels like someone has pulled an old veil of memory and brought back warm old stories of the beautiful times gone by, when I used to sing this song above all. It was my favorite song and I loved every word of it. No one knows who originally wrote this song, but legend has it that two young collegians, maybe aspiring lads of 19, wrote this wonderful poem, inspired by the poetry of a much well known poet, Ogden Nash. Later it was set to music and the rest, as they say, is history.

Many singers have made this song their own, starting with Peter, Paul and Mary to more recently, Seal. But, I personally love the style and feel of an old band known as "Brothers Four". They have added a special flavor to this song with their amazing synchronized vocals and gentle strumming spanish guitars, enhancing the sheer magic of the everlasting song. The effect of the four odd brothers crooning this melodious piece is warm and soul soothing.

Much later to the initial success of this song, speculations rose that this song contained veiled references to smoking of Marijuana. However, the authors of the song have repeatedly rejected this urban legend and have strongly and consistently denied that they intended any references to drug use. The authors have frequently explained that "Puff" is about the hardships of growing older and has no relationship to drug-taking. He has also said of the song that it "never had any meaning other than the obvious one" and is about the "loss of innocence".

This song was a part of my growing up years, where a simple song could incoherently dictate and relate to the situations you are in and give you the strength of character to carry on with a song in your heart and music in your soul. I have always found solace in music and the hope it brings along to soothe my overworked mind. Those four minutes are the best minutes of my life, as the song weaves it's magic, leaving me completely unburdened and prompting me to fly high to the notes of careless abandon.

Songs are the expressions of your soul, and if you don't sing it to your own unique tune, you are really missing a blessing.

Coming back to the song, here are the lyrics for you to savor. It might sound like a children's song, but who cares.

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.

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.

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.

Listen to the magical tunes of the song, by clicking - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sCh31dGzO9c

In peace,

S.R

P.S - And by the way, this very song was playing in my very own laptop, this very morning. What a musical start to a wonderful morning?