PUFF THE MAGIC DRAGON

PETER, PAUL & MARY

SONGWRITERS: ROBIN SPIELBERG; LEONARD LIPTON & PETER YARROW

COUNTRY: U, S. A.

ALBUM: MOVING

LABEL: WARNER RECORDS

GENRE: FOLK

YEAR: 1963

 

       Peter, Paul and Mary was an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961 during the American folk music revival phenomenon. The trio consisted of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Paul Stookey, and contralto Mary Travers. The group's repertoire included songs written by Yarrow and Stookey, early songs by Bob Dylan, and covers of other folk musicians. They were enormously successful in the early- and mid-1960s, with their debut album topping the charts for weeks, and helped popularize the folk music revival. After the death of Travers in 2009, Yarrow and Stookey continued to perform as a duo under their individual names.

        Mary Travers said she was influenced by Woody Guthrie, Pete Seeger, and the Weavers. In the documentary Peter, Paul & Mary: Carry It On — A Musical Legacy, members of the Weavers discuss how Peter, Paul and Mary took over the torch of the social commentary of folk music in the 1960s.

       The group was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 1999. Peter, Paul and Mary received the Sammy Cahn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 2006.

         Moving is the second album by the American folk music trio Peter, Paul & Mary, released in January 1963. The third single, "Puff, the Magic Dragon," was a huge hit and a defining song for the trio, reaching #2 on the Hot 100, #1 on the Easy Listening, and #10 on the R&B Charts.

       The lead-off single, "Big Boat," failed to chart substantially, only staying on the Top 100 for two weeks, reaching #93. Cash Box described it as "an exciting, fast moving folk opus." The second single, "Settle Down (Goin' Down That Highway)," did slightly better, peaking at #56 on the Pop charts during a 6-week run; however, it did become an easy listening hit at #14.

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 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

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's rings make way for other toys

One gray 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 lifelong 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.

JUST A LITTLE BIT BETTER

HERMAN’S HERMITS

SONGWRITER: KENNY YOUNG

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: THEIR GRESYEST HITS

LABEL: ABKCO MUSIC & RECORDS

GENRE: FOLK

YEAR: 1973

 

       Herman's Hermits are an English pop group formed in 1964 in Manchester and fronted by singer Peter Noone. Known for their jaunty beat sound and Noone's tongue-in-cheek vocal style, the Hermits charted numerous transatlantic hits in the UK and in America, where they ranked as one of the most successful acts in the Beatles-led British Invasion. At the pinnacle of their popularity in 1965, the group logged twenty-four consecutive weeks in the top 10 of the US Billboard chart, and reached number one with the singles "Mrs. Brown, You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I'm Henry VIII, I Am". Their other international hits include "I'm Into Something Good" (their sole UK number-one), "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat", "Silhouettes", "Wonderful World", "A Must to Avoid", "There's a Kind of Hush", "I Can Take or Leave Your Loving", "Something's Happening" and "My Sentimental Friend", all of which were produced by Mickie Most. They also appeared in four films, two of which were vehicles for the band.

         Their chart debut was a cover of Gerry Goffin and Carole King's "I'm into Something Good" (a then recent US Top 40 hit for Earl-Jean). In September 1964 it replaced the Kinks' "You Really Got Me" at number one in the UK singles chart and in December reached nº 13 in the US. The Hermits never topped the British charts again, but in America in 1965—when Billboard magazine ranked them America's top singles act of the year (with the Beatles at nº 2)—they topped the Hot 100 with two non-UK releases: "Mrs. Brown You've Got a Lovely Daughter" and "I’m Henry VIII, I Am” (a cover of the 1910 Cockney-style music hall song "I'm Henery the Eighth, I Am"). The nº 12 debut of "Mrs. Brown" on the Hot 100 in April 1965 was the decade's third highest (behind the Beatles' "Hey Jude" and "Get Back").

      Between late 1964 and early 1968 Herman's Hermits never failed to reach the Top 40 in the States. Six of their 11 US Top Tens were not released as A-side singles in their native UK, including the two afore-mentioned number ones plus "Can't You Hear My Heartbeat" (nº 2), "Listen People" (nº. 3), a cover of Noel Gay's 1937 song "Leaning on a Lamp-post" (no. 9, under the title "Leaning on the Lamp Post") and their version of Ray Davies's "Dandy" (nº 5). Conversely they hit big in Britain between 1968 and 1970 with several major hits which failed to register in America, among them the four Top Tens "Sunshine Girl" (nº 8), "Something's Happening" (nº 6), "My Sentimental Friend" (nº 2) and "Years May Come, Years May Go" (nº 7). Their final UK hit, "Lady Barbara" (nº 13), released in the autumn of 1970, was credited to 'Peter Noone & Herman's Hermits'.

He may send you flowers

Baby, every single day

Buy you fancy clothes from Paris

And have sweet things to say

 

But I can give you love

Sweet, sweet love

Now ain't that just a little bit better

 

And he'll take you to night clubs

In a shiny limousine

Buy you furs and diamond bracelets

Make you look just like a queen

 

But I can give you love

Sweet, sweet love

Now ain't that just a little bit better

 

Love, love, love

Is what I can give ya

True, true love

As long as I may live

 

But I can give you love

Sweet, sweet love

Now ain't that just a little bit better

 

Love, love, love

Is what I can give ya

True, true love

As long as I may live

 

Well, he may want to buy

A fancy mansion on a hill

Will you live with him forever?

Baby, that ain't such a thrill

 

'Cause I can give you love

Sweet, sweet love

Now ain't that just a little bit better.

GALWAY GIRL

ED SHEERAN

SONGWRITERS: Johnny Mcdaid; Foy Vance; Sean Graham; Damian Mckee; Eamon Murray; Liam Bradley & Niamh Dune

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: GALWAY GIRL

LABEL: ASYLUM

GENRE: POP

YEAR: 2017

 

          Edward Christopher Sheeran (/ˈʃɪərən/; born 17 February 1991) is an English singer-songwriter. Born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, and raised in Framlingham, Suffolk, he began writing songs around the age of eleven. In early 2011, Sheeran independently released the extended play Nº 5 Collaborations Project. He signed with Asylum Records the same year.

            Sheeran's debut album, + ("Plus"), was released in September 2011 and topped the UK Albums Chart. It contained his first hit single "The A Team". In 2012, Sheeran won the Brit Awards for Best British Male Solo Artist and British Breakthrough Act. Sheeran's second studio album, × ("Multiply"), topped charts around the world upon its release in June 2014. It was named the second-best-selling album worldwide of 2015. In the same year, × won Album of the Year at the 2015 Brit Awards, and he received the Ivor Novello Award for Songwriter of the Year from the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers and Authors. A single from ×, "Thinking Out Loud", earned him the 2016 Grammy Awards for Song of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.

           Sheeran's third album, ÷ ("Divide"), was released in March 2017, and was the best-selling album worldwide of 2017. The first two singles from the album, "Shape of You" and "Castle on the Hill", broke records in a number of countries by debuting in the top two positions of the charts. He also became the first artist to have two songs debut in the US top 10 in the same week. By March 2017, Sheeran had accumulated ten top 10 singles from ÷ on the UK Singles Chart, breaking the record for most top 10 UK singles from one album. His fourth single from ÷, "Perfect", reached number one in the US, Australia and the UK, where it became the Christmas number one in 2017. The world's best-selling artist of 2017, he was named the Global Recording Artist of the Year. Released in 2019, his first collaborative album, Nº.6 Collaborations Project, debuted at number one in most major markets, and spawned three UK number one singles, "I Don't Care", "Beautiful People" and "Take Me Back to London". His fourth studio album, = ("Equals"), topped the charts in most major markets in 2021.

        "Galway Girl" is a song by English singer and songwriter Ed Sheeran. The song is a collaboration between Sheeran and Irish folk band Beoga, and is heavily influenced by Irish traditional music. On Saint Patrick's Day, 17 March 2017, Sheeran announced the song as the third single from his 2017 album ÷, accompanied by a lyric video.

       The song entered the charts of 31 countries around the world. It topped the charts in Ireland, Iceland, Slovenia, and Slovakia; reached number two in the UK, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, and Poland; and reached the top five on the charts of Germany, Hungary, Mexico, the Netherlands, Norway, and Sweden.

            "Galway Girl" was included on the year-end top singles charts of 17 countries, including the top five of Belgium, Denmark, Slovenia, and the UK; the top 10 of Australia, Austria, Germany, New Zealand, and Sweden; and the top 20 of Hungary, Italy, Poland, and Switzerland.

      The song was certified Platinum or multi-Platinum in 13 countries.

She played the fiddle in an Irish band

But she fell in love with an English man

Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand

Said, "Baby, I just want to dance"

 

I met her on Grafton street right outside of the bar

She shared a cigarette with me while her brother played the guitar

She asked me what does it mean, the Gaelic ink on your arm?

Said it was one of my friend's songs, do you want to drink on?

She took Jamie as a chaser, Jack for the fun

She got Arthur on the table with Johnny riding a shotgun

Chatted some more, one more drink at the bar

Then put Van on the jukebox, got up to dance

 

You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band

But she fell in love with an English man

Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand

Said, "Baby, I just want to dance"

With my pretty little Galway Girl

You're my pretty little Galway Girl

 

You know she beat me at darts and then she beat me at pool

And then she kissed me like there was nobody else in the room

As last orders were called was when she stood on the stool

After dancing to Cèilidh singing to trad tunes

I never heard Carrickfergus ever sang so sweet

A capella in the bar using her feet for a beat

Oh, I could have that voice playing on repeat for a week

And in this packed out room swear she was singing to me

 

You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band

But she fell in love with an English man

Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand

Said, "Baby, I just want to dance"

My pretty little Galway Girl

My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

 

And now we've outstayed our welcome and it's closing time

I was holding her hand, her hand was holding mine

Our coats both smell of smoke, whisky and wine

As we fill up our lungs with the cold air of the night

I walked her home then she took me inside

To finish some Doritos and another bottle of wine

I swear I'm gonna put you in a song that I write

About a Galway Girl and a perfect night

 

She played the fiddle in an Irish band

But she fell in love with an English man

Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand

Said, "Baby, I just want to dance"

My pretty little Galway Girl

My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

WHY NOT NOW?

MATT MONRO

SONGWRITERS: DAVID GREER & PETER ROSS KING

COUNTRY: U. K.

ALBUM: HEARTHBREAKERS

LABEL: PARLOPHONE

GENRE: POP

YEAR: 1989

 

    Matt Monro(born Terence Edward Parsons, 1 December 1930 – 7 February 1985) was an English singer. Known as "The Man with the Golden Voice", he performed internationally during his 30-year career. AllMusic has described Monro as "one of the most underrated pop vocalists of the '60s", who "possessed the easiest, most perfect baritone in the business".

       His recordings include the UK top 10 hits "Portrait of My Love", "My Kind of Girl", "Softly As I Leave You", "Walk Away" and "Yesterday" (originally by the Beatles). He also recorded several film themes such as "From Russia with Love" for the eponymous James Bond film, "Born Free" for the eponymous film and "On Days Like These" for The Italian Job.

    Monro was born Terence Edward Parsons on 1 December 1930 in Finsbury, north London, to Frederick and Alice Parsons. He had three brothers — Arthur, Reg and Harry — and a sister, Alice. He attended Duncombe School in Islington, and Elliott School, Putney.

      Monro had a difficult childhood. His father died when he was three and after his mother became ill, he was fostered out for two years. Leaving school at 14, he tried a succession of jobs without remaining in any of them for very long, before National Service beckoned in 1948. Monro became a tank driving instructor in the British armed forces and was posted to Hong Kong. He had sung in public from an early age, for example at the Tufnell Park Palais, and in Hong Kong he took to entering local talent contests, winning several. In fact, he became a regular guest (and frequent winner) of Radio Rediffusion's Talent Time show in Hong Kong. He was invited by then-host Ray Cordeiro to perform in his own one-off show entitled Terry Parsons Sings, on the condition that he would bow out of future Talent Time episodes to make way for others. Agreeing to the deal, he performed his first on-air concert for Rediffusion on 27 June 1953. 

Please love me tonight

For it's clear very clear

The moment is right so why not now

I thrill at your touch

Your so near very near

I need you so much

So why not now

 

Your warm finger tips

Touching my hand

I long for your lips to understand

 

And whisper love me tonight

Midnight's near

Very near

Tomorrow can wait

So why not now

 

Love will never wait

And maybe tomorrow's too late

Say it tenderly

And whisper love me tonight

 

Midnight's near very near

Tomorrow can wait

So why not now

Tomorrow can wait

So why not now.