One
Dog Night Lyrics
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Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number)
One (one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do)
(number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
The song "One" by Three Dog Night explores the concept of loneliness and the sadness that comes with being alone. The opening lines state that "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do," which sets the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics go on to say that "Two can be as bad as one" because even with another person, you can still feel lonely. The song then repeats that "One is the loneliest number" and that it is worse than two.
The second verse of the song turns to the concept of rejection and the sadness that comes with hearing the word "No." The lyrics state that "No is the saddest experience you'll ever know" and that it is even sadder than the experience of saying "Yes." The song then repeats the chorus, emphasizing once again that "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do."
The final verse of the song speaks to the heartbreak that comes with a relationship ending. The lyrics state that "It's just no good anymore since you went away" and that the singer spends their time "just making rhymes of yesterday." This verse brings the song to a close, repeating the chorus and emphasizing once again the loneliness that comes with being alone.
Line by Line Meaning
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone is one of the worst feelings imaginable
Two can be as bad as one
Even being with someone who doesn't love you is still lonely
It's the loneliest number since the number one
Nothing compares to the loneliness that comes with just one person
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Rejection is one of the most painful things a person can experience
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
Saying yes to the wrong things can be just as painful as saying no to the right things
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Once you get used to being alone, you might never be fully comfortable around others again
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two
Being alone is worse than being with someone even if they don't truly care about you
It's just no good anymore since you went away
The absence of someone you love can make everything else less enjoyable
One is the loneliest
The number one represents what it feels like to be completely alone
One is the loneliest
The number one represents what it feels like to be completely alone
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone is one of the worst feelings imaginable
It's just no good anymore since you went away
The absence of someone you love can make everything else less enjoyable
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
Repeating that one is the loneliest number emphasizes just how awful being alone is
One is the loneliest (number)
Repeating that one is the loneliest number emphasizes just how awful being alone is
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone is one of the worst feelings imaginable
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
Repeating that one is the loneliest number emphasizes just how awful being alone is
One is the loneliest (number)
Repeating that one is the loneliest number emphasizes just how awful being alone is
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone is one of the worst feelings imaginable
(Number)
One (one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do)
Repeating the phrase 'one is the loneliest number' digs in the point that being alone is unbearable
(number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone is one of the worst feelings imaginable
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
Repeating that one is the loneliest number emphasizes just how awful being alone is
One is the loneliest (number)
Repeating that one is the loneliest number emphasizes just how awful being alone is
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone is one of the worst feelings imaginable
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HARRY NILSSON, HARRY EDWARD NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@stevieray56
Three Dog Night was a producer’s dream, a trio of lead singers who had a sweet harmony blend and great instincts for vocal arrangements. In the decade of the Beach Boys and the Byrds, group vocals sold a lot of records, but great songs were as important as ever. Because of their vocal versatility, Three Dog Night – Chuck Negron, Danny Hutton and Cory Wells – could cover songs from sometimes-unlikely writers that suited the voice of at least one of the three singers. This was the case with “One,” the group’s top 5 hit written by Harry Nilsson.
“One,” a song about the loneliness of the single life – and even of the attached life – was first released by Nilsson on his widely-ignored 1968 album Aerial Ballet. But when Three Dog Night released “One” as the second single from their eponymous debut album in 1969, the song broke the band into the international spotlight. Negron, who sang lead on the song, said he knew “One” would be big, and that he was far more impressed with Three Dog Night’s version than Nilsson’s.
“Nilsson’s ‘One’ was very melancholy, lacked passion,” he said. “It was a song sang to the beat of a busy signal … We turned that into a rock and roll song. So we were brilliant in what we did with the musicians … when I heard “One” on the playback I started crying … and I said, ‘This is a hit.’” Many might disagree with Negron’s assessment of Nilsson’s recording though, as Nilsson himself became more of an icon than anyone in Three Dog Night ever did. A favorite of the Beatles camp and of many rock and pop peers, Nilsson became well-respected as a singer and musician as well as a writer.
Three Dog Night wasn’t exactly true to Nilsson’s original arrangement, but they didn’t omit any lyrics either, as this song doesn’t really have a lot of words. “One” was a study in how just a handful of words can say so much, as well as a great example of how repeating a hook will make a song stick in a listener’s head. That hook (One is the loneliest number), repeated for nearly a minute at the song’s climax, was easy for a DJ to talk over without the listener missing any significant lyrical content. That wasn’t Nilsson’s intention when he wrote and recorded it, as he didn’t repeat the line in that manner, but it worked out well for Three Dog Night. “One” was the perfect choice for a pop single: short for radio play, a showcase for three strong vocalists, and an emotional and identifiable hook that could be pounded into the brains of radio listeners.
Three Dog Night became a force to be reckoned with on the pop charts for several years, helping numerous fledgling writers make money to continue their careers. Writers like Laura Nyro (“Eli’s Comin’”), Hoyt Axton (“Joy to the World”), Randy Newman (“Mama Told Me Not to Come”), and even a young John Hiatt (“Sure As I’m Sittin’ Here”) all saw their names on the group’s records. But it was Nilsson’s “One” that really sent Three Dog Night to the big leagues.
@rinalore
🌹Miss🎶Music, you💭think Three Dog Night's music throws kids into aldulthood?💯I don't, tbh.
Counting from "One" to 2 isn't exactly🚀rocket science with this "One" song, tbh.
I💔miss great music.👆🏻This song came out when I was🐥2 and my eldest of 5 sisters bought this record and when I🎧heard it play on Dad's old record player she taught me to sing this🎶song (the whole way through) and I learned to count to 10 at the same time.😂It was👍🏻better than🎓school.
She got a🎸12-string for her🥳18th birthday and learned to🎸play "One" and👍🏻taught me how to🎸play it (and I fit in the box).
I💔miss the greats, I've been a🎼🎓Jimmy Page🌹respecter and⚡️LedZepHead my♥️Whole Lotta life.
🤍Three Dog Night's🎼music has no🛑age barriers and🌹their songs are⏳timeless.
That Beautiful Sister (who taught me so🤲🏻much) was taken out by brain cancer (within 9 months of being diagnosed) and now💐"One" brings on new💔meaning.
I believe my🕊Sisters🎸playing in peace, in the✨Angels Orchestra, for sure.
🇨🇦✌🏻🎶♥️(+🇺🇦)✨🌎💫
@patrickabo1354
Lyrics:
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away (Number)
One is the loneliest (Number)
One is the loneliest (Number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (Number)
One is the loneliest (Number)
One is the loneliest (Number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (Number)
One (One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do, number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (Number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
@tropicwave1
Song: One
Artist: Three Dog Night
Album: The Best of 3 Dog Night
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (number)
One (one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do)(number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Writer(s): Harry Nilsson
℗ A Geffen Records Release; ℗ 1969 UMG Recordings, Inc.
@smokinjz
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (number)
One (one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do)(number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
@tracypajari2540
I know I was born in 62. And have appreciation for the best music ever.
@johnshields6852
I was 9 years old when this came out, I loved this song then, still do.
@susangunn5251
I had a party 1968, 10th grade, listened to this song over and over. We counted 70 kids were in and out that night!!!
@Kelly-nm4kw
Hello Susan, How are you doing?
@blairsterling6141
That era of rock music was, by far, the best. A person could easily hear the words, and sing along. Lyrics were extremely important !! Clearly hearing the voices and words, was a top priority, and made it the best rock ever.
@YungReg88
I agree. That death metal/screaming stuff sounds TERRIBLE.
@johnstrand6749
I was 5 years old when I heard this in 2001 on "recess schools out" been a fan and a flower child ever since.
@Princess_-gp3ep
Same here. I used to watch Disney’s Recess and it’s movies on Toon Disney as a kid from 2007 to 2009.
@snapplehubbs
Three Dog Night deserves to be in the Hall of Fame!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@alduintheworldeater1594
xracer 09 they didn’t write this song, lol. 🤣😂🤣