“Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary
In 1970, the Nixon White House launched a ferocious anti-illegal drug campaign. Vice President Spiro Agnew led the charge, addressing Republicans in a speech carried on radio and television. He picked out 1960s singers who he thought promoted substance abuse by paraphrasing their lyrics. By December, the Illinois Crime Commission had released a list of “substance-oriented” rock tunes. “Puff the Magic Dragon” appeared on the list. The terms “puff” and “papers” purportedly related to smoking, while “dragon” referred to using a drug. Meanwhile, Peter Yarrow of Peter, Paul, and Mary claims that the 1963 song never addressed those issues. He claimed it was about the loss of innocence and the end of childhood.
Puff The Magic Dragon By Peter, Paul And Mary
