"One is the loneliest number that you will ever know" ....was a throaty song from the late 1960's.  It was performed by a group called Three Dog Night. It was their first gold record. Do you remember this hit...or are you afraid to confess that you listened to them too?

This is the Beth Johnson take on the lyrics to this song...  A guy was in a relationship with a girl. It wasn't the best relationship because he was lonely even though they were still together. Then she decided to break up and now he is really lonely about being alone...only now he really IS alone. He also says that he sat around making up rhymes (songs) about his loneliness when she was still with him. That pretty much sums it up.  Why did we go around singing the words to this song....it was pure torture!
 
This song was actually inspired by songwriter Harry Nilsson after he sat and listened to a busy signal on his telephone. I guess knowing that the person he was trying to reach was talking to someone else...not him...caused great loneliness. Three Dog Night historically performed music that was not composed by the group. Most of their big hits were composed by unknowns at the time. Some members of this group battled with drugs and most likely performed under the influence of drugs. Their "extraordinary harmonies" were not altered during performing and were considered remarkable. They had 13 Gold Albums and hit the Billboard Top 40 Chart for many weeks. There were 3 band members that all claimed to be lead singer. Many of the group's songs were sung by a variation of these lead singers. When I decided to take a trip down memory lane to read up on this group, it was actually interesting. Very sad, but interesting.  Did anyone ever wonder how they got that crazy name? Who names their group Three Dog Night ? Here is the official answer:  "One of the band member's girlfriends suggested this name after reading a magazine article about indigenous Australians, in which it was explained that on cold nights they (the Australians) would customarily sleep in a hole in the ground while embracing a dingo, a native species of wild dog. On colder nights they would sleep with two dogs and if the night was freezing, it was a "three dog night."  I am pretty sure someone was under the influence to be willing to go along with that suggestion! The name stuck, they sang their songs, cut their LP records, made their millions, and have made a recent comeback. 

As I was thinking about how they named their group and one of their more famous songs"ONE" ...something didn't jive for me.  The group's name is all about companionship and keeping warm and safe.  The song "ONE" is about being lonely.  It is about being all by yourself and being sad.  Somehow the connection is off for me. 

I was never allowed to buy this type of music when I was a kid. My parents were very strict about rock and roll during my youth.  All my friends at school had "45s",  7-inch fine-grooved vinyl records,  that we played at slumber parties. We would all chime in and sing these melodies over and over. My older sister, the family beauty, brought home a friend named Ed. Ed was our gateway to rock and roll. He had all the music.  He looked like one of the Three Dog Night singers.  He introduced this music group and his 1969 yellow MACH 1 Mustang to my brother and I. The MACH 1 Mustang was bright yellow with black stripes. Ed was trying to score points with my sister by taking my brother and I for rides. I was around 10 or 11 and madly in love with Ed.  My brother was madly in love with Ed's car. My brother recently told me his lifelong love for muscle cars was born while riding in that MACH 1 Mustang.  We would ride in that car and Ed would play Three Dog Night on the radio.  We felt as cool as any kid could ever imagine...

 
With the Thanksgiving weekend ushering in the big Christmas Season...it also ushers in the loneliest season.  The festivity of all the celebrating causes those that are alone to suffer more than anyone can imagine. It is not a happy time and many cannot embrace this time of year with much joy. Even Christians are not immune to this. The wonderful day of Jesus' birth nears and, instead of feeling happy, we are consumed by depression and feelings of sadness. What to do? Here are some suggestions that I used over the years if I felt down around Christmas.

Keep busy – try to stop Christmas from taking over your life and make time for enjoyable activities, such as reading and walking. Find activities in your local church. Join in. Don't be shy.

Be a volunteer – many charities and organizations need help at Christmas and you could spend a few hours working as a volunteer. You could go visit some other people from our church that are alone too. There are many in the church that need help around their homes.

Take some physical exercise – this reduces stress and enhances mood. Just getting off the sofa and getting outside should improve your mood.

Eat and drink healthy – traditional Christmas foods and desserts can be excessive and lead to lethargy. Healthy eating with plenty of fruit and vegetables can lift your mood significantly.  You can donate all your "goodies" to the Haven of Rest or the Womens' Harvest Home....they will enjoy them.

Find a listening ear – people who are lonely can find it helpful to speak to someone removed from their situation.  Pray, Pray, Pray...the Lord Jesus knows how you feel. He knows exactly how you feel right now.

With love,

Beth

P.S. For the record, I do not endorse Three Dog Night...or any rock and roll.  But...the yellow 1969 MACH 1 Mustang with black stripes is hard to resist!