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."

Shambala
Three Dog Night Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain
With the rain in Shambala
Wash away my sorrow, wash away my shame
With the rain in Shambala

Ah, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, ooh, yeah

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind
On the road to Shambala
Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind
On the road to Shambala

Ah, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah yeah, yeah

How does your light shine
In the halls of Shambala?
How does your light shine
In the halls of Shambala?

I can tell my sister by the flowers in her eyes
On the road to Shambala
I can tell my brother by the flowers in his eyes
On the road to Shambala

Ah, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

How does your light shine
In the halls of Shambala?
How does your light shine
In the halls of Shambala?
Tell me how does your light shine
In the halls of Shambala?
(Tell me how) How does your light shine
In the halls of Shambala?

Ah, ooh, yeah
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
Ah, ooh, yeah
On the road to Shambala

Ah, ooh, yeah
Shambala, la

Ah, ooh, yeah
On the road to Shambala

Overall Meaning

The lyrics to Three Dog Night's song Shambala are about finding a place of peace, love, and freedom from life's troubles. The chorus speaks of a rain in Shambala that can wash away one's pain, sorrow, and shame. The verses describe the road to Shambala as a place where everyone is kind and lucky, and where one can recognize their family by the flowers in their eyes. The song also asks the question, "How does your light shine in the halls of Shambala?" which could be interpreted as what kind of energy and spirit one brings to this utopian place.

Shambala can be interpreted as a mythical or spiritual place, often cited in Tibetan Buddhism as the land of perfect wisdom and happiness. The song's message is about finding one's own version of Shambala in the world, a place where everyone is kind and loving, and where one's troubles can be washed away. The rain can be seen as a metaphor for transformation and renewal of the soul, washing away negative experiences and emotions. By asking how one's light shines in Shambala, the song suggests that one must have a positive and loving spirit to attain such a place.

Line by Line Meaning

Wash away my troubles, wash away my pain With the rain in Shambala
The singer wishes for relief from pain and troubles, hoping to find solace in the mythical paradise of Shambala.

Wash away my sorrow, wash away my shame With the rain in Shambala
The singer seeks redemption from past wrongdoings and emotional turmoil, longing for a fresh start in the utopia of Shambala.

Everyone is helpful, everyone is kind On the road to Shambala
The journey to Shambala is characterized by the presence of compassionate and supportive individuals who assist each other in their quest for a better life.

Everyone is lucky, everyone is so kind On the road to Shambala
The people who embark on the journey to Shambala feel fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to seek happiness in a community of caring and generous individuals.

How does your light shine In the halls of Shambala?
The artist inquires about the radiance and positive energy that emanates from the inhabitants of Shambala and wonders how they maintain such an elevated state of being.

I can tell my sister by the flowers in her eyes On the road to Shambala
The singer identifies his sister's purity and innocence through the metaphorical flowers in her eyes, indicating the heightened awareness and appreciation for beauty that is awakened on the journey to Shambala.

I can tell my brother by the flowers in his eyes On the road to Shambala
The singer recognizes his brother's compassion and empathy through the metaphorical flowers in his eyes, suggesting that the journey to Shambala awakens a sense of connectedness and empathy towards fellow travelers.

Tell me how does your light shine In the halls of Shambala? (Tell me how) How does your light shine In the halls of Shambala?
The artist repeats his inquiry about the source of positive energy and spiritual fulfillment that is expressed in Shambala, emphasizing the importance of this insight to those seeking to reach this paradise.

Shambala, la Ah, ooh, yeah On the road to Shambala
The repetition of the phrase 'On the road to Shambala' and the use of nonsensical phrases like 'Shambala, la' and 'Ah, ooh, yeah' suggest a sense of euphoria and excitement that characterizes the experience of the journey towards this mystical land.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Daniel Joseph Moore

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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