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."

One Man Band
Three Dog Night Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Ain't no two ways about it
I just can't live without ya
Let's get together
I can't wait forever
Here I am, take my hand
I'm your man
Ain't no two ways about it
I just got to shout

Let's get together
I can't wait forever
Here I am, take my hand
I'm your man
Baby, let me be your one man band
Your one man band
Baby, let me be your one man band
Your one man band
I just wanna be your one man
Your one man band
I just wanna be your one man
Your one man band
I just wanna be

I just wanna be
I just wanna be your one man band

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Three Dog Night's "One Man Band" express the desire for a committed and loving relationship. The singer asserts that they cannot live without the person they are addressing and implores them to come together. The statement "Ain't no two ways about it" solidifies the intensity of the singer's feelings and the necessity of a union. The repetition of "Let's get together" and "I can't wait forever" emphasizes the urgency of the situation and the singer's desire to not waste any more time alone. The bridge is a plea for acceptance: "Here I am, take my hand I'm your man". Ultimately, the singer wants to be the center of their loved one's world, expressed through the repeated assertion "Baby, let me be your one man band".

The lyrics of "One Man Band" are straightforward and direct in expressing the singer's desire for a committed relationship. The metaphor of a one-man band is often used to describe an individual who can perform all aspects of music by themselves. In this song, the singer wants to be the only "instrument" their loved ones need. The lyrics are simple but effective in conveying the message of the song.

Line by Line Meaning

Ain't no two ways about it
Undoubtedly, I can't deny

I just can't live without ya
I am unable to survive without your love and companionship

Let's get together
Let's form an alliance and be a team

I can't wait forever
I am eager to be with you, but I don't have an infinite amount of time

Here I am, take my hand
I am offering my love and support, please take it with open arms

I'm your man
I am here for you and will stand by your side

Ain't no two ways about it
It can't be questioned, I truly feel this way

I just got to shout
I can't contain my feelings, I must express them loudly

Baby, let me be your one man band
Let me be the only one you need for love and support

Your one man band
Your only source of love and support will be me

I just wanna be your one man
I don't want any competition for your love and attention

Your one man band
I want to be the sole provider of love and support in your life

I just wanna be your one man
I don't want to share your love and companionship with anyone else

Your one man band
I will be the only support system you'll ever need

I just wanna be
All I want is to be with you

I just wanna be
All I want is to love and support you

I just wanna be your one man band
I want to be your only source of love and support

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: BILLY FOX, JANUARY TYME, THOMAS JEFFERSON KAYE

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

johnny zell

5y↑9

Ain't no two ways about it
I just can't live without ya
Let's get together
I can't wait forever
Here I am, take my hand
I'm your man
Ain't no two ways about it
I just got to shout
Let's get together
I can't wait forever
Here I am, take my hand
I'm your man
Baby, let me be your one man band
Your one man band
Baby, let me be your one man band
Your one man band
I just wanna be your one man
Your one man band
I just wanna be your one man
Your one man band
I just wanna be
I just wanna be
I just wanna be your one man band

All comments from YouTube:

ednaboopadoop

8y↑112

Three dog night WAS the 70's.
The quintessential sound of their time.
Their vocal harmonies were unparalleled. Even to this day. You know it.

Craig Maltby

8y↑4

Gotta agree.

Charles Norris

7y↑3

Totally agree.

ManganeseMan

6y↑6

there band was way underrated too...they shredded.

Jack Johnson

the Eagles harmonies certainly match them

Ken Perkins

Incredibl!!

craigslue

2y↑6

This song never gets its due. Love it.

Joe Smith

4y↑24

These guys are underrated. They were fabulous.

Benjamin Reece

5y↑7

This song never gets old!!!

barefoot191

7y↑59

This is one of those songs you wish would go on a lot longer.

Mike, Jayne Kennedy

3y↑3

Here is a slightly longer version" https://youtu.be/rnJSSPVbPZ8

berzerker1100

3y↑1

Fer sure fer sure 👍 🪖🇺🇸

Don Nunes

7y↑38

One of THE most versatile rock bands ever!!!

HAK

44w

Totally. 👍

Jody Wilke

5y↑6

It's SO great to hear this song again--I hadn't heard it in years! Chuck Negron has the best voice, of any of these three guys, but together they made perfect music.😊💒

James Cheek

8y↑74

One of the best bands of all time !!!

Mike Wilson

5y↑3

Yes !!!!

Randy Barnett

4y↑1

I always liked them!!💪💪😎

Floyd Smith jr

3y↑3

I was familiar with “your song” long before I knew elton john recorded it never mind wrote it. My brother hooked me up with these guys, “Naturaly” and “Golden Biscuits” constantly blowing up my cassette player.
Try a little tenderness is the best rendition of that song Ive ever heard to this day. I think it may be my all time favorite recorded song ever, the energy, just a fantastic vocal. Ive tried to do it at karaoke a couple times and blew up every time. Its a masterpiece.

Joseph Vulich

9y↑51

This is my second favorite song, next to "Out in the country". They are such a talented group, with songs most of us can relate to!! :)

Mike Srok

7y↑3

Joseph Vulich yep, I agree! Out in the Country is number one (Still gives me goosebumps) followed by "Liar" and then this song:)

megadopolis the magnificent.

6y↑2

My number one favorite by them! It's another "I gotta have more cowbell" song at 1:41, and later all the way to the end. Great job F.S.! (The rest of them too.)

Jody Wilke

5y↑1

What about "Easy To Be Hard", or "Pieces of April", or "Celebrate"? You left out alot of their hits!!😒💒

G Mama Bear

5y↑2

Out in the Country. My all time fave. 💖

HAK

44w

All of them. But I think “Try a Little Tenderness” is my absolute favorite.❤️

singinjohnny

7y↑44

The intro to this song always blows me away. First, that beautiful organ. And for the longest time I couldn't figure out what instrument was being played during the second part of the intro. I finally realized it's a screaming Leslie-driven sustained and distorted guitar. And then back to the organ. The last part of the song makes it obvious concerning that guitar. What a sound and what a band!

Benjamin Reece

4y↑2

Wow you really know your music!

B3Mover

9y↑38

Rest in Peace, Jimmy Greenspoon. Truly a 'One Man Band'.
... You were more of an inspiration than you knew.

ManganeseMan

6y↑2

Greenspoon shredded this song! wow what a talent TDN..... RIP

Steve Blaugh

3y↑1

@ManganeseMan "Shermy" played a fantastic bass guitar too. Jimmy Greenspoon's organ could be bass, rhythm, or lead guitarish-sounding! Three Dog, as great as they were, would have been something a very noticeable few notches lower without Greenspoon. One guy who would have fit in well with them, IMO, would be Michael McDonald who could sing and was also a very good keyboardist with one caveat being that Michael's vocal style was more soul and pop-sounding instead of a traditional TDN rock sort of edge to it. And conversely, the Doobie Brothers' later-era hits such as "Minute by Minute" and "What a Fool Believes" would have been very different with another lead singer.

ManganeseMan

Greenspoon sound was kind of the Bedrock of their sound.... all of their instruments were underrated players in my humble opinion

Steve Blaugh

3y↑2

@ManganeseMan Definitely yes and a well-earned shout for Floyd Sneed, he was a terrific drummer right up there with Mitch Mitchell and Stewart Copeland and he was also a very talented painter. You can see his skill with oil painting if his site is still up. Three Dog Night did have such good musicians that I have often listened to an entire song of theirs by just listening to the drummer, the bass guitar, Jimmy's organ work and Michael Allsup's work as the lead guitarist and that's before we even get to the vocals. Another aspect of Three Dog is they played equally well on a difficult tune to play and sing, such as "Eli's Coming" which had lots of chord changes and shifts in tempo and rhythm. They must have been tireless craftsmen in the studio culminating in their "final takes," many of which deservedly became top hits!

ManganeseMan

@Steve Blaugh agree and Shermie's bass work is way up there, compared to the average thumpers out there. He is allover the scale but its so smooth you almost dont hear it.

3 More Replies...

tim5365

12y↑3

Vocal were always flawless!! Jimmy could make that B3 sound incredible, so unique! Mike could also make that guitar sound incredible!! Joe and Floyd were a great foundation to it all!

feedbackbro

9y↑23

This is still one of my all-time favourite songs!! Love it.

Edgard Agosto

9y↑11

I GOT IT ON 8 TRACK

megadopolis the magnificent.

7y↑2

Mine too! Dug it from the first time that I heard it, way back early '70s.

The cymbal part, the pulse, keyboards---a perfect song.

Benjamin Reece

5y↑5

One of the best songs ever!!!!

progrockfan28

8y↑23

This is an oddly-underrated Dog track. They had hit singles thanks to covers of others' work (Argent, Nilsson, and a few others among them), but recorded a bunch of other songs and then some, covers or not.

This is one of those 'under the radar' songs. "Joy to the World' pretty much carried this album upon release, so the rest was (unless you're an oldies / classic rock die-hard) ignored. That in mind, thanks for bringing this one back out front. The band and harmonizing vocals are tight here. They also knew how to mix their recordings where be it mono or stereo (this being in the latter format), it all sounded good and full.

Honkytonkitis

9y↑29

Rest in Peace, Corey Wells.

huascar66

12y

Personally, I think "Naturally" was their best album ever. Some great arrangements and vocals. I found it on CD a while back and it gets played ALOT! There is not one bad song on this album. It rocks. There's a great instrumental featuring the band no vocals and it's damn good! My favorite song: Heavy Church followed by I Can Hear You Calling.

Richard Garver

One of the most underrated tunes of all time. At just under 3 minutes it was made for radio inthat era, but boy what a lot of jam for the dollar....Leslie guitars, spitting chiclet vocals, screaming rock, I love it❤️

Ronald Labieniec

3y↑3

Terrific rock song! Thanks, Danny, Chuck, and all the rest. You too, Cory, wherever you are. 😉

domino48094

11y

One of 3DN's best tracks, this was the opener of their 1973 live album, "Around The World with 3DN". The studio version here is no slouch either---features the duet of Danny Hutton and Chuck Negron in the verses, with Cory Wells joining on the chorus, and then Chuck alone in the sweet breakdown section. This is one of original bassist Joe Schermie's best grooves as well, which is why 3DN was as great as they were----not only were there 3 great singers, but the band was amazing as well.

Dragonflygurl Kimble

13y↑1

And still I have to ask....WHY AREN"T THEY IN THE ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME??? Just on their vocal harmonies alone....not to mention the star quality of their looks, combined talent of the entire group...I still listen to Three Dog Night when I am driving ( I take my favourite songs & make my own cd's)

John LaFleur

6y↑4

I remember having this album. This was one of their best songs. Underrated band.

Nicole Freeman

3y↑2

Love this song thank you for posting this

Mark Farris

7y↑13

I love this song haunting organ sounds ! What a great song !
Thanks 3 dog night and Jimmy Greenspoon !

Beth Heinecamp

2y↑1

I played this album over and over again, I think I was in 3rd or 4th grade. They were extremely talented musicians!!

iwantastiffdrink

15y

Fabuous song. Very underrated group. Long live Three Dog Night.

philip tucci

6y↑3

Hall of Fame music at its very best, one of the greatest groups of all time

yerboyfloyd

11y

It was a great show opener for them back in the day. That sweet harmony fade out!

Gary Morrison

4y↑1

Love this band! What a great rhythm section!

Bob Malack

6y↑4

This and 'Family of man' , 'Mama told me not to come' are my best 3 best 3 Dog night tunes, their stuff after 1972 gets mushy and soft, outside of 'Shambala' and gets more commercial. Cory Wells is coolest sounding singer of the 3 in my opinion.. Robert at 67.

feedbackbro

14y

This is one of my all time favourite songs. Thanks for posting!

berzerker1100

4y↑6

Not enough Cowbell but a totally Groovy song ! I miss those days 😍

johnny zell

5y↑9

DetroitJimB

14y

They were my favorite band in 70-71 timeframe. Live at the Forum was the first live album I ever had (I was 10 at the time). Still remember listening to that, Golden Biscuits and my 45s of Liar, Mama Told Me and Celebrate. On one of the album covers either Cory or Chuck was wearing white pants and shirt with black boots and belt - I went to Robert Halls, got some white jeans, started dressing like that in the 5th grade. Nowadays I realize what a great band they were - back then it was the vocals

Kelli Bond

2y↑2

The transition from 1970 to 1971 would be incomplete without my third-fave 3DN song! In the 6th grade and 11½ then, I'll always remember when about 20 of us had to walk the perimeter of the Cawthon Elementary School playground (Cypress, California) from the start to the end of a couple of recesses. (We had nearly taken the upper-grade's jungle gym up off its bolts by overloading it with ourselves!💀) During the afternoon segment, we asked one of our classmates (we passed along the way) to max out the volume of "One Man Band" from his transistor radio. GREAT TIMES!!!
☺☺☺☺☺

quicksite

15y

(( Fabuous song. Very underrated group.)) I think it's probably because they didn't write their own music, but rather were great vocal talents &session musicians who knew how, with great producer, to put a song together. Production values were always high, & this keyboard opening is just one of many memorable openings. It's really interesting to see the YouTube videos of them performing with that orchestra,plus those signaure openings like the syncopated guitar riff on "Out in the Country"

Omar Falero

13y

Great band! Amazing musicians all of them!

sexy daddy

One of the greatest band of all time

OlRetro

14y

Love this song-haven't heard it for ages. When I saw them circa 1969, Floyd did a drum solo bare-handed - no sticks! Regards, The '62 Mathew St. Band (1 Man-Full Group Retro)

ChihuahuaboyDH

10y↑12

I love this 1970 Three Dog Night hit, which peaked @ #22 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart!

R.I.P., Joe Schermie.

bigroy38

9y↑4

Joe&Jimmy are jamming together again. :(

ChihuahuaboyDH

9y↑2

Jimmy Greenspoon died today. He will be missed...R.I.P.. :'(

Phil Turner

These guys were true spokesmen of a very wonderful era and time.

muzikkraz

12y↑7

Talk about a blast from the past! I loved this album back in the 70's. I consider it TDN's best effort. Thanx 4 sharing.

John Golofit

8y↑17

December 1970. 45 years have passed since this song was on the charts but it sounds as good now as it did then. An underrated song by an underrated group that was in its heyday back in the early '70s...

whatnocandy

14y↑1

Love this song!!!!!

Chevyband59

For long the most rocker song of Three Dog Night 👏👏😎👍

Tacky

1y↑1

Sneed & Chuck make awesome music.

philip tucci

6y↑3

Magnificent Hall of Fame Masterpiece

Mark Farris

8y↑6

What a great song this is !

Señor Lovato

I'm 59 years old I can remember my older sister listening to 3DN all the time, what great memories. RIP Mi hermana...😥

David Bartha

One of their best songs.

Matthew Miller

9y↑2

One of the first LP's I ever bought as a kid. Still love all these years later.

Dale Clark

37w

One of my favs from this GREAT band!!!!

Benjamin Reece

4y↑1

IMO this is their best song!!!

elvis presley

11y

heard this song for the first time in years yesterday, wow it's great!

Craig Maltby

8y↑12

Thanks for posting this great song from a legendary group. Gotta get Negron back with Hutton before it's too late. Work it out, guys! You have too much left to share with the world.

Carlo Yon

You're welcome!

Peter Rawai

Friends just saw them in Boise

Jody Wilke

5y↑2

Hate to tell you this, but Chuck Negron doesn't exactly sound the same as he did back in the 1970's. I guess all those drugs didn't help his voice--what a shame. He had one of the most beautiful voices EVER!😒💒

Daryl Spetz

9y↑151

Three Dog Night should of been the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame a long time ago.

Josh Johnson

7y↑5

Daryl Spetz they're not?

huascar66

7y↑13

No. Sadly. It's probably because they were considered a "covers" band because they mostly recorded other composers' songs. But this does TDN an injustice. They gave exposure to many a songwriter (Hoyt Axton, Randy Newman, e.g.) and dug up some song chestnuts that had been overlooked by many. If one looks at the many videos of TDN performing live (at least up to 1975), it is amazing how well they sang live, without any tricks or flourishes. There are not many musical groups playing today that can sound as good live as did TDN.

Chalice Guard

7y↑11

So sad that Cory Wells didn't live long enough to see his band inducted. Shame, shame on RRHoF for not putting 3DN in Hall of Fame a long time ago!

N Polansky

6y↑7

Both 3DN and GFRR should be in the Hall.

DougCameraman

6y↑6

Yep, Grand Funk LONG overdue!!!

9 More Replies...

blah deblah

anybody else notice the masterful B3 work? And the rhythm section? This is a serious groove.

HAK

44w

This is another 3DN song I forgot about. They are incredible.

David Hadley

9y↑14

I love this song. My 3DN favorite.

Michael Bautz

14y

Loved them back then and love em still. My uncle's their current drummer.

Benjamin Reece

5y↑1

Daryl I did not realize they were not in the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, thats crazy, they should be there. Lots of top 40 songs!

Benjamin Reece

Great guitars and vocals!!!

James Cheek

7y↑5

One of the best from the day !!!

Lawrence Del Toro

14y

Grew up on this music,love it Classic.killer drum part, love how this song moves on ,and the guitar buzzing all around .Kicks Drummer ldtdrums

Randy McRae

10y↑9

Michael Allsup. Way ahead of his time. Guitar through the Leslie, great style!

Gurzair

4y↑2

I remember this song was played a lot when I was an 11 year old looking for love at the skating rink!

David Allen

Still just as Fresh as the first time I listened to this fantastic group with all of its raw talent!One of the best ever! Maybe even better then the you know who, a hint it had four members.

Andy Malone

I remember this song when my mother's sister came to live with us to go to school i was 9 years old.Thank you Mama and Reni for all the great music I Love you Both.

D Mark

Saw them last week perform at Marina Del Rey, awesome vocals and musicianship, RIP Jimmy!

Brian Berry

13y

All I can say is Floyd Sneed!!!! One of my boys.Drums are on it!!!

Albert Kundrat

10y↑2

Utterly inspired songs and music!

Sight

7y↑21

My parrot loves this song. She dances to it too :)

190 wrestler

12y↑5

Besides the three exceptional front men, got to give props to Floyd Sneed, one of the best innovative rock drummers of the 70s! His powerful style is a BIG part of what makes TDN legitimate rockers!

Burnzy1976

🎤Every song of theirs is my favorite song.🎶

Chalice Guard

Love the harmonies on this track! Thanks for uploading and sharing.

Jim Dunmire

Saw them in 1988 when they were down one man and they still sounded great!

TheDean283

12y↑1

Greatest ending of any rock song ever.

stratovani

I haven't heard this in a LONG, LONG TIME! Thanks to my wife for triggering a memory!

iwantastiffdrink

15y

We agree. I would also add that the three singers were able to harmonize amazingly well and play off each others vocal strengths. Too bad that Negron and Sneed beaved themselves out of the bands good graces or this would be a rare 60's-70's band that was still touring and was composed of over half of its original members.

Salvatore Luca

10y↑3

If you ever seen this song done in a live show. Woooooooow!!!!!! Spectrum in Philly!

Melissa Wirth

They were HOT during my college years 1968- 1972. LOVE this song!

ChihuahuaboyDH

11y

Written by Tommy Kaye, January Tyme & Billy Fox, "One Man Band" was Three Dog Night's eighth of 21 Top 40 singles. It peaked @ #19 on Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart in January 1971. Bravo, Three Dog Night!

Musik Mann

11y

Sonically, the great thing about Three Dog Night is that what you got on the record is what you got live. The group performed in concert as they recorded in the studio--with the rhythm section you see on all the album covers. Thus, the sound was the same on the recordings as in concert. Big ass sound for just a rhythm section of organ, guitar, bass and drums. And tight as hell.

Benjamin Reece

Dang I love this song so much!!!!

Roy Santa Fe

14y↑1

My first album ever,God what wonderful memories,,me and my late B.F. T-Bear just hangin out wonderin what we were bout to get into next,as the old turn-table was runnin down Naturally...RIP my friend

Randy McRae

Mike Allsup and that fuzzed and Leslied guitar. He owns that sound. Saw them twice (71 and 73). He was amazing!

Keemo Sobby

What a tune ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Ronald Labieniec

GREAT rock song ! Great album cover too I've loved this song since 1970, and I've loved the band since there was a band. Thanks for the memories. Ron L.

Roque Coz

13y

IN MY 50 BIRTHDAY , I WAKE UP LISTENING THIS SONG, IT WAS REALLY HAPPY TO ME, I WAS SINGING AND DANCING LIKE A TEEN ...

martha scott

14y

Thank you for listening! My piano thanks you, too. I have the album, but not what I need to transfer the recording. If Santa brings me what I need, be glad to share.

Billy Breeze

Brings back so many memories

Albert Kundrat

Enchanting Melody!

Steven Whaley

7y↑3

LOVE THE FUZZED OUT GUITAR WORK ON THIS TRACK!

Benjamin Reece

This song came out in my last year of Junior High, 8th grade, love this song!

Thomas Teare

47w

Great Band!

Shawna Henderson

9y↑11

Awesome!!!!

Tommy Pwood

Floyd Sneed powerful drummer!!!!!

Les Wundele

3 dog night should be in the rock n roll hall of fame (if they aren't already).

Benjamin Reece

I just have to hear this song every night before going to sleep!

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