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."

I Can Hear You Calling
Three Dog Night Lyrics

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I can hear you callin', callin' my name out loud.
Know that makes me wonder; used to be so proud.
Sudden realization goin' need me now, that's why.
I can hear you callin' me and so I'm tellin' you goodbye.
Don't expect no answer I'm tellin' you goodbye.
I can hear you callin'.

We can't get together, think you're just too good.

You can keep on callin' me till it's understood. Yeah.
You got to learn the hard way, I think you know it's true.
You got to get to get to get what you got comin', I know it's true.
Don't call out you're sorry, there's nothing I can do.
I can hear you callin'.
I can hear you callin'.

I can hear you callin', I know that's all right.
You can keep on callin' me till you see the light.
I don't need aggravation you've given me all along.
You, you do all the taking somehow I think that's all wrong.
Call me if you want to, realize that I'm gone.
I can hear you callin'.
I can hear you callin'.
I can hear you callin'.
I can hear you callin'.
I can hear you callin'.

I can hear you callin'.
I can hear you callin'.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Three Dog Night's "I Can Hear You Calling" talk about a conflicted relationship where one person is realizing they are no longer interested in being with the other person. They are still able to hear the other person calling out to them, but ultimately they know they need to say goodbye. The repetition of "I can hear you callin'" emphasizes the persistence of the other person, but the singer is resolute in their decision.

The song speaks to the difficulty of ending a relationship, even when it's the right thing to do. The line "Don't call out you're sorry, there's nothing I can do" shows that sometimes apologies and remorse aren't enough to fix the problems in a relationship. The singer has reached a point where they need to move on for their own well-being.

The use of the phrase "you've given me all along" highlights the one-sidedness of the relationship, where one person is doing all the taking and the other is doing all the giving. The singer recognizes this and knows that they need to leave in order to find a healthier relationship dynamic.

Overall, "I Can Hear You Calling" is a poignant exploration of the difficulties that can arise when trying to end a relationship. It speaks to the sadness and pain involved in saying goodbye, while also acknowledging the importance of moving on.

Line by Line Meaning

I can hear you callin', callin' my name out loud.
I am aware of you trying to reach me by calling out my name loudly.

Know that makes me wonder; used to be so proud.
Your continuous attempts to contact me put me in doubt and make me think of how proud I used to be.

Sudden realization goin' need me now, that's why.
I suddenly realized that you need me now, and that's why you are calling.

I can hear you callin' me and so I'm tellin' you goodbye.
Even though I can hear you calling me, I have made the decision to say goodbye and not respond.

Don't expect no answer I'm tellin' you goodbye.
Please do not expect a response from me as I have already decided to say goodbye.

We can't get together, think you're just too good.
I don't think we can have a relationship because I believe you think too highly of yourself.

You can keep on callin' me till it's understood. Yeah.
You can continue trying to reach out to me until you understand that I won't be responding.

You got to learn the hard way, I think you know it's true.
You must learn through experience, and I believe you are aware of this fact.

You got to get to get to get what you got comin', I know it's true.
You will have to work hard to get what you deserve, and I know this to be true.

Don't call out you're sorry, there's nothing I can do.
Please do not try to apologize as there is nothing I can do to change my decision.

I can hear you callin', I know that's all right.
I am aware of you trying to contact me, and that is acceptable.

You can keep on callin' me till you see the light.
You can keep trying to reach me until you realize that I won't be responding.

I don't need aggravation you've given me all along.
I don't need the annoyance and frustration that you have caused me over time.

You, you do all the taking somehow I think that's all wrong.
You seem to only take from me, and I think that's unfair and unjust.

Call me if you want to, realize that I'm gone.
You can make an attempt to contact me if you wish, but understand that I have already moved on.

I can hear you callin'.
I am still aware of you trying to contact me even if I won't be responding.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: DOMENIC MICHAEL TROIANO, HUGH SULLIVAN, PENTTI J. GLAN, ROY KENNER

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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