We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)

"We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)" is a ballad published in 1939 by Nelson Cogane (né Nelson Cogane Fonarow; 1902–1985), Sammy Mysels and Dick Robertson.^[1] It was a hit song in 1940 for both The Ink Spots on Decca and Frank Sinatra with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra on RCA Victor, both versions reaching No. 3 in Billboard in December.

"We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)"
Single by Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra
B-side	"Tell Me at Midnight"
Released	1940 (1940)
Label	RCA Victor
Songwriter(s)	Nelson Cogane, Sammy Mysels and Dick Robertson
Frank Sinatra and the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra singles chronology
"Looking for Yesterday" (1940) "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow and Me)" (1940) "You're Breaking My Heart All Over Again" (1940)

Cover versions

• The Ink Spots version was recorded in July 1940 and released on Decca in October (b/w "My Greatest Mistake").^[2]
• Dolores O'Neill recorded "We Three" with the Bob Chester Orchestra on 14 August 1940 in New York City
• Ella Fitzgerald, who would later record with The Ink Spots, also recorded the song for Decca in 1940; it is included on the 2003 CD compilation Jukebox Ella: The Complete Verve Singles, Vol. 1.
• Brenda Lee recorded "We Three" for her 1960 Decca album This Is...Brenda.

Use in pop culture

• The Ink Spots version of the song was featured in the opening scene of "Smoke", the first episode of season 4 of Better Call Saul.^[3]
• The song has seen use in the Fallout series, being added in Fallout 76 on the in-game Appalachia Radio and being played during the first season of Fallout.^[4][5]
• In This Extraordinary Being, the sixth episode of the HBO miniseries Watchmen, several key scenes are set to songs by The Ink Spots, including We Three.^[6]

References

1. William H. Young, Nancy K. Young Music of the Great Depression 2005 p.64 "Sinatra/ Dorsey also appeared on the charts at #34 with "We Three (My Echo, My Shadow, and Me)" (words and .."
2. "Discography". Archived from the original on 2014-12-02. Retrieved 2014-06-27.
3. Greene, Steve (2022-08-20). "The Memorable Music of 'Better Call Saul' in 6 Key Songs". IndieWire. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
4. "Every song in the Fallout TV series". Winter is Coming. 2024-04-24. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
5. Berry, Alex (2024-04-11). "Here's every song on the 'Fallout' soundtrack". NME. Retrieved 2024-07-11.
6. Phipps, Keith (2019-11-24). "9 Big Questions From This Week's Watchmen". Vulture. Retrieved 2024-10-04.