Autumn To May

This week at Glyn Wilton’s Mixed Music Bag,
he’s asking us to write about a song in which
the title or a line mentions the current month. 
Here’s my featured May artist and their song.

Few American folk groups lasted longer or amassed a more loyal following than Peter, Paul & Mary. PP&M achieved such a rarified level of commercial success without compromise, and while continuing a centuries-old tradition of people raising their voices in song for the sake of freedom, is simply further evidence of their extraordinarily success career.

Peter Yarrow, Paul Stookey and Mary Traverse formed their trio in NYC in 1961 during the American folk music revival period. Their eponymous debut album in 1962 topped the charts for 10 months (including 7 weeks at the #1 position) with songs such as “Lemon Tree”, “500 Miles”, “If I Had a Hammer” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?” The following year they released the eternally beloved “Puff, the Magic Dragon”. In the years that followed, they had great success with a number of Bob Dylan songs and some written by their friend, John Denver.

In 1970, the group split for about 10 years for the members to pursue solo careers. After reuniting, they continued to record and tour, playing about 45 shows a year, until Mary’s death in 2009. That same year, PP&M were inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame. Yarrow passed away in January, 2025, leaving Paul Stookey as the last surviving member of the group.

If you’re looking for a song that feels like a walk through a golden autumn forest, “Autumn to May” by Peter, Paul & Mary is the perfect melody. This gentle, timeless folk tune captures the magic of storytelling through music, painting vivid pictures of nature and life’s simple beauty. Its delicate harmonies and poetic lyrics transport you to a world where imagination and reality intertwine.

Peter, Paul & Mary’s music has always been about more than just melody; it’s about emotion, connection and a sense of peace. “Autumn to May” is no exception; it’s a piece that resonates deeply with its heartfelt simplicity.

This is “Autumn To May” by Peter, Paul & Mary

LYRICS

Oh, once I had a little dog, his color, it was brown
I taught him for to whistle, to sing and dance and run
His legs, they were 14 yards long, his ears so very wide
Around the world in half a day, upon him, I could ride

Sing Tarry-O Day
Sing, autumn to May

Oh, once I had a little frog, he wore a vest of red
He’d lean upon his silver cane, a top hat on his head
He’d speak of far off places, of things to see and do
And all the kings and queens he’d met while sailing in a shoe

Sing Tarry-O Day
Sing, autumn to May

Oh, once I had a flock of sheep, they grazed upon a feather
I’d keep them in a music box from wind or rainy weather
And every day, the sun would shine, they’d fly all through the town
To bring me back some golden rings, candy by the pound

Sing Tarry-O Day
Sing, autumn to May

Oh, once I had a Downey swan, she was so very frail
She sat upon an oyster shell and hatched me out a snail
The snail had changed into a bird, the bird to butterfly
And he who tells a bigger tale would have to tell a lie

Sing Tarry-O Day
Sing, Autumn to May

Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Noel Paul Stookey/Peter Yarrow
Autumn to May lyrics © Neworld Media Music Publishers, Silver Dawn Music

Mixed Music Bag 2025 – More of Mr. McNabb

Big thanks to Glyn Wilton for hosting Mixed Music Bag each week. Please be sure to follow the link and check out Glyn’s site.

Thanks for joining me today and spinning some tunes.

See you on the flip side. 😎

NAR©2025

All text, graphics and videos are copyright for Nancy’s Notes 🖊️🎶, The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephant’s Trunk, and The Rhythm Section, et. al., and are not to be used without permission. NAR©2017-present.