Saturday, May 14, 2016

Puff the Magic Dragon

Puff the Magic Dragon!
I hadn't heard the song Puff the Magic Dragon in years, yet when Dick played it at on Open Mic night this past winter, it brought me straight back to childhood, with the strong memory of the teacher who played it just before recess and let most of the kids into the schoolyard crying their eyes out.

I'm learning the song now on ukulele and still, after all these years, the thoughts of Puff languishing in his cave touch a raw nerve.

Add the fact that I'm learning how to play it in Alex' old boyhood room, turned music room.... well, the circle goes round and round (hey, that's another song).


Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea

And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee
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 Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee



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 Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee



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 Honahlee
Puff, the magic dragon lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honahlee

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