3 Libras (song)

"3 Libras"
Single by A Perfect Circle
from the album Mer de Noms
Released	February 13, 2001 (2001-02-13)
Format	Compact Disc
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	3:39
Label	Virgin
Writer(s)	Billy Howerdel, Maynard James Keenan
Producer	Billy Howerdel, Alan Moulder
A Perfect Circle singles chronology
"The Hollow" (2000) "3 Libras" (2001) "Weak and Powerless" (2003)

"3 Libras" is a song by American rock band A Perfect Circle, included and released as a single from their debut album, Mer de Noms. It approaches with a different type of tempo and approach than the other tracks featured on Mer de Noms, an opening with an acoustic guitar and violin is present as well as a conversely powerful chorus, making it something of a ballad. The song was written solely by members, Maynard James Keenan and Billy Howerdel.

Interpretation

• Maynard James Keenan, in the A Perfect Circle EPK stated, "It's about being overlooked."
• In the liner notes to the single, Keenan said: "Up until the mid twentieth century the mountain gorilla was considered a myth. Oddly enough, a legend not unlike Bigfoot or the Loch Ness monster. The chance of actually seeing/experiencing this elusive shadow was as likely as finding one's soulmate. Rare. Precious. Even once discovered they seemed unapproachable. The only way to get close to this magnificent creature was to become empathetic. Abandon all pretense and preconceptions. To bare an open throat. To collapse into the arms of vulnerability. All but extinct, these beings/moments are threatened by the black hearted. The cold and oblivious. The empty eyed profit seekers that overlook these Rare. Precious."
• Keenan shed some more light on this song in their aMotion DVD, where he explained that this is a song about parasitic-like people seeing something different or special about a person. Instead of nurturing that quality or helping that person grow, the "3 Libras" feed off of the energy in a bad way instead of using it for good.
• On aMotion, Keenan also mentioned that he wrote the song for about 9 or so people in his life that have birthdays around the same time, hence the name "3 Libras." He titled it so the people with the Libran birthdays could battle it out to figure who he wrote the song about.

Video

The video, directed by Paul Hunter, features Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, Josh Freese, Troy Van Leeuwen and Paz Lenchantin. The video is included on the aMOTION DVD. Maynard James Keenan explains the meaning on a commentary on the DVD.

Track listing

1. 3 Libras
2. Magdalena (Live)
3. 3 Libras (Feel My Ice Dub Mix)
4. Judith (Live)
5. 3 Libras (Live)

3 Libras, Pt. 2

1. 3 Libras (Live in Phoenix)
2. 3 Libras (Feel My Ice Dub)
3. Sleeping Beauty (Live in Phoenix)
4. [Untitled Track] [Interactive Picture Gallery] [CD-ROM Track]