Cleary first hit the pop market with the catchy song "I.M. Me" while still using her given name. Her debut album, Everything I Wished For, was released independently under the Free Falls record label. The album hit #45 on Billboard's Top Independent Albums chart. When Cleary signed with Jive Records in the summer of 2002, they asked to change her name because they already had a Britney on their roster. Her self-titled album, Nikki Cleary was released in the summer of 2003 with the hit single "1-2-3" making noise on Billboard's Radio Disney Top 30.
She was featured on a Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards record in 2003. Once performed on Nickelodeon's "All That." Nikki Cleary also did a version of "Summertime Guys". Nikki contributed to the Mean Girls motion picture soundtrack with the song "Hated". The song wasn't put on her own albums because it had words like "bitch" and "I wish you would choke and die" and it would disrupt her squeaky clean image.
123
Nikki Cleary Lyrics
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Once upon a time
Two, two hearts felt the same way
But three, three, three nights ago
You told me you don't know
Which way, which way you're gonna go
It's time you made up your mind
I don't wanna cry
I don't wanna be treated like a loser
One, two, three
You're fallin' in love with me
I'm fallin' into your life
Into your life, faster than the speed of light
And one, two, three
You don't wanna hear from me
But if we can't be like before
Tell me then, oh, what love is for
So fly, just fly away
And don't think I can't take it
Cause you, you, you oughta know
That if you let me go, you'll throw
You're gonna throw it all away
Oh, truth ain't easy but please, please, please me
It's time you made up your mind
I'm not gonna cry
I don't wanna be treated like a loser
One, two, three
You're fallin' in love with me
I'm falling into your life
Into your life, faster than the speed of light
And one, two, three
You don't wanna hear from me
But if we can't be like before
Tell me then, oh, what love is for
Everything to keep this love alive
Will we ever, will we ever
Oh, will we ever, will we ever
Get to five, five
One, two, three
You're fallin' in love with me
I'm falling into your life
Into your life, faster than the speed of light
And one, two, three
You don't wanna hear from me
But if we can't be like before
Tell me then, tell me what love is for
One, two, three
You're fallin' in love with me
I'm falling into your life
Into your life, faster than the speed of light
And one, two, three
You don't wanna hear from me
But if we can't be like before
Tell me then, tell me what love is for
One, two, three
Tell me now, baby
One, two, three
One, two, three
You're falling in love with me
One, two, three
The lyrics to Nikki Cleary's "123" tell the story of a relationship in turmoil. The singer is in love with someone who is unsure of their feelings and is vacillating between wanting to be with them and wanting to end things. The singer pleads with their partner to make up their mind and choose a direction, as they don't want to be treated like a "loser" or be held in uncertainty any longer. The use of counting (one, two, three) adds a sense of urgency and creates a catchy hook that helps carry the emotional weight of the situation.
The lyric "faster than the speed of light" speaks to the intensity of the relationship, conveying a sense that love can happen quickly and powerfully. As the song progresses, the singer questions the very nature of love, asking "tell me then, oh, what love is for." The song ultimately ends on an open note, with the singer hoping for a resolution but not being sure if one is possible.
Overall, "123" is a relatable and emotionally charged pop song that captures the highs and lows of being in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
Once upon a time
In the past, two hearts felt the same way
Two, two hearts felt the same way
Two people were in love with each other
But three, three, three nights ago
Recently, something happened
You told me you don't know
You said you're uncertain
Which way, which way you're gonna go
You're not sure which decision to make
Oh, truth ain't easy but please, please, please me
Being honest is difficult, but I beg you to be truthful
It's time you made up your mind
You need to decide
I don't wanna cry
I don't want to be sad
I don't wanna be treated like a loser
I don't want to feel humiliated
One, two, three
We are falling in love with each other
You're fallin' in love with me
You're starting to develop feelings for me
I'm fallin' into your life
I'm starting to become a part of your life
Into your life, faster than the speed of light
I've become a part of your life very quickly
You don't wanna hear from me
You don't want to communicate with me
But if we can't be like before
If we can't go back to how things were
Tell me then, oh, what love is for
Then tell me, what is the point of love?
So fly, just fly away
Leave, just go away
And don't think I can't take it
Don't think I can't handle it
Cause you, you, you oughta know
Because you should know
That if you let me go, you'll throw
If you leave me, you'll give up
You're gonna throw it all away
You'll lose everything
Everything to keep this love alive
Doing anything to keep this relationship going
Will we ever, will we ever
Will we ever
Oh, will we ever, will we ever
Oh, will we ever
Get to five, five
Get to a higher level of love/commitment
Tell me now, baby
Please tell me now
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: JORGEN KJELL ELOFSSON, KARA DIOGUARDI
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind