3 Rs
Jack Johnson Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Three it's a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Because two times three is six
And three times six is eighteen
And the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is r
We've got three r's we're going to talk about today
We've got to learn to
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
If you're going to the market to buy some juice
You've got to bring your own bags and you learn to reduce your waste
And if your brother or your sister's got some cool clothes
You could try them on before you buy some more of those
Reuse, we've got to learn to reuse
And if the first two r's don't work out
And if you've got to make some trash
Don't throw it out
Recycle, we've got to learn to recycle,
We've got to learn to
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Reduce, reuse, recycle
Because three it's a magic number
Yes it is, it's a magic number
Three, three, three
Three, six, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, twenty one, twenty four, twenty seven, thirty, thirty three, thirty six




Thirty three, thirty, twenty seven, twenty four, twenty one, eighteen, fifteen, twelve, nine, six
Three, is the magic number

Overall Meaning

Jack Johnson's song "3 Rs" is a lighthearted yet powerful call-to-action for the youngest of listeners to learn about the importance of reducing, reusing, and recycling. The song is well-structured with a playful yet memorable chorus that repeats itself throughout the track.


The song begins by highlighting the magic of the number 3, a concept that is often used in children's storytelling to add a touch of whimsy. Johnson cleverly ties the number to reduce, reuse, and recycle, three important practices that can help protect the environment. He explains how these three essential concepts work in tandem - reducing waste to consume fewer resources, reusing items to give them a longer lifespan, and finally recycling them to prevent them from taking up space in a landfill.


Johnson then embarks on a playful journey of scenarios where one can implement these principles in their daily life. He suggests bringing reusable bags to the market, borrowing and reusing your sibling's clothes, and lastly, recycling any trash one generates. The playfulness of the song's approach combined with the upbeat rhythm can help get children excited about learning these concepts and taking steps to change the world, one small action at a time.


Overall, Jack Johnson's "3 Rs" is a powerful song that can teach children the importance of protecting the environment by adopting sustainable habits.



Line by Line Meaning

Three it's a magic number
Three has special significance and power


Yes it is, it's a magic number
Acknowledgment that three is indeed a magic number


Because two times three is six
Explaining the mathematical relationship between two and three


And three times six is eighteen
Further demonstrating the mathematical significance of three


And the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is r
Connecting the mathematical significance of three to the letter 'r'


We've got three r's we're going to talk about today
Introducing the concept of the three r's: reduce, reuse, recycle


We've got to learn to
Emphasizing the importance of learning and education


Reduce, reuse, recycle
Listing the three r's and their importance


If you're going to the market to buy some juice
Providing an example scenario that demonstrates the need to reduce waste


You've got to bring your own bags and you learn to reduce your waste
Encouraging people to take active steps in reducing waste


And if your brother or your sister's got some cool clothes
Introducing the concept of reusing items


You could try them on before you buy some more of those
Encouraging people to reuse and repurpose items before buying new ones


Reuse, we've got to learn to reuse
Reiterating the importance of reuse as a key part of waste reduction


And if the first two r's don't work out
Acknowledging that reducing and reusing may not always be possible or effective


And if you've got to make some trash
Recognizing that creating waste is sometimes unavoidable


Don't throw it out
Encouraging people to recycle instead of throwing things away


Recycle, we've got to learn to recycle,
Stressing the importance of recycling as a way to reduce waste


Because three it's a magic number
Closing statement reiterating the idea that three has special significance


Three, three, three
Repeating the importance of three as a central theme


Three, six, nine, twelve, fifteen, eighteen, twenty one, twenty four, twenty seven, thirty, thirty three, thirty six
Listing multiples of three to reinforce its magic


Thirty three, thirty, twenty seven, twenty four, twenty one, eighteen, fifteen, twelve, nine, six
Listing multiples of three in reverse order to continue the theme


Three, is the magic number
Final statement emphatically stating the importance and magic of three




Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions