The band originally consisted of Ed King (lead guitar), Mark Weitz (keyboards), Lee Freeman (rhythm guitar), Gary Lovetro (bass), and Randy Seol (drums). On their first and most famous single, Incense and Peppermints, lead vocals were sung by Greg Munford, a 16-year-old friend of the band.
Strawberry Alarm Clock's song reached #1 on the Billboard pop singles chart in late 1967, and it has since been included in many mutli-artist collections and also appeared in many films as an iconic tune of the swinging sixties. After that success, the band added George Bunnell (bass and rhythm guitar) before making their first LP in 1967, also titled Incense and Peppermints. Bunnell would also become their main songwriter.
Membership changes were many. which sadly foretold the band's falling fortunes. Gary Lovetro left the band before their second album, Wake Up It's Tomorrow, which was also released in 1967. Their single from that album, Tomorrow, was a minor hit and their only other top 40 appearance, reaching #23 in early 1968. Although the group followed up with more LPs in 1968 (The World in a Seashell) and 1969 (Good Morning Starshine), Strawberry Alarm Clock had begun to fall apart and their audience was mostly gone The group managed to keep performing in various forms until 1971, when Strawberry Alarm Clock finally broke up.
Strawberry Alarm Clock as a band has made two notable appearances in films, first in the 1968 Jack Nicholson movie Psych-Out, where they played several songs including Incense and Peppermints, Rainy Day Mushroom Pillow, and The Pretty Song from Psych-Out. They second' appeared in the 1970 Russ Meyer camp classic Beyond the Valley of the Dolls.
Ed King went on to join Lynyrd Skynyrd. Several members of Strawberry Alarm Clock reunited in the 80s to perform on oldies concert tours as well. Still, no additional albums came of that.
The original band lineup reunited one last time to perform an approximately one-hour set at the Virginia Theatre in Champaign, IL, on April 29, 2007. The event was part of the last day of film critic Roger Ebert's ninth annual Overlooked Film Festival and was preceded by a screening of Beyond the Valley of the Dolls. Despite being unable to speak due to recent surgery, Ebert made prepared remarks with the use of a device given to him by a U of I professor.
Three
Strawberry Alarm Clock Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't you see me on the double?
You know you better take three in the morning and three at night
I'm gonna give you a little lovin'
Make you feel all right
Oh, I feel lonely
What's it gonna be, my one and only?
I'm gonna give you a little lovin'
Make you feel all right
Three in the morning and three at night
I'm gonna give you a little lovin'
Make you feel all right
Come on, little baby, let me hold you tight
You know a little more will make you feel all right
Three in the morning and three at night
I'm gonna give you a little lovin'
Make you feel all right
Come on, little baby, let me hold you tight
You know a little more will make you feel all right
Oh, the sun is rising
Don't let it waste away, the day is dying
And then you'll have to take three in the morning and three at night
You're gonna get a little lovin'
Make you feel all right
In "Three," the Strawberry Alarm Clock offers up an upbeat song about taking medicine and the power of love. The song's lyrics are straightforward: the singer is in trouble and needs three pills in the morning and three pills at night. However, they also crave affection and offer their love to solve their loneliness. The chorus repeats the idea of taking medication and receiving love to feel better. In the final verse, the singer notes the passing of time and the need to seize the day, all while reiterating the importance of the medication and love in their life.
As a whole, the lyrics of "Three" can be seen as a metaphor for the struggles and pain people face in their lives. The medication represents a temporary solution to the struggles and the love represents the hope for a brighter future. The song's upbeat nature seems to suggest that despite the struggles people face, there is always hope for a better tomorrow if they keep pushing through.
Line by Line Meaning
Oh, I'm in trouble
I am facing a difficult situation.
Can't you see me on the double?
Can't you see I need help urgently?
You know you better take three in the morning and three at night
You should take medicine three times a day.
I'm gonna give you a little lovin'
I am going to show you affection.
Make you feel all right
To make you feel better.
Oh, I feel lonely
I am experiencing a feeling of solitude.
What's it gonna be, my one and only?
What is going to happen between us?
You know it's gotta be me in the morning and me at night
I need to be with you in the morning and night.
Come on, little baby, let me hold you tight
Come here, let me hold you tightly.
You know a little more will make you feel all right
A little more affection will make you feel better.
Oh, the sun is rising
The sun is starting to come up.
Don't let it waste away, the day is dying
Don't waste the rest of the day, it's almost over.
And then you'll have to take three in the morning and three at night
You will need to take medicine again.
You're gonna get a little lovin'
You will receive some affection.
Make you feel all right
To make you feel better.
Contributed by Alexis H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
pgh45rpms
Song was used three times as a b-side on the SAC's last Uni singles: I Climbed the Mountain, California Day & Girl from the City.
David C. Pyatt
@Austin Nix I do as well!
Austin Nix
pgh45rpms I own a copy of I climbed the Mountain/Three
Vinyl-45-Obscurities
Why's there a bit of distortion in the beginning? :P
Sakon Butthead
Thank you