'Puff the Magic Dragon' Easy Guitar Lesson (RIP Peter Yarrow)

Guitars for Veterans tutorial. We are paying tribute to Peter Yarrow, who passed away on 1/7/2025 at age 86, by playing the most famous song he wrote. Part of the folk-royalty trio Peter, Paul & Mary, Peter penned this song along with a fellow Cornell University grad. The guitar I am using is a 2011 Raymond Kraut OM.

[campfire_guitar_lessons]

G-320003 Bm- x244322 C-x32010 Em-022000 A7-x02020 D7-xx0212 D-xx0232

Intro Strum [G] down, down-up, down-up, down-up [G] down, down-up, down-up, down-up

(Verse 1)
[G] Puff, the magic [Bm] dragon [C] lived by the [G] sea
And [C] frolicked in the [G] autumn [Em] mist in a [A7] land called Honah [D7] Lee
[G] Little Jackie [Bm] Paper [C] loved that rascal [G] Puff
And [C] brought him strings, and [G] sealing [Em] wax, and [A7] other [D] fancy [G] stuff

(Chorus)
[D] Oh, [G] Puff, the magic [Bm] dragon [C] lived by the [G] sea
And [C] frolicked in the [G] autumn [Em] mist in a [A7] land called Honah [D7] Lee
[G] Puff, the magic [Bm] dragon [C] lived by the [G] sea
And [C] frolicked in the [G] autumn [Em] mist in a [A7] land called Honah [D7] Lee

(Verse 2)
To- [G] gether they would [Bm] travel on a [C] boat with billowed [G] sail
[C] Jackie kept a [G] lookout [Em] perched on [A7] Puff's gigantic [D7] tail
[G] Noble kings and [Bm] princes would [C] bow whene’er they [G] came
[C] Pirate ships would [G] lower their [Em] flags when [A7] Puff roared out his [D7] name

(Repeat Chorus)

(Verse 3)
A [G] dragon lives for- [Bm] ever, but [C] not so little [G] boys
[C] Painted wings and [G] giant [Em] rings make [A7] way for other [D7] toys
[G] One gray night it [Bm] happened, Jackie [C] Paper came no [G] more
And [C] Puff, that mighty [G] dragon, [Em] he [A7] ceased his [D] fearless [G] roar [D]

(Verse 4)
His [G] head was bent in [Bm] sorrow, [C] green scales fell like [G] rain
[C] Puff no longer [G] went to play a- [A7] long the cherry [D7] lane
With- [G] out his lifelong [Bm] friend, [C] Puff could not be [G] brave
So [C] Puff, that mighty [G] dragon, [Em] sadly [A7] slipped in- [D] to his [G] cave

[D] Oh, [G] Puff, the magic [Bm] dragon [C] lived by the [G] sea
And [C] frolicked in the [G] autumn [Em] mist in a [A7] land called Honah [D7] Lee
[G] Puff, the magic [Bm] dragon [C] lived by the [G] sea
And [C] frolicked in the [G] autumn [Em] mist in a [A7] land called [D] Honah [G] Lee [C] [G]

[suzienava]

Very nice. Thanks for the lesson. Peter Yarrow was a classic. I was able to meet him before the pandemic. He was so nice.

[ConjuntoFan]

Peter Paul & Mary was one of my favorite groups. This was one of my favorite of their songs. Have a great weekend Mike...thanks!

[deadwood]

I remember the song from Childhood.RIP Peter

[windrider]

We lose another great artist 😢

I was thinking about learning this the other day so I can play it for the Grandkids.
Thanks Mike.

[leelossi]

Great song! That guitar is deep sounds!

[gregnelson]

Nice tribute! Not corny at all. There's a lot of wisdom in those silly words. I play that bm with the bar. I forced myself to learn it playing classical guitar in my teens, though I think I'll practice doing it several ways on this song. Never know when a different fingering comes in handy. My kids should love this one. Really enjoy following along with your lessons. All the best.