Three Dog Night is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California best … Read Full Bio ↴Three Dog Night is an American rock band from Los Angeles, California best known for their music from 1968 to 1975, during which time they achieved twenty-one consecutive Billboard Top 40 Hits and 12 consecutive Gold Albums. Three Dog Night are still active in 2012, touring and recording 43 years after their first album was released. The first of the band's 7 million-selling singles was One in 1969. They scored three number one singles: Mama Told Me (Not to Come), Joy to the World and Black and White.

The original lineup included three lead vocalists — Danny Hutton, Chuck Negron, and Cory Wells — along with Michael Allsup on guitar, Jimmy Greenspoon on keyboards Floyd Sneed on drums and Joe Schermie (from the Cory Wells Blues Band) on bass.

Three Dog Night recorded some tracks with Beach Boys producer, composer, vocalist, and instrumentalist Brian Wilson before signing with Dunhill Records and at the time went under the name Redwood. The band changed their name based on an article describing how Australian Aborigines slept with their dogs for warmth on cold nights, the coldest being a "three-dog night."

A Old Fashioned Love Song
Three Dog Night Lyrics

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Just an old-fashioned love song playin' on the radio
And wrapped around the music is the sound
Of someone promising they'll never go
You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on
No need in bringin' `em back,
`Cause they're never really gone

Just an old-fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old-fashioned love song
Comin' down in 3-part harmony

To weave our dreams upon and listen to each evening
When the lights are low
To underscore our love affair
With tenderness and feeling that we've come to know
You swear you've heard it before
As it slowly rambles on and on and
No need in bringin' `em back,
`Cause they're never really gone

Just an old-fashioned love song
Comin' down in 3-part harmony
Just an old-fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
Just an old-fashioned love song
Comin' down in 3-part harmony
Just an old-fashioned love song
One I'm sure they wrote for you and me

To weave our dreams upon and listening to a song . . .

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Three Dog Night's "An Old Fashioned Love Song" reflect on the power of music to underscore the themes of love and fidelity. The singer describes a song "playin' on the radio," which is "wrapped around the music" of a lover's promise to never leave. The song is evocative of something previously heard, familiar and comforting in its melody and lyrics. The singer describes the power of the song to weave dreams, to create an atmosphere of tenderness and feeling -- an emotional echo of the commitment in a lover's pledge.

The song is notable for its use of harmonies, with three-part vocal arrangements that support the theme of fidelity and love. As well, the song's repetition of phrases, such as "You swear you've heard it before" or "No need in bringin' 'em back" reinforces the comforting familiarity of a beloved song. The "old-fashioned" nature of the song, as described in the title, speaks to the timeless nature of love and music -- and the way in which familiar melodies and lyrics can bring meaning and comfort, even in a rapidly-changing world.

Line by Line Meaning

Just an old-fashioned love song playin' on the radio
A classic song about love that is currently being broadcasted on the radio

And wrapped around the music is the sound
The lyrics of the song are accompanied by the soothing sounds of music

Of someone promising they'll never go
The song contains words of assurance and commitment from someone who will never leave their loved one

You swear you've heard it before
The song seems familiar to the listener, maybe because it echoes their own romantic experiences

As it slowly rambles on
The song has a languid flow, making it easy to listen to and to get lost in

No need in bringin' 'em back, cause they're never really gone
The memories evoked by the song are always present and can be revisited without the need to physically revisit them

One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
The song is relatable to many people and may have been written with their experiences in mind

Comin' down in 3-part harmony
The song features a blend of three distinct voices that complement each other perfectly

To weave our dreams upon and listen to each evening
The song has become a part of the couple's life together and is something they can listen to and dream about every night

When the lights are low
The song is meant to be listened to in a romantic setting, where the lights are low and the mood is right

To underscore our love affair
The song emphasizes the couple's love and the deep feelings they have for each other

With tenderness and feeling that we've come to know
The song has brought the couple closer together and has helped them understand the depth of their feelings for each other

As it slowly rambles on and on and
The song has a prolonged effect and can linger in the listener's mind long after it's over

Comin' down in 3-part harmony
The song is harmoniously sung by three voices, creating a pleasant and memorable listening experience

One I'm sure they wrote for you and me
The song is relatable to many couples and is something that they can cherish as their own special love song

Just an old-fashioned love song
A timeless classic that captures the essence of love and romance

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Paul H. Williams

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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