Jan Berry and Dean Torrence began singing together after football practice … Read Full Bio ↴Jan Berry and Dean Torrence began singing together after football practice at University High School in Los Angeles in the late 1950s. Primitive recording sessions followed soon after in a makeshift studio in Jan's garage. They first performed on stage as The Barons at a high school dance. Then they were known as Jan & Arnie. After Dean returned from a stint in the army reserves, the duo began to make music as Jan & Dean in 1958.

Jan Berry and Brian Wilson collaborated on roughly a dozen hits and album cuts for Jan & Dean, including the number one national hit, "Surf City" (1963). Subsequent Top-10 hits for Jan & Dean included "Honolulu Lulu," "Drag City," "The Little Old Lady from Pasadena," and "Dead Man's Curve" -- which became eerily portentous when Berry received severe head injuries in an automobile accident just a short distance from Dead Man's Curve in April 1966.

This accident marked the end of their commercial peak, during which they'd scored an impressive total of 26 chart hits over eight years. The group finally stopped performing after Jan Berry died in March 2004.

1-2-3
Jan & Dean Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

1-2-3, oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be
C'mon, let's fall in love, it's easy
Like takin' candy from a baby

A-B-C fallin' in love with you was easy for me
And you can do it, too, it's easy
Like takin' candy from a baby

Baby, there's nothin' hard about love
Basically, it's as easy as pie
The hard part is livin' without love
Without your love, I probably wouldn't even have any love.

It's easy
Like takin' candy from a baby, yay

One and one are two
I know you love me and oh, how I love you
Don't try to fight it 'cause it's easy
Like takin' candy from a baby

1-2-3 oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be
C'mon, let's fall in love, it's easy 1-2-3

Overall Meaning

"1-2-3" is a song by the American duo Jan & Dean, released in 1958. The song is a simple, upbeat love song about how easy it is to fall in love. The lyrics emphasize the ease of love, comparing it to taking candy from a baby. The chorus includes the line, "1-2-3, oh that's how elementary it's gonna be," which reinforces the idea that love is simple and easy.

The verses of the song describe the singer's experience falling in love and encourage the listener to do the same. The second verse includes the line, "Baby, there's nothin' hard about love, basically, it's as easy as pie," further emphasizing the easiness of love. The final verse includes the lines, "I know you love me and oh, how I love you, don't try to fight it 'cause it's easy, like takin' candy from a baby," which suggests that the singer knows their love interest loves them and that resisting love is futile.

Overall, "1-2-3" is a lighthearted, optimistic song about love. It portrays love as something that is easy and simple to achieve, with little resistance or difficulty involved.

Line by Line Meaning

1-2-3, oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be
Love is going to be simple, just like counting numbers.

C'mon, let's fall in love, it's easy Like takin' candy from a baby
Let's fall in love because it's easy, just like taking candy from a baby.

A-B-C fallin' in love with you was easy for me And you can do it, too, it's easy Like takin' candy from a baby
Falling in love with you was easy for me and it can be for you too, just like taking candy from a baby.

Baby, there's nothin' hard about love Basically, it's as easy as pie The hard part is livin' without love Without your love, I probably wouldn't even have any love.
Love itself is not difficult, but living without it is. Without your love, I wouldn't even have love.

It's easy Like takin' candy from a baby, yay
Love is easy, just like taking candy from a baby.

One and one are two I know you love me and oh, how I love you Don't try to fight it 'cause it's easy Like takin' candy from a baby
We love each other and it's easy, just like taking candy from a baby. Don't resist it.

1-2-3 oh, that's how elementary it's gonna be C'mon, let's fall in love, it's easy 1-2-3
Falling in love is as easy as counting to three.

Contributed by Madelyn W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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