The band formed in Benton Harbor, Michigan as the Four Sounds. The original line-up consisted of Gene Harris (September 1, 1933 – January 16, 2000) on piano, Andrew Simpkins (April 29, 1932 – June 2, 1999) on double bass and Bill Dowdy (August 15, 1932 - May 12, 2017) on drums, along with saxophonist Lonnie `The Sound' Walker, who dropped out the following year. The group moved to Washington and then New York, where as the Three Sounds, they cut a record for Riverside Records, before signing an exclusive contract with Blue Note.
Between 1958 and 1962, the group released nine LPs for Blue Note. They toured nationally during this period, building a large following in jazz clubs across the country. Later Three Sounds recordings were also released by Limelight and Verve Records.
The Three Sounds song "Put On Train", from the 1971 Gene Harris album The 3 Sounds was featured as the prominent background sample in the hip-hop group Beastie Boys song "What Comes Around" on their 1989 album Paul's Boutique. It previously stated here that this sample came from the Three Sounds album Live at the It Club, recorded in 1970, however this was not released (on Live at the It Club Vol. 2) until 2000.
For All We Know
The Three Sounds Lyrics
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We may never meet again
Before we go
Make this moment live again
We won't say goodbye
Until the last minute
I'll hold out my hand
And my heart will be in it
For all we know
This might only be a dream
We come and we go
Like the ripples, like the ripples in the stream
So baby, love me, love me tonight
Tomorrow was made for some
Oh, but tomorrow
But tomorrow may never, never come
For all we know
Yes, tomorrow may never, never come
For all we know
The Three Sounds’ song “For All We Know” is a contemplative and introspective ballad that speaks on the theme of uncertainty, with lyrics that are thought-provoking and melancholic. The song suggests that life is unpredictable and we must cherish every moment we have with the people we love, as we may never know when we may meet them again. The opening lines “For all we know, we may never meet again, before we go, make this moment live again” set the tone for the rest of the song. The lyrics talk about not saying goodbye until the last minute and holding out one’s hand with their heart in it, suggesting an emotional connection that may never happen again.
The second verse of the song talks about how life is impermanent and uncertain like the ripples in a stream, and how the present moment is all we have. The chorus, “So baby, love me, love me tonight. Tomorrow was made for some. Oh, but tomorrow, but tomorrow may never, never come” emphasizes the importance of living in the present and cherishing the love we have in our lives. The final line of the song “For all we know, yes, tomorrow may never, never come” is reflective of the song’s overall message of making the most of the present moment and not taking our time with loved ones for granted.
Line by Line Meaning
For all we know
We don't know what the future holds.
We may never meet again
We might not have another chance to be together.
Before we go
Let's make the most of the present moment.
Make this moment live again
Let's make this moment special and memorable.
We won't say goodbye
We won't part ways just yet.
Until the last minute
Until the very end of our time together.
I'll hold out my hand
I'll offer my support and companionship.
And my heart will be in it
My emotions will be sincere and genuine.
This might only be a dream
This could be an illusion or a fleeting experience.
We come and we go
Life is transient, and everything is temporary.
Like the ripples, like the ripples in the stream
Our existence is like the rippling effect of a flowing stream - temporary but impactful.
So baby, love me, love me tonight
Cherish and enjoy the present moment to its fullest by expressing your love to me.
Tomorrow was made for some
The future belongs to the unknown and uncertain.
Oh, but tomorrow
The future has its own destiny, which we cannot predict.
But tomorrow may never, never come
The future is uncertain, and we should live and cherish the present moment to its fullest.
For all we know
We cannot control the future, so let's focus on the present moment.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: J Fred Coots, Samuel M Lewis
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind