In 1996, alternative group Blind Melon released a cover version of the song on the Schoolhouse Rock! Rocks album
On September 27, 2005, Blind Melon would release their compilation album The Best of Blind Melon, which would feature Three is a Magic Number as the 17th track.
Three Is A Magic Number
Blind Melon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Ya it is, it's a magic number
Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity
You'll get three
As a magic number
The past, the present, the future,
Faith, and hope, and charity,
The heart, the brain, the body,
It's a magic number
It takes three legs to make a tripod or to make a table stand,
And it takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle
And every triangle has three corners,
Every triangle has three sides,
No more, no less,
You don't have to guess
That it's three
Can't you see?
It's a magic number
A man and a woman had a little baby
Yeah they did
And there were three in the family
And that's a magic number
3, 6, 9,
12, 15, 18,
21, 24, 27,
30
Now multiply backwards from 3x10
3x10 is 30
3x9 is 27
3x8 is 24
3x7 is 21
3x6 is 18
3x5 is 15
3x4 is 12
And 3x3 is 9
And 3x2 is 6
And 3x1 is 3 of course
(now dig the pattern once more!)
3, 6, 9,
12, 15, 18
Oh yeah
3x10 is 30
3x9 is 27
3x8 is 24
3x7 is 21
3x6 is 18
3x5 is 15
3x4 is 12
And 3x3 is 9
And 3x2 is 6
And 3x1
What is it?
3
A man and a woman had a little baby
There were three in the family
And that's a magic number
The song "Three Is A Magic Number" by Blind Melon references the concept of three as a magical or mystical number. The lyrics describe how the number three runs throughout various aspects of life, from the past, present, and future to faith, hope, and charity. The song also references the physical world, with examples like "it takes three legs to make a tripod," "three wheels to make a tricycle," and "every triangle has three corners and three sides."
The song's chorus repeats that "three is a magic number" and emphasizes the idea that this number holds significance and symbolism in many areas of life. The last section of the song includes a counting pattern in multiples of three, reinforcing the idea that three is a key number. The closing lyrics remind us that a family of three is also significant and can be considered magical in its own right.
Overall, "Three Is A Magic Number" celebrates the power of the number three and highlights its universality across different aspects of life, from the spiritual to the physical, and even in our familial relationships.
Line by Line Meaning
Three is a magic number
The number three has mystical and special properties.
Ya it is, it's a magic number
The singer confirms that three is truly a magical number.
Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity
The number three is part of an ancient mysticism and trinity.
You'll get three
By combining certain things, you will get the result of the number three.
As a magic number
The number three is truly magical and special.
The past, the present, the future,
The number three represents the concepts of the past, present, and future.
Faith, and hope, and charity,
The number three represents three virtuous concepts: faith, hope, and charity.
The heart, the brain, the body,
The number three represents the core aspects of the human body: heart, brain, and body.
Will give you three,
These three core aspects of the human body will sum up the result of the number three.
It's a magic number
The number three is truly magical and special.
It takes three legs to make a tripod or to make a table stand,
A tripod or table requires three legs in order to be stable and functional.
And it takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle
A tricycle, a specific type of vehicle, requires three wheels for mobility and balance.
And every triangle has three corners,
A triangle, a specific shape, has three corners or vertices.
Every triangle has three sides,
A triangle, a specific shape, has three sides or edges.
No more, no less,
A triangle always has exactly three corners and three sides, no more and no less.
You don't have to guess
This fact about the shape of a triangle is not up for debate or interpretation.
That it's three
The number of corners and sides in a triangle is always the number three.
Can't you see?
The singer is inviting the listener to recognize the magical nature of the number three.
A man and a woman had a little baby
A family was created from a man, woman, and child.
Yeah they did
The artist confirms that this family did indeed exist.
And there were three in the family
The family had three members: man, woman, and baby.
And that's a magic number
The fact that this family had three members is significant and magical.
3, 6, 9,
Listing the sequence of multiples of three.
12, 15, 18,
Continuing with the sequence of multiples of three.
21, 24, 27,
Continuing with the sequence of multiples of three.
30
The final number in the sequence of multiples of three.
Now multiply backwards from 3x10
The singer is introducing a backwards multiplication exercise with the number 30.
3x10 is 30
The first step in the backwards multiplication exercise is stating that 3 multiplied by 10 equals 30.
3x9 is 27
Multiplying 3 by 9 results in the number 27.
3x8 is 24
Multiplying 3 by 8 results in the number 24.
3x7 is 21
Multiplying 3 by 7 results in the number 21.
3x6 is 18
Multiplying 3 by 6 results in the number 18.
3x5 is 15
Multiplying 3 by 5 results in the number 15.
3x4 is 12
Multiplying 3 by 4 results in the number 12.
And 3x3 is 9
Multiplying 3 by 3 results in the number 9.
And 3x2 is 6
Multiplying 3 by 2 results in the number 6.
And 3x1 is 3 of course
Multiplying 3 by 1 results in the number 3, which is obvious information.
(now dig the pattern once more!)
The singer emphasizes the pattern of the multiples of three and wants the listener to take note of it.
3, 6, 9,
Recalling the sequence of multiples of three from earlier in the song.
12, 15, 18
Continuing with the sequence of multiples of three.
Oh yeah
The artist expresses enthusiasm about the pattern of the multiples of three.
3x10 is 30
Recalling the first step in the backwards multiplication exercise with the number 30.
3x9 is 27
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
3x8 is 24
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
3x7 is 21
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
3x6 is 18
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
3x5 is 15
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
3x4 is 12
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
And 3x3 is 9
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
And 3x2 is 6
Recalling one of the results of the backwards multiplication exercise.
And 3x1
Beginning the backwards multiplication exercise with the number 3.
What is it?
The artist is posing a rhetorical question about the result of 3 multiplied by 1.
3
The answer to the rhetorical question is that 3 multiplied by 1 equals the number 3.
A man and a woman had a little baby
Recalling the family of three previously mentioned.
There were three in the family
Recalling the fact that this family had three members.
And that's a magic number
Recalling the magical nature of the number three, especially as it pertains to this specific family.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: ROBERT L DOROUGH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@ninaprettii2482
Three, oh, is a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity
You'll get three
As a magic number
The past, the present, the future
Faith and hope and charity
The heart, the brain, the body
Will give you three
It's a magic number
It takes three legs to make a tripod
Or to make a table stand
And it takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle
And every triangle has three corners
Every triangle has three sides
No more, no less
You don't have to guess
That it's three, can't you see?
It's a magic number
A man and a woman had a little baby
Yeah they did
And there were three in the family
And that's a magic number
3, 6, 9
12, 15, 18
21, 24, 27
30
3, 6, 9
12, 15, 18
21, 24, 27
30
Now multiply backwards from 3 times 10
3 times 10 is 30
3 times 9 is 27
3 times 8 is 24
3 times 7 is 21
3 times 6 is 18
3 times 5 is 15
3 times 4 is 12
And 3 times 3 is 9
And 3 times 2 is 6
And 3 times 1 is 3, of course
Now dig the pattern once more
3, 6, 9
12, 15, 18
Oh yeah
3 times 10 is 30
3 times 9 is 27
3 times 8 is 24
3 times 7 is 21
3 times 6 is 18
3 times 5 is 15
3 times 4 is 12
And 3 times 3 is 9
And 3 times 2 is 6
And 3 times 1 is 3
What is it?
3!
A man and a woman had a little baby
There were three in the family
And that's a magic number
❤💛🧡
@GGABADIAB
LYRICS
Three is a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity
You get three as a magic number
The past and the present and the future
Faith and hope and charity
The heart and the brain and the body
Give you three as a magic number
It takes three legs to make a tripod or to make a table stand
It takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle
And every triangle has three corners
Every triangle has three sides
No more, no less, you don't have to guess
When it's three, you can see
Its a magic number
A man and a woman had a little baby
Yes, they did
They had three in the family
And that's a magic number
Three, six, nine
Twelve, fifteen, eighteen
Twenty-one, twenty-four, twenty-seven
Thirty
(Three, six, nine
Twelve, fifteen, eighteen
Twenty-one, twenty-four, twenty-seven
Thirty)
Now the multiplies of three
Come up three times in each set of ten
In the first ten
You get three, six, nine
And in the teens' ten
It's twelve, fifteen and eighteen
And in the twenties you get-a
Twenty-one, twenty-four, twenty-seven
And it comes out even on thirty
Three times ten is (thirty)
Three times nine is (twenty-seven)
Three times eight is (twenty-four)
Three times seven is (twenty-one)
Three times six is eighteen
Three times five is fifteen
Three times four is twelve
And three times three is nine
And three times two is six
And three times one is three, of course
(Now dig the pattern once more!)
Twelve, fifteen, eighteen (Twenty-one)
Twenty-one, twenty-four, twenty-seven
Thirty (Yeah)
Three times ten is (thirty)
Three times nine is (twenty-seven)
Three times eight is (twenty-four)
Three times seven is (twenty-one)
Three times six is eighteen
Three times five is fifteen
Three times four is twelve
And three times three is nine
And three times two is six
And three times one
What is it? (Three)
Yeah, thats a magic number
A man and a woman had a little baby
Yes, they did
There had three in the family
That's a magic number
@applescruff1969
This was the last song that lead singer Shannon Hoon ever recorded before he died. Even when singing a Schoolhouse Rock song, he gave it his all. R.I.P.
@LarryLeeMoniz
Man, Shannon's voice is perfect for this song.
@1969ryson
One of the coolest things I have heard a rock band do. It sounds like they took it seriously, not just a joke but played as a real song.
@LesAnderson
Chris J agreed.
@uriah9559
it IS a real song! Jk i knew what you meant :P
@curlytoes22
the band members probably grew up with Schoolhouse Rock too
@derekfletcher8934
Heard about this on the Bob and Tom show yesterday because the guy who originally sang it passed away. Glad I was listening because this version is kick ass!
@wellesradio
I think most of the artists who did the remakes took it seriously because when you unpack these Schoolhouse songs there’s real meat in there, and most self-respecting musicians would have recognized that.
@ninaprettii2482
Three, oh, is a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Somewhere in that ancient mystic trinity
You'll get three
As a magic number
The past, the present, the future
Faith and hope and charity
The heart, the brain, the body
Will give you three
It's a magic number
It takes three legs to make a tripod
Or to make a table stand
And it takes three wheels to make a vehicle called a tricycle
And every triangle has three corners
Every triangle has three sides
No more, no less
You don't have to guess
That it's three, can't you see?
It's a magic number
A man and a woman had a little baby
Yeah they did
And there were three in the family
And that's a magic number
3, 6, 9
12, 15, 18
21, 24, 27
30
3, 6, 9
12, 15, 18
21, 24, 27
30
Now multiply backwards from 3 times 10
3 times 10 is 30
3 times 9 is 27
3 times 8 is 24
3 times 7 is 21
3 times 6 is 18
3 times 5 is 15
3 times 4 is 12
And 3 times 3 is 9
And 3 times 2 is 6
And 3 times 1 is 3, of course
Now dig the pattern once more
3, 6, 9
12, 15, 18
Oh yeah
3 times 10 is 30
3 times 9 is 27
3 times 8 is 24
3 times 7 is 21
3 times 6 is 18
3 times 5 is 15
3 times 4 is 12
And 3 times 3 is 9
And 3 times 2 is 6
And 3 times 1 is 3
What is it?
3!
A man and a woman had a little baby
There were three in the family
And that's a magic number
❤💛🧡
@0tto9
They don't write lyrics like that everyday!