One for the money...

[avern]

Two for the show...

Three to get ready...

and Four to go !!

Anyone know where this came from and what the meaning is behind the numbers ?

[don1]

I think it is just a song lyrics, see this link.

http://www.lyricsfreak.com/e/elvis-presley/49053.html

[Clanad]

An Americanism...  a reference found in An Anthology of Songs of the South states the sing-song phrase was used by timber workmen in backwoods Tennessee as early as 1850 and having something to do with conducting their work rythmically.  The writer is, of course, unknown... The Anthology was published in 1909, giving credence to early origination...

[joko]

usually has 'well its a..' at the start, which is where the name for a brand of jukeboxes comes from - 'wurlitzer'

[avern]

Did Elvis truly coin this phrase or did he just incorporate it into "Blue Suede Shoes"?

He doesn't use the "...and Four to go"   but instead uses "...now go cat go" .

I just think there is more behind this than a song lyric.

[Thrasher]

I think it more of a moral becuse first you get money then you get money then you get money and then you go