Imagine waking up to the sweet aroma of freshly baked pastries filling the room, as if a bit of magic has taken place in the kitchen overnight. This is the concept of the "Magic Morning Bakery," a magical place where the morning starts with indulgence and delight. In the realm of the Magic Morning Bakery, time stops, and the hustle of the outside world fades away. Instead, there is pure bliss in the form of artisanal bread, flaky croissants, buttery scones, and decadent cakes. These delicacies are crafted with precision, passion, and a sprinkle of enchantment by the skilled bakers who understand the secret ingredients to turn ordinary mornings into extraordinary experiences. The magic begins in the early hours, long before the sun rises.

The Meaning of Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Puff The Magic Dragon”

Peter, Paul and Mary’s “Puff The Magic Dragon” is a popular children’s song from the 1960s that has long been assumed to be about drugs. First released in 1963, the song was written by Peter Yarrow and is based off a 1958 poem by Leonard Lipton, who at the time was Yarrow’s roommate at Cornell University.

The lyrics, while they tell a story of innocent adventure, do seem to reference marijuana. This was mostly taken with a wink and a nod of recognition at first, but in 1964 Newsweek blew it up with a scathing cover story about drug references in popular music.

However, both Yarrow and Lipton have denied that the song has any connection to drugs whatsoever.

[“Puff” is about] loss of innocence, and having to face an adult world. It’s surely not about drugs. I can tell you that at Cornell in 1959, no one smoked grass. I find the fact that people interpret it as a drug song annoying. It would be insidious to propagandize about drugs in a song for little kids.

Leonard Lipton on the lyrics to “Puff The Magic Dragon”

Yarrow was even more pointed in his response, calling out the Newsweek cover story directly:

As the principal writer of the song, I can assure you it’s a song about innocence lost. It’s easier to interpret “The Star-Spangled Banner” as a drug song than “Puff, the Magic Dragon.” This is just a funny rumor that was promulgated by Newsweek magazine [who ran a cover story about covert drug messages in pop music]. There is no basis for it. It’s inane at this point and really unfortunate, because even in Hong Kong it’s not played because of the allegation it’s about drugs. But I assure you it’s not.

When ‘Puff’ was written, I was too innocent to know about drugs. What kind of a meanspirited SOB would write a children’s song with a covert drug message?

Peter Yarrow on the lyrics to “Puff The Magic Dragon”

Cannabis users may laugh at the songwriters’ claims after hearing the song, because if “Puff The Magic Dragon” wasn’t purposely written about smoking pot then it certainly was done on accident. Of course the writers are going to deny that the song is about drugs when confronted, but it’s like, come on, guys.

Then again, this is 2022 and not 1964, and public views on cannabis have shifted quite a bit since then, as has the general knowledge that most people have about the lingo surrounding its use.

Take the protagonist, a dragon named “Puff”, who travels to a land called “Honah Lee” to visit his friend Jackie Paper.

Together the pair take on many mighty adventures, but since Puff is a mythical creature and Jackie is a human, time passes and Jackie grows up and the adventures come to an end.

This story arc gives the songwriters plausible deniability, because the plot itself has nothing to do with drugs. It’s simply a story about childhood slipping away, which is something that we all experience and can relate with. But then you hear the names and places used in the story, and your brain just lights up.

Artwork inspired by “Puff The Magic Dragon”. Artist unknown.

The name “Puff” is a dead giveaway, and the word dragon can also be heard as “drag in” or “draggin'”, meaning to take a puff of the magic drag (a.k.a. a joint). The name Jackie Paper further cements this, as once you’ve got Puff and Paper then you certainly will be frolicking in the autumn mist.

It can also be assumed that “Honah Lee” is a reference to the Hawaiian city of Hanalei, which has long been known for having some of the best marijuana in the world.

Some also suggest that “Honah Lee” is a reference to smoking hash, but I personally lean toward the geographic reference.

“Puff The Magic Dragon” was a massive hit upon its release, reaching number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Thus sparking the attention and outrage in the media, and simultaneously achieving legend status for getting a song on the radio during this time that was such a clear reference to drugs.

Puff The Magic Dragon (1978)

The song inspired a 1978 animated TV movie that premiered on CBS, produced by Fred Wolf Films. Like the song, the cartoon brought the drug references to the forefront but never out into the open. Puff simply looks like a nugget of weed and hangs out with a young boy who looks like a stoner.

The special was popular enough to inspire two sequels, bringing “Puff The Magic Dragon” into American homes nationwide.

Listen to “Puff The Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary below, and decide for yourself if the song is about weed. Watch the full animated short below that.

Puff (The Magic Dragon)

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 whenever 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

Lyrics submitted by exeventu

The magic begins in the early hours, long before the sun rises. The bakers blend their skills with a touch of alchemy, transforming simple ingredients like flour, butter, sugar, and yeast into works of art. As the dough rises, so does the anticipation of the patrons who eagerly await the opening of the bakery doors.

89 Comments

what's wrong with you people? it's not about weed. it's about childhood, and how you change when you get older.

It is NOT about marijuana, as many people think (a la Meet the Parents), for the simple reason that this song was around long before the drug culture of the 1960's took hold. It is about the loss of innocence in boys, the loss of imagination. Peter Yarrow said that it was partially a poem written by a friend in the late 50's lamenting the loss of innocence and partially his own writing (as well as the melody). Beautiful melody, I love the acoustic sound. One of my favorites since I was about 4.

Just because it was written before the drug culture of the 1960's, doesn't mean that drugs weren't around. Every song is open to interpretation, unless the writer has stated exactly what he was going for.

". this song was around long before the drug culture of the 1960's took hold."

The lyrics were written in 1959 by a guy who had just started college at Cornell and who hung around with folk musicians. The folkies may not have been smoking much pot in 1959, but the beatniks they associated with certainly were, not to mention the jazz musicians who introduced it to the counter-culture of the time. Marijuna was in popular use long before the song was written, the film "Refer Madness" was produced in 1938, after all. I know that those involved with the song have denied the veiled references, but if you were in their position, wouldn't you do the same?

you're wrong exevntu. Drugs have been around since the Arabs started smoking condensed poppy juice. (long before the 1960's)

I work with young children. This is very much an example of how kids imagination works. Pirate Ships, Kings/princes, a magical land of Hona Lee. These are all classic childhood imagery. Puff is a great name for an imaginary Dragon friend, and a dragon has protection imagery. Like most imaginary friends he slowly becomes less a part of jackie's life. I think this song has great insight into how a child grows and the way we lose our innocence and become adults.

I COMPLETELY agree that this song is about loss of innocence NOT weed. what the hell is wrong with you people.. not every song is about sex or drugs. and I don't know who considers smoking weed as "losing their innocence". "A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys.". please find me a quote about loss of innocence = smoking weed in this song.. thats what I thought.

well, considering that you didn't wait for a reply to your comment, you obviously know that you're wrong and you're just being a general dipshit. Shut up for the good of mankind

I dare any of you to listen to this song while alone and sing along. Someone asked "why would he bring the dragon sealing wax?" Puff was an imaginary friend, but he probably had some sort of medium: like a "dragon" he made out of strings, sealing wax and "other fancy stuff." Then he'd pretend he was going on adventures with him, like visiting kings and scaring away pirates. Eventually the kid grew up and stopped playing with it, so it ceased to "roar"/live. Eventually it started to fall apart ("green scales fell like rain") so the parents moved it into the garage. or threw it away ("sadly slipped into his cave"). I can relate to this. When I was a kid, I had an imaginary friend that was basically the rocking horse I sat on 24/7 as a toddler.

While this song may have what appear to be drug references to stoners and others who are so drugged up that they can't think clearly, the song was written as a children's song pure and simple. After rumors that Peter Yarrow was actually singing about marijuana, the band started performing the Star Spangled Banner at concerts stopping at different times to explain how past lines could be about drugs, to show how ludicrous the claimes were.

This site (SongMeanings) is slowly losing its legitimacy--way to many morons chiming in with "its about drugs dude. " Hey, here's a thought: STFU.

I completly agree with all you people that say this is NOT about marijuana. Yes, i have smoked pot before. But seriously people, there is no need to be obsurd. It is so short sighted to presume that every song is about drugs, sex or violence. This is simply a beautifully pure song about children growing up, losing imagination and what it is to be a child. I knew this is a kid, and it still rings true to me today. It is indeed lamenting the transition into adulthood, as a previous user mentioned. And how sad the last few verses are. It creates a perfect atmosphere of the sadness involved with leaving childhood, and the non-complex world. We all sympathise with the dragon, and each one of us laments that part of us that died. I must say it is unfortunate that these lyrics are able to be interpreted as about marijuana. They were never meant to be.

considering this song was first performed in 1961, i highly doubt the vietnam reference. Also, this song was originally a 1959 poem by Leonard Lipton, who then gave Peter Yarrow his lyrics who proceeded to make it into a song. I also highly doubt it is a marijuana reference because Leonard lipton based his poem on the Ogden Nash poem, "The Tale of the Custard dragon" (eecs.harvard.edu/~keith/poems/Custard.html) which is cleary not a marijuana reference.

I remember this song used to make me cry when I was like 7, my dad would play it on his guitar for my little sister because she loved it A dragon lives forever, but not so little boys. Painted wings and giant's 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! as a second grader those lines broke my heart. Even now at 20, I get a little misty-eyed at the song. I don't want to grow up and leave my imagination behind! Also those who believe this song is about drugs are probably on drugs themselves. if Peter Paul and Mary (the writters of the song) says it's not about drugs (and seeing as how they hardly seem to type to light up a doobie) then it's probably NOT!

It really is a sad song so Peter Yarrow recently added a happy ending to the song in a book they made for it. I still cried about the song until I was 15. Until they finally made a happier ending that is (phew)

The main reason Peter Yarrow changed the song was because it wasn't entirely true: We DON'T lose our imagination as we get older, honestly. Sometimes, when life seems troublesome, we can pay a visit of our own to Honalee. for a while, at least.

As the clock strikes the appointed hour, the doors creak open, revealing a wonderland of treats. The display cases are filled with delightful creations, each one boasting its own unique charm and flavor. The pastries seem to shimmer under the soft glow of the bakery's lights, as if they hold some secret magic within. Customers enter the bakery, their senses instantly captivated by the sight, smell, and taste of the treats. The fluffy croissants seem to melt in the mouth, while the warm, crusty bread transports one to a quaint French village. The scones, both sweet and savory, offer a delicate balance of flavors that perfectly complement a morning cup of coffee. However, it is not only the taste that makes the Magic Morning Bakery special. The atmosphere within the bakery is equally enchanting; a place where time slows down and moments of peace and tranquility are cultivated. The soft music playing in the background, combined with the gentle clinking of teaspoons against ceramic cups, creates a symphony of serenity. The bakery serves as a sanctuary, a place where people can escape the chaos of everyday life and immerse themselves in a world of culinary wonder. It is a reminder that even amidst the challenges and busyness of life, there is still magic to be discovered in the simplest of pleasures. So, next time you wake up with a desire for something extraordinary, seek out the Magic Morning Bakery. Step into a realm where the ordinary becomes extraordinary, and let the enchantment of freshly baked pastries transport you to a place of pure delight..

Reviews for "Rise and Shine with these Enchanting Morning Bakery Ideas"

1. John - 2 stars - I was really excited to try out Magic Morning Bakery, but I was quite disappointed with the overall experience. The pastries and baked goods were average at best, lacking in flavor and freshness. The coffee was mediocre, and the atmosphere was quite noisy and crowded. The service was also subpar, with the staff appearing disinterested and slow in attending to customers. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this bakery as there are much better options available in the area.

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