One Of The Three is track four on the 1993 James album Laid. An early version of the track called You Were Born appears on the deluxe and super deluxe versions of the album in 2015.
This track is described by Tim as being about the odds of redemption and loosely inspired by the UK hostages in the Lebanon at the time – “Terry Waite. And I was thinking of Brian Keenan and John McCarthy. And I was also thinking of – there’s a great line in Waiting for Godot, where they’re talking about the guys on the crosses. In fact, I’ve probably misquoted it, but it still inspired the song. Because I think it’s probably ‘one of the two was saved’ and they’re going ‘those are good odds for redemption – one of the two was saved – fifty percent’ So it’s somewhere between all that. Professional victims. It would apply to Brian Jones. But Terry Waite – perfect, because you get this feeling that Christian credentials entail that you have to suffer and that he kind of grew in brownie points and came back even more of a grumpy Old Testament prophet. When McCarthy was released it felt like something important was going on. When Terry Waite was released it felt like something bloody weird was going on. When he gave this fire and brimstone speech before he even met his wife and kids. It was like – fuck off will you? Get off the lectern! Imagine being chained to him for three years.”
Despite there being no record of it being played live at the time of its release, the song was resurrected beautifully at the Dublin and Brighton shows on the 1999 Winter tour and made appearances in the setlist on the 2016 Girl At The End Of The World tour.
And there’s a website named after it.
Details
One in three must find some peace
You were one, one of the three
I need proof before belief
Oh, well, you just knew they'd come for you
So it was suicide, suicide
Oh, well, now you got just what you want
I hope you're satisfied
One of the three, one of the three, one of the three, one of the three
You were one, one of the three
One in three must find some peace
You were one, one of the three
I need proof before belief
Oh, well, I guess you're not to blame for what they've
Done in your name, in your name
Oh, well, it's a shame you got so famous for a sacrifice
One of the three, one of the three, one of the three, one of the three
One of the three, one of the three, one of the three, one of the three
You were one, one of the three
One in three must find some peace
You were one, one of the three
I need proof before belief
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
| Song: | One Of The Three |
| Released: | 27th September 1993 |
| Main Associated Album (or Single): | Laid |
| First Heard Live: | Dublin Olympia – 30th November 1999 |
- Laid – Japanese promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid – UK album promo tape :Promo, Album, 1993
- Laid (Japan) :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid :Studio, Album, 1993
- Laid (reissue CDR) :Promo, Album, 2001
- The Gathering Sound :Compilation, Box Set, 2012
- Laid / Wah Wah Super Deluxe Edition :Compilation, Box Set, 2015
Taken from the album Laid
Written and performed by James
Main Riff:
e-------------------------------------------------------
B--1/3--3-----------------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Intro Riff 1:
e---5-----3-5-----3-------------------------------------
B-----3-6-----3-6---------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Intro Riff 2:
e---5---3---5---3---------------------------------------
B-----3---3---3---3-------------------------------------
G-------------------------------------------------------
D-------------------------------------------------------
A-------------------------------------------------------
E-------------------------------------------------------
Song Structure:
Intro builds around Jim's bass and Larry's Main Riff. Later Saul comes in
first playing Intro Riff 1, then Intro Riff 2. All three Riffs are played
throughout the song, but not in any obvious way. It's like, you know, an
ambient sort of thing.
The chords for the intro are Dm C Dm, but for the rest of the song are Bb C
Dm.
Lyrics/Chords:
Bb C
You were one, one of the three
Dm
One in three must find some peace
Bb C
You were one, one of the three
Dm
I need proof before belief
Oh, well, you just knew they'd come for you
So it was suicide, suicide
Oh, well, now you got just what you want
I hope you're satisfied
One of the three, one of the three, one of the three, one of the three
You were one, one of the three
One in three must find some peace
You were one, one of the three
I need proof before belief
Oh, well, I guess you're not to blame for what they've
Done in your name, in your name
Oh, well, it's a shame you got so famous for a sacrifice
One of the three, one of the three, one of the three, one of the three
One of the three, one of the three, one of the three, one of the three
You were one, one of the three
One in three must find some peace
You were one, one of the three
I need proof before belief
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
You sent forth your lamb to the slaughter
Transcribed by Alex Carter 2001.
sweezely@hotmail.com
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