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."
I
Three Dog Night Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since you went away
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest (number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number)
One (one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do)
(number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
The song "One" by Three Dog Night speaks about the pain of loneliness and the sadness associated with rejection. The song starts with the lyric, "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do," which sets the somber tone for the rest of the song. The line is repeated throughout the song, highlighting the deep-rooted loneliness that the singer is feeling. The singer also mentions that two can be as bad as one, which suggests that even being with someone else isn't enough to erase the pain of loneliness.
The chorus of the song further emphasizes the sadness that the singer is feeling. The lyrics "No is the saddest experience you'll ever know. Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know" suggest that rejection can be just as painful, if not more so, than loneliness. The song concludes with the line "It's just no good anymore since you went away," which suggests that the singer's loneliness is a result of someone leaving them.
Overall, "One" is a poignant and emotional song that captures the anguish of loneliness and rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Being alone without anyone is the most isolated and depressing feeling
Two can be as bad as one
Having a negative or harmful companion is just as bad as being alone
It's the loneliest number since the number one
There is no other number that instills such feelings of loneliness as the number one
No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Being denied or rejected by someone or something can be the most heartbreaking experience
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
Even having to say no to something or someone can be hurtful and difficult
'Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
The reason for loneliness being so unbearable is because of the solitary nature of one
One is the loneliest number, whoa-oh, worse than two
Being alone is worse than having a negative companion
It's just no good anymore since you went away
Life is not the same without the person that left
One is the loneliest
Being alone is the most isolating and depressing experience
One is the loneliest
Being alone is the most isolating and depressing experience
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
There is no other number that instills such feelings of loneliness as the number one
One is the loneliest
Being alone is the most isolating and depressing experience
One is the loneliest
Being alone is the most isolating and depressing experience
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
There is no other number that instills such feelings of loneliness as the number one
One (one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do)
The number one represents the most depressing and isolating feeling of loneliness
(number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
There is no other number that instills such feelings of loneliness as the number one
(Number)
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
There is no other number that instills such feelings of loneliness as the number one
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Peermusic Publishing
Written by: HARRY NILSSON, HARRY EDWARD NILSSON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
James Linville
I’m 73 with one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel and I still Love this song!
Laurence Thornblade
Lever du fortfarande James
Doug Raddi
Stay young my friend
Trenny Lopez
You still with us mr. Linville?
Jacob Lynch
Buddy I'm 41 and love this song
Alicia Fink
I’m so happy my parents raised me on this music instead of just turning on new pop or rap. This music is timeless and will always bring back amazing memories.
Tristan Ireland
Girl,
It’s My Pleasure
To Inform You…
YOU Have GR8 Taste.!😍
Susan Dempsey
You are so right u
Wes Bromberg
I always loved this song and then in1978 just joined the navy, our first port stop on a med cruise was Rota Spain. Couple of us went into a bar for a beer and there’s a jukebox and the first song out of it was “never been to Spain” what a great way to be 18 and in a foreign country for the first time.
Brandi in bc
thank u for your service, Wes ... what a great memory !!