Written by: Sammy Mysels, Dick Robertson, Nelson Cogane
Recorded: 2011
Producer: Tommy LiPuma
Engineer: Al Schmitt
Released: 6 February 2012 (UK), 7 February 2012 (US)
Paul McCartney: vocals
Diana Krall: piano
John Pizzarelli: guitar
Bucky Pizzarelli: guitar
Robert Hurst: bass
Karriem Riggins: drums
Mike Mainieri: vibraphone
Strings conducted by Eddie Karam
Available on:
Kisses On The Bottom
We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me) was originally a number three US hit in 1940 for the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra. It was recorded by Paul McCartney for his 2012 collection of American standards, Kisses On The Bottom.
The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra's version featured a newly-recruited singer, Frank Sinatra. Nearly a year later it topped the US chart when re-recorded by The Ink Spots.
The black vocal group were an early influence on The Beatles. John Lennon and Paul McCartney wrote a parody of their style, titled You'll Be Mine. Recorded at Paul McCartney's family home in early 1960, it appeared on 1994's Anthology 1.
In the United Kingdom it was the theme tune to Happidrome, a popular wartime radio featuring Northern comedians Harry Korris, Vincent Robinson and Cecil Fredericks. They made changes to the lyrics – one line became "working for the BBC", and the chorus was subverted to "Enoch, Ramsbottom and me".
Although the song's popularity faded after the war, it was revived after Brenda Lee recorded it in 1960, followed five years later by Ella Fitzgerald's version.
In the studio
McCartney's version of We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me) was recorded at Capitol Studios in Los Angeles. The rhythm arrangement was by Diana Krall.
Lyrics
We three, we're all alone
Living in a memory
My echo, my shadow, and me
We three, we're not a crowd
We're not even company
My echo, my shadow, and me
What good is the moonlight
The silvery moonlight that shines above?
I walk with my shadow
I talk with my echo
But where is the one I love?
We three, we'll wait for you
Even till eternity
My echo, my shadow, and me
We three, we're all alone
Living in a memory
My echo, my shadow, and me
What good is the moonlight
The silvery moonlight that shines above?
I walk with my shadow
I talk with my echo
But where is the one I love?
We three, we'll wait for you
Even till eternity
My echo, echo, my shadow, and me
We'll be here waiting
My echo, my shadow, and me
Wasn’t the song “we three” sung by TED LEWIS” back in the 1940’s?:-)