anonymous December 21st, 2007 08:21AM  
More likely, it is about the magic of childhood and the loss thereof. The boy has these fantastical ideas growing up, but then abandons them forever.

anonymous June 10th, 2009 12:16PM  
It's about POT

har0462 August 28th, 2009 01:30AM  
The lyrics are based on a poem by Leonard Lipton (1959), who in turn based it on a poem by Ogden Nash which was about a dragon. Nash's poem was called "Custard the Dragon". It is not about pot.

m320753 August 31st, 2009 09:42AM  
it's not about pot,acid, mushrooms or even beer. it's a children's song which means it has no rhyme or reason it starts happy then sad and ends happy just like all children's boks and songs did. the only differance is this song was written by a man (peter) who had access to a microphone and audience. all these people who think it's about pot you probably whiter shade of pale is about and mr tamborine main is about drugs when it really is a song about which road the singer should go doewn. if dylan went down the other road would he still be dylan? of cource he would but he wouldn't have the world trying to figure out what the lyrics meant. then he'd be able to watch a yankee game anything else that are impossible today

anonymous November 11th, 2009 07:04AM  
I think that the song is about the fantasies of childhood and how as you grow up you are taught about reality and you have to abandon your dreams. the painted wings and giants rings are a kids toys and Puff is their friend or playmate. the part about sailing and the nobles, kings, princes and pirates are the imaginary adventures of a kid. Puff's fearless roar is the fact that a child fells safe with their imagined friend. Puff's scales falling like rain is how, as the kid is taken out of that made up world the dreams fade and so do the creatures of their fantasies.