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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Dragons live forever, but not so little boys

101 replies

MossGrowsFat · 12/10/2022 23:00

Aibu to reject the suggestion that this summers leavers sing Puff the Magic Dragon?

Not least because of the drug reference, but because the parents will weep?

OP posts:
newsaint · 12/10/2022 23:10

The drug references thing is an urban legend.

I like the song and think it would be a good choice personally - but I understand others may feel different.

BinBandit · 12/10/2022 23:15

I think something more uplifting would be a better choice?

PastMyBestBeforeDate · 12/10/2022 23:15

I'd be in tears from the start. My dad used to sing that to me when I was little and I'm 52.

sweeneytoddsrazor · 12/10/2022 23:21

Parents are supposed to cry at the leavers service. I have always cried at that song. Not sure its a good choice for a leavers concert

Mamai90 · 12/10/2022 23:24

When I was pregnant just even thinking about that song would have me sobbing. My husband and kids thought it was hilarious.

WeBuiltThisBuffetOnSausageRoll · 12/10/2022 23:34

Isn't the whole point of the transition that the 'little boys' (assuming a single-sex school) MOVE ON in their lives and not actually stop LIVING?!

Original poster
MossGrowsFat · 12/10/2022 23:41

Well yes sausage the little boys move on but puff waits forlornly for a visit that doesn't come and then retreats into his cave.

Just not convinced this is the right tone for a small boys prep school. Uplifting would be better imo, posted to see others views.

OP posts:
Pixiedust1234 · 12/10/2022 23:56

No, dont do it. Its horrendously sad.

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 13/10/2022 00:00

Worse would be "Mother of Mine" (original was by Neil Reid iirc) 😁
Better would be something more cheerful and upbeat though. Last one I went to for one of my dcs they sang that "Reach for the Stars" pop song (was it SClub? ) and that was good cos the rest of the assembly had everyone weeping already!

Trinity65 · 13/10/2022 01:43

Awww No
Bit too sad that is.

Makes me cry when I think about it and I am 57.
Its mainly the bit you quoted that does it

ImustLearn2Cook · 13/10/2022 02:04

It is not about drugs or smoking weed. The writer (who was 19 at the time) was inspired by a poem about a dragon and thought he could write a better poem about a dragon. americansongwriter.com/meaning-puff-the-magic-dragon-peter-paul-and-mary-song-lyrics/

I would say it is nostalgic rather than sad. It is about growing up, leaving innocence and the imaginary magical world behind.

Magic dragons do not exist outside of the imagination and so it really isn’t that sad that he went away, alone back to his cave.

I think it is a beautiful poem and song and I loved it very much as a child.

JestersTear · 13/10/2022 02:05

It's a very sad song but I've never thought that it talks about death, more about growing up and moving on.
The lyrics talk about 'moving on to different toys' and that he's now too grown up to go and play with Puff (which makes no sense, why would you ever give up a friendship with a dragon??) which makes Puff so sad that he retreats into his cave.
If I knew where 'Honah Lee' was, I'd be there like a shot!

JestersTear · 13/10/2022 02:09

Yes, this.

"I would say it is nostalgic rather than sad. It is about growing up, leaving innocence and the imaginary magical world behind."

Bananasweetlady · 13/10/2022 02:10

Omg I did not know of any drug reference ! And that song makes me cry ! You can't have them singing that !

Nandocushion · 13/10/2022 03:33

Saddest song of all time and I think it should be banned

Rosehugger · 13/10/2022 03:49

I would say it is nostalgic rather than sad. It is about growing up, leaving innocence and the imaginary magical world behind.

That's very sad in itself. Why would you want to leave your imagination behind in early childhood?

I agree, OP. Pick a more rousing, modern song.

Rosehugger · 13/10/2022 03:54

When we sang it at school, I never knew about the sad ending as we never sang the final two verses. Which sounds quite wise of the school really.

If you're going to go more traditional, we sang One More Step Along the World I Go 30 odd years ago!

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/10/2022 04:01

It is a beautiful song and haunting song. The parents will possibly get emotional, but is that a bad thing? I can’t believe it was written by someone so young.

MadAntonia · 13/10/2022 04:03

It seems the original song had a happy ending, but it was lost:

www.banjohangout.org/archive/327490

The writer himself eventually added a lovely happy ending:

www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2007-dec-19-et-yarrow19-story.html

glassdarker · 13/10/2022 04:39

Agree I find that lyric pretty sad.

Our leavers sang Natasha Bedingfields 'Unwritten'. Not going to say I didn't (ugly) cry but I thought the lyrics were lovely !

PomBearWithoutHerOFRS · 13/10/2022 04:42

Honalei is a real place. It's in Hawaii 😊

MurderOfBirds · 13/10/2022 04:56

When I was in reception class I was permanently withdrawn from singing lessons because I was absolutely distraught by that song (looking back I don't know why they couldn't have just picked a different song).

30-odd years later I still can't hear it without crying and just reading this thread has me sobbing like a baby.

Mummyoflittledragon · 13/10/2022 04:59

MurderOfBirds · 13/10/2022 04:56

When I was in reception class I was permanently withdrawn from singing lessons because I was absolutely distraught by that song (looking back I don't know why they couldn't have just picked a different song).

30-odd years later I still can't hear it without crying and just reading this thread has me sobbing like a baby.

We also sang this at school and I used to sob my way through. You’re younger than me. The teacher wasn’t kind enough to ‘notice’ this. More of a slap you on the legs for not being in a straight line variety.

zen1 · 13/10/2022 05:03

I’ve just googled the songwriters and was sad to see one of them (the guy who was nineteen when he wrote it) died only last week. The song always makes me cry.

Dollydea · 13/10/2022 05:15

Far too sad! It's a heartbreaking song, I remember singing it in school and crying my eyes out but I think I would've been devastated singing it at my leavers assembly.

Surely it should be a motivational song with a positive message about moving on? There's no positive message in puff the magic dragon.