FAQs
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No. The song was released in 1963 and Newsweek alleged the following year that the song was about drugs - for example, "little Jackie Paper" refers to rolling papers, "dragon" to "draggin'" and "Puff" to smoking. However, the band (Peter Paul & Mary) have always denied these allegations, saying that the song is inspired by an Ogden Nash poem titled "Custard the Dragon," and is about children's loss of innocence. Edit