well, i didn't mean to take away from puff's excellent post, was struck by the parallel is all. the end of the song is so sad, and it was only after i started learning about my orientation that i realised just how right the words are, in the sense of what usually happens to us.

interestingly enough, when i did a search to make sure i had the words right, i came across the following. i have no idea who is responsible for it, but this is an extended version of the song:

Puff The Magic Dragon (Yarrow/Lipton)

Puff, the magic dragon, Lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah -Lee
Little Jackie Paper loved that rascal Puff
And brought him strings and sealing wax and other fancy stuff

Chorus

Oh! Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea
And frolicked in the autumn mist in a land called Honah-Lee
Puff, the magic dragon, lived by the sea
And frolicked In the autumn mist in a land called HonahLee

Together they would travel on a boat with billowed sail
Jackie kept a lookout perched on Puffs gigantic tail
Noble kings and princes would bow whene’er they came
Pirate ships would lower their flags when Puff roared out his name

Chorus

A dragon lives forever but not so little boys
Painted wings and giant rings make way for other toys
One grey day it happened Jackie Paper came no more
And Puff that mighty dragon, he ceased his fearless roar

His head was bent in sorrow; green scales fell like rain
Puff no longer went to play along the cherry lane
Without his lifelong friend, Puff could not be brave
So Puff that mighty dragon sadly slipped into his cave

Chorus

One fine day it happened, Puff woke from a dream
He thought he heard a familiar voice and Jackie’s laugh it seemed
He looked around his cavern and over by the door
Stood a little boy with a piece of string and smile he’d seen before

"Hello My name is Billy, my dad told me your name
He said I’d find you in the cave along the cherry lane"
Puff, that mighty dragon smiled in his joy
He’d never be alone again for this was Jackie’s boy

Chorus