Image from the official Peter, Paul & Mary web site
Considering the very conservative bent of my upbringing in the ’80s, it’s weird to consider my parents subjecting me to the progressive harmonies of Peter, Paul & Mary. But, without fail, there they would be, during every WGBH pledge drive each spring or summer (the PBS station’s pledge phone number is forever branded in my memory: 492-1111, 492-1111 …).
The Peter, Paul & Mary Christmas special was played ad nasseum every December, and it didn’t really seem Christmas-y until I heard “Children Go Where I Send Thee” – and while I still remember every one of those ten or so verses, I’ve never heard it preformed anywhere else, by anyone else. Perhaps I just haven’t been looking.
So, there were my parents, strict Reaganites, fuck Big Government, Michael Dukakis is the devil, etc., tuning in to watch Peter, Paul & Mary perform Blowin’ In The Wind and war protest songs about El Salvador on a public television station to which they never contributed.
I’m not saying the incredibly depressing “Puff the Magic Dragon” influenced my vote for Obama (who likely terrifies my father in ways Dems never could have imagined in 1968 or, for that matter, 1988). I just wonder why it was so acceptable. Folk music in my house was generally limited to The Kingston Trio and John Denver and while Peter Paul and Mary may have been part of that circle, they were also of the Bob Dylan and Joan Baez ilk.
It’s likely that this is just part of the typical childhood paradoxes one is oblivious to until adulthood. And I’m grateful for that obliviousness. Because, barring the aforementioned “Puff,” the music of Peter, Paul & Mary always made me happy during a time in my life when I usually was not.
I am also profoundly grateful that there were musicians a divided family could listen to together, without debate, and just enjoy.
Mary Travers died Wednesday. She was 72.
Read statements by Peter Yarrow and Noel Paul Stookey here.
I’m surprised that you’re surprised that that would have been part of your upbringing. A lot of times music transcends the boundaries of belief which is why it is such a great way to spread a message. I may not choose to ‘expand my horizon’ with mind altering drugs, but that doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate The Grateful Dead…Your home may have had a particularly right wing way about it, but even so…who couldn’t love that Marvelous Toy?
If they were exposing you to rap songs with explicit lyrics…THEN I might be surprised. :-)
Nice remembrance man. I was also transported back to my childhood when I heard that Mary had died. I remember sitting at a card table in the family room with a PBS Peter, Paul & Mary special on as background music while the family played a boardgame. I think I may have even seen PP&M in concert when I was real little. It was kind of surreal to go to my niece’s school concert (she’s 8) and hear them singing Puff at the top of their little lungs – with absolutely no idea what the song is really about.
My niece is 8 , not sure why there’s an emoticon there; although Eva does smile a lot! :)