Tune In, Get Shocked: Iconic Songs With Surprising Backstories

5. Puff The Magic Dragon - Peter Paul And Mary

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One of the most misinterpreted songs ever could be this one. Given the name "Puff" and the fanciful character of the song, many believe that this masterpiece was composed either about or inspired by drugs. Actually, the innocent nature of this music matches the amusing lyrics. The phrases are derived from a poetry penned by a band mate; no, the poem did not center puffing drugs either. The poem revolved on a child and his imagined buddy, Puff, a dragon he finally grew too old for. We feel far better now knowing where this music truly originated for a song that both adults and children like! This misreading of "Puff the Magic Dragon" is a famous illustration of how cultural background and presumptions could drastically change how one views art. Many people instinctively connected the amusing lyrics of the song with drug culture when it first emerged in the 1960s, a period of growing drug usage and counterculture movements. The actual narrative behind the song, however, emphasizes the beauty of early imagination and the mixed-fevers of growing up. "Puff the Magic Dragon's universal themes of friendship, sorrow, and the passing of time help to explain its ongoing appeal over many years. Its capacity to enthrall adults and children shows the power of music's narrative abilities as well as the ageless attraction of fantasy in artwork. Ironically, the debate about its meaning has only helped to keep the song fresh and spoken about decades after its publication, therefore securing its place in the canon of cherished children's songs and folk music masterpieces.