One

Harry Nilsson

About One

"One" is a song written by Harry Nilsson and made famous by Three Dog Night whose recording reached number five on the U. S. Billboard Hot 100 in 1969 and number four in Canada. The song is known for its opening line "One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do". Nilsson wrote the song after calling someone and getting a busy signal. He stayed on the line listening to the "beep, beep, beep, beep..." tone, writing the song. The busy signal became the opening notes of the song. In 1968, Al Kooper released the song on his debut album I Stand Alone. In 1969, the song was recorded by Australian pop singer Johnny Farnham, reaching number four on the Go-Set National Top 40 Chart. 


Year:
2003
2:51
61 

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One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
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
Because one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever know

It's just no good anymore since you went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

Because one is the loneliest number
That you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number
That you'll ever know

One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number
Much, much worse than two

One is the number divided by two
One

One is the loneliest number

 Watch: New Singing Lesson Videos Can Make Anyone A Great Singer


Harry Nilsson

Harry Edward Nilsson III (June 15, 1941 – January 15, 1994) was an American singer-songwriter who achieved the peak of his commercial success in the early 1970s. On all but his earliest recordings he is credited as Nilsson. He is known for the hit singles "Everybody's Talkin'" (1969), "Without You" (1971), and "Coconut" (1972). Nilsson's career is also notable for the fact that he was one of the few major pop-rock recording artists of his era to achieve significant commercial success without ever performing major public concerts or undertaking regular tours. more »

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Written by: Harry Nilsson

Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


7 facts about this song

One" Song Composition
"One" is a song written by Harry Nilsson and recorded by Three Dog Night. Harry Nilsson didn’t initially intend to have this song recorded by another artist; it was after a request that he gave Three Dog Night access to it.
Song's Meaning
The song is about isolation and loneliness. Harry Nilsson got the inspiration for this song when he noted his phone line gave off a "one is the loneliest number" signal when off the hook.
Song's Release and Ranking
Three Dog Night released their version of the song as a single in 1969. It climbed up Billboard's Hot 100 chart, peaking at number 5.
Other Versions
Three Dog Night was not the only group to record "One." Harry Nilsson himself released a version, and other artists, including Aimee Mann and Filter, have covered it.
Featured in Media
This song has been used in numerous movies and T.V. series, including "Magnolia," "Punch Drunk Love," and "The Lego Movie."
Harry Nilsson’s Career
Harry Nilsson, a remarkable American singer-songwriter active during the 1960s-70s, is known for his lyrical compositions. In addition to "One," he's recognized for other hits like "Without You" and "Everybody's Talkin'".
Three Dog Night’s Success
Three Dog Night experienced significant success during the late 1960s to mid-1970s, with 21 consecutive Top 40 hits and 11 Top 10 hits. Their rendition of "One" kicked off a string of successful singles for the band.

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