We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)

‘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 Ink Spots 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, ‘We Three (My Echo, My Shadow And Me)’ 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