 The song was well received both critically and commercially, with it peaking at number 12 on both the Billboard US Modern Rock and Mainstream Rock charts in 2000.As with all of the "Mer de Noms" album, "3 Libras'" music was written by guitarist Billy Howerdel, while the lyrics were written by vocalist Maynard James Keenan.The two originally envisioned the track to be the first single of their debut album prior to being talked into going with the hard rock track "Judith" by record label executives, who felt the track was a better lead off single due to it being less of a departure from Keenan's other band, Tool.