‘3,2,1’ by Tucker Wetmore - Lyrics & Meaning

Serving as Tucker Wetmore's first release since his celebrated debut EP, Waves on a Sunset, the infectious ‘3,2,1’, released March 10, 2025, continued the fascinating narrative that pervaded the 2024 project.

'3,2,1' found the Washington prodigy crooning wistfully about a relationship gone wrong, with Wetmore spelling out how quickly things went South through the witty titular lyric. The addictive track was the third single to be released from Wetmore's critically acclaimed debut studio album, What Not To, which was released April 25, 2025.

Upon impact week, '3,2,1' became the most added song to country radio that week - with 73 stations adding in its first week of addition.

Despite not being penned by Wetmore, ‘3,2,1’ showcases the viral hitmaker's ability to deliver a contemporary country earworm, just as he has demonstrated since his first release, ’Wine Into Whiskey’. Somewhat aptly, ‘3,2,1’ dropped almost a year to the day since ‘Wine Into Whiskey’s release on streaming platforms.

Throughout ‘3,2,1’, Wetmore's charismatic drawl drifts captivatingly across the warm, cushioning instrumental, with the rhythm of the verses harking playfully back to a classic country sound. The bright and wonderfully twangy guitars combine with Wetmore's enchanting delivery to produce a certified country floor-filler.

“Standing on my step kinda felt like freedom

Malibu one suitcase short of leaving

You were the driver, I was the reason

There was mascara on your shirt

If I’da known where that left turn was leading

You’da seen me running in a rear view

Like you tied my heart to your car turn the key in three, two”

The curtain opens on Tucker Wetmore watching his old flame driving off into the sunset, as he laments the fact that he didn't run after her or try to stop her from leaving. The protagonist recalls how, at the time, he didn't realise how pertinent this moment would be, with his ex-girlfriend seemingly driving out of his life for good.

“One day you called me baby, these days it’s only 80

Proof you probably hate me, I don’t blame you I blame me

For them sunset taillight’s sinking

Tonight I’m just thinking

Three words, too late, damn girl you’re the one that got away”

During the hook, which follows the chronological ‘3,2,1’ structure, Tucker Wetmore inventively carries the phrase ‘80 Proof’ whiskey over into the next line, describing how he's gone from being called ‘baby’ to being all alone with a bottle to drown his sorrows. He describes this as ‘proof’ that she probably hates him now, with Tucker Wetmore shrugging his shoulders and admitting he blames himself too, as he again suggests that he should've fought harder to convince her to stay.

“Counting on a bottle to flood these memories

They’re still floating and it’s almost empty

Take the whiskey rain of this century

To drown you out

Make you do a U-turn

If it was me it was up to

Girl just like that I’d take you back in three, two”

Wetmore echoes the message of the chorus by stressing just how much whiskey it's going to take for him to numb the pain of the break-up, before confessing he'd happily take her back if she ever decided to turn the car around and run back to him.

Interestingly, the song presented itself as another chapter in the story of the narcissistic relationship that pervaded Waves on a Sunset, with the protagonist's feeling of guilt at how the romance ended on ‘3,2,1’ potentially just a symptom of his ex being a narcissist. Tucker Wetmore touched on this broader theme in his 2024 interview with Holler.

Prior to announcing the track, Tucker Wetmore shared a tantalising snippet of the new single and invited his fans to help him name the song, with some of the stronger candidates including ‘The One That Got Away’ and ‘Three Words’, before he settled on ‘3,2,1’.

In an interview with Lakes Media, Wetmore stated how he felt after being sent the song by his songwriter friends in Nashville; "The first listen I was like, ‘This feels great. I love it.’ Immediately put it on hold."

Reflecting further on the song, Wetmore observed; "It’s kinda just talking about being in a point of time of questioning your decisions when it comes to leaving someone or staying with someone. I was like, ‘I was just there a couple months ago,’ you know?”

“Standing on my step kinda felt like freedom

Malibu one suitcase short of leaving

You were the driver, I was the reason

There was mascara on your shirt

-

If I’da known where that left turn was leading

You’da seen me running in a rear view

Like you tied my heart to your car turn the key in three, two

-

One day you called me baby, these days it’s only 80

Proof you probably hate me, I don’t blame you I blame me

For them sunset taillight’s sinking

Tonight I’m just thinking

Three words, too late, damn girl you’re the one that got away

-

Counting on a bottle to flood these memories

They’re still floating and it’s almost empty

Take the whiskey rain of this century

To drown you out

Make you do a U-turn

If it was me it was up to

Girl just like that I’d take you back in three, two

-

One day you called me baby, these days it’s only 80

Proof you probably hate me, I don’t blame you I blame me

For them sunset taillight’s sinking

Tonight I’m just thinking

Three words, too late, damn girl you’re the one that got away

-

Yeah in about three, two

One I’ma call you baby, try to change your mind 180

I know you probably hate me, I don’t blame you I blame me

For them sunset taillight’s sinking

Tonight I’m just thinking

Three words, too late, damn girl you’re the one that got away”

For more on Tucker Wetmore, see below:

Tucker Wetmore

Artist