“The secret, is getting arrested together,” says Peter Yarrow, as he explains why he, Mary Travers and Paul Stookey have stayed together as the folk trio, Peter, Paul, and Mary. Yarrow further explains “the folk group that sings together, gets arrested together, cries together, stays together, for 50 years.” 
As they were giving a performance at the American Music Theater in Lancaster, PA, another American icon, which had great influence on PPM, was being celebrated. Pete Seeger’s 90th birthday celebration was being held at the same time. PPM made several mentions of Seeger throughout their performance as especially when they performed “Where Have All the Flowers Gone.”
Fans were treated and surprised along the way. As the current rose, PPM was greeted to a standing ovation while the three, remained seated around their microphones. Travers is now in a wheelchair and on oxygen due to her leukemia. Peter and Paul have decided to remain seated also for her benefit.
Travers’ body maybe physically weakening, but her voice is as tenacious as ever. The raw poignancy of her voice came through on songs such has “If I had a Hammer” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” Political in their message still to this day and in their music as when they first started out. They held back nothing. The songs they sang as they marched with Dr. King in 1963 have the same meaning still today. “The political scene has not changed, just the faces,” said Stookey.
Politics and ideology aside, attendees to the show were treated to many of their classics, including “Puff the Magic Dragon.” Near the end of the song, the audience was out singing PPM, which prompted PPM to stop singing and let the audience continue on with the song. Other ear candy included, “Where Have All of the Flowers Gone”, “Leaving on a Jet plane,” “Don’t Laugh at Me,” “Have You Been to Jail for Justice, “ and “Light One Candle” ended the first half of the show. Through out their set PPM bantered back and forth with each other and more importantly with the audience to keep them entertained.
After a brief 20 minute intermission, Yarrow returned to the stage to perform two solo songs, which included “Jimmy Crack Corn” and “Day is Done”, “a song of fear, anxiety, and in the end optimism by the next generation, which is what we need today” said Yarrow as he introduced the song. After his two-song solo, Yarrow introduced his band mate and more importantly friend of almost 50 years, Paul Stookey.
Stookey took the stage and performed a song that “was written long before Obama, but is now a celebration of Obama”. The song, “In These Times.” He ended his set with “One Light, Many Candles.” Stookey proceeded to introduce the inspiration of the group, Mary Travers. Peter Yarrow wheel Mary out on stage to a sea of cheers and whistles of admiration and respect from the audience. Once again Travers was seen wiping the tears from her eyes. Peter promptly took his seat. Stookey and Yarrow played (without singing) as Travers sang, “Sometimes I feel Like a Motherless Child” and “The Water is Wide.” She talked at length about those who had come before us to pave the way for what has happened recently in our nation’s ability to overcome racism (though we have along ways to go she added) to be able to elect an African American as president. The second half set was shorter then the first have but just as entertaining. The second half featured “Leaving on a Jet Plane”, which Mary missed some of the lyrics and tried to sing the chorus before it was time, which prompted to raise her hands in the air in an oye ve moment. They also sang “The Kid” and “If I had a Hammer” which once again the audience out sang PPM. After “If I Had a Hammer” another standing ovation at which point Peter and Paul stood and acknowledged to crowd. The final standing ovation came at the end of the show closing signature, “Blowin’ in the Wind”. Travers ended the song with her trademark saying, “the answer is still peace, justice, and equality and all of us working together for these things together” as the tears were glistening on her cheeks. Her body maybe failing her, but Travers’ voice is strong as the day she first sang with Peter and Paul.
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