They were joined in 1991, by Wally Ingram and Courtney Audain. Timbuk 3 recorded several albums from 1986 to 1995; their first album, Greetings From Timbuk 3, generated their only chart hit song, "The Future's So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades". The song was featured in the 1987 film, My Best Friend is a Vampire.
Also from Greetings From Timbuk 3, "Shame On You" was played during the opening scene of Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2, released in 1986.
The group broke up in 1995, with the ex-members going on to record other music independently.
Count To Ten
Timbuk 3 Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Leave a taste of toxic waste
Before we make the same mistake again
Count to ten
Whether you're strong or whether you're weak
It's best to think before you speak
Before you take a stand you can't defend
Authors and critics, writers and hacks
Do your homework, get the facts
Before you point your poison pen
Count to ten
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, mankind will survive
Babe, is it you or me I must convince?
5, 6, 7, 8, how long must I wait
For this frog in my throat to turn into a prince?
Ten little fingers, ten little toes
Ten commandments everyone knows
Even old man Moses knew back then
Count to ten
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, mankind will survive
Babe, is it you or me I must convince?
5, 6, 7, 8, how long must I wait
For this frog in my throat to turn into a prince?
Read my lips, don't hesitate
If you wait for the movie, it'll be too late
Armageddon needs a few good men
Count to ten
Count to ten
The lyrics to Timbuk 3's "Count To Ten" center around the idea that we should take a moment to pause and reflect before making important decisions or saying something we might regret. The first verse warns us of the dangers of saying something out of anger or haste, and how it can lead to toxic situations. The chorus emphasizes the importance of counting to ten before taking a stand or speaking up. The second verse extends the message to include authors and critics who should strive to get the facts straight before pointing fingers or writing criticism. The song references the ten commandments as a reminder to pause and reflect on our actions.
The bridge of the song, with the repetition of "1, 2, 3, 4, 5, mankind will survive / Babe, is it you or me I must convince? / 5, 6, 7, 8, how long must I wait / For this frog in my throat to turn into a prince?", reminds us that sometimes we need to take a moment to persuade ourselves before making decisions or speaking up. It's a reminder that a cool head and thinking before speaking can improve our chances of success.
Overall, the lyrics of "Count To Ten" are an insightful commentary on how taking a moment to pause and reflect can help us make better decisions and avoid unnecessary conflict.
Line by Line Meaning
Poisonous words delivered in haste
When we speak without thought we are poisoning others with our words
Leave a taste of toxic waste
The negative impact of our words lingers and causes harm even after we have spoken them
Before we make the same mistake again
Reflect on our past mistakes and learn from them before we repeat them
Count to ten
Take a moment to pause and think before acting or speaking
Whether you're strong or whether you're weak
Everyone, regardless of strength or weakness, benefits from thinking before speaking
It's best to think before you speak
We should prioritize thoughtfulness in our communication with others
Before you take a stand you can't defend
We should make sure we have evidence and reasoning to support our opinions before sharing them with others
Authors and critics, writers and hacks
This advice applies to all communicators, from established authors to novice writers
Do your homework, get the facts
We can better support our opinions with research and evidence
Before you point your poison pen
Be careful with the power of language and how it can harm others
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, mankind will survive
Humanity will survive and thrive, despite our mistakes
Babe, is it you or me I must convince?
We need to convince ourselves to think more carefully before we speak
5, 6, 7, 8, how long must I wait
We must be patient and take the time we need to think carefully, even if it requires more time than we would like
For this frog in my throat to turn into a prince?
We hope that our words will transform from flawed to virtuous, just like the frog turns into a prince in the classic fairy tale
Ten little fingers, ten little toes
We all share our physical humanity, and making mistakes is part of that shared experience
Ten commandments everyone knows
We all have access to basic ethical principles that advise us to be thoughtful and kind in our interactions with others
Even old man Moses knew back then
This advice is not new and has been around for centuries
Read my lips, don't hesitate
Urgency is important in certain situations, but remember to still take the time to think critically and carefully
If you wait for the movie, it'll be too late
Delaying our reflection and thoughtfulness may lead to negative consequences
Armageddon needs a few good men
Important moments require people who are thoughtful and reflective to make decisions
Count to ten
Take a moment to pause, reflect, and think before taking action or speaking in important moments
Contributed by Oliver W. Suggest a correction in the comments below.