Mary Travers died two years ago after a long battle with cancer. She was the beautiful voice of Peter, Paul and Mary, the legendary folk group.
I fell in love with PP&M's songs many (many)years ago because they were simple, easy to sing along to and the words always had a very pleasant message.
PP&M faded in the 1980s and reappeared in a concert here and there. They also pursued individual careers although nothing came close to their success as a trio.
A few years ago, we learned that Mary was fighting cancer. She finally died in September '09, or two years ago.
I love their sound. They were truly unique.
Here are three of their many wonderful songs.
The first one is "500 miles" with Mary singing lead vocals.
The second is one of their very early hits, the classic "If I had a hammer".
The third one is "Puff the Magic Dragon" from one of their last concerts:
"If you miss the train I'm on, you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles,
a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles, a hundred miles,
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles.
Lord I'm one, Lord I'm two, Lord I'm three, Lord I'm four,
Lord I'm 500 miles from my home.
500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles, 500 miles
Lord I'm five hundred miles from my home.
Not a shirt on my back, not a penny to my name
Lord I can't go home this way
This way, this way, this way, this way,
Lord I can't go home this way.
If you miss the train I'm on you will know that I am gone
You can hear the whistle blow a hundred miles..."
"If I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning
I'd hammer in the evening, All over this land
I'd hammer out danger, I'd hammer out a warning,
I'd hammer out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
If I had a bell, I'd ring it in the morning,
I'd ring it in the evening, All over this land
I'd ring out danger, I'd ring out a warning
I'd ring out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
If I had a song, I'd sing it in the morning,
I'd sing it in the evening, All over this land
I'd sing out danger, I'd sing out a warning
I'd sing out love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
Well I got a hammer, And I got a bell,
And I got a song to sing, all over this land.
It's the hammer of Justice, It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land.
It's the hammer of Justice, It's the bell of Freedom,
It's the song about Love between my brothers and my sisters,
All over this land...."
"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.
Puff, the magic dragon Lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
In a land called Honah Lee. Oh!
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 whenever 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. Oh!
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 little girls and 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 now bent in sorrow, Green scales fell like rain,
And Puff no longer went to play Along that cheery lane.
Without his life-long friend, He could not be brave,
So Puff that mighty dragon Sadly slipped into his cave.
Puff, the magic dragon Lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist In a land called Honah Lee. Oh!
Puff, the magic dragon Lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist
In a land called Honah Lee....."
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