The song "25 or 6 to 4".....what does it mean? Help!

Cafe Society
#1

I did a search, but could not find anything in regards to this song by the band Chicago.

Any thoughts? Any interpretations?

Thanks!

#2

[http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m25or6to4.html](Straight Dope Staff Report: What does the Chicago lyric “25 or 6 to 4” mean?)

#3

We had a thread about this a while back. My view has always been that that title refers to the time, i.e, it’s either twenty five minutes or twenty six minutes until four o’clock in the morning. The singer is too wasted to know exactly what time it is. That’s why he’s “sitting cross-legged on the floor,” and wondering “Should I try to do some more?”

#4

Thank you Skammer and Labdad. I kinda figured it had a drug reference…well, kinda.

#5

The lyrics are what you need.

Here is a part

Its about stting up all night looking for inspiration and still being awake at 25 or 26 minutes to four in the morning.

I remember reading this in an interview with the band many years ago, apparently the writer was suffering a bout of writers block and the attendant frustration that goes with it.

#6

well, you know what I mean.

#7

I heard this song on the radio the other day and before he played the song the DJ said that Robert Lamm had been up all night trying to write the song and was so tired he couldn’t figure out what time it was.

#8

Ooooooooooooooooooooooooh!

Use the archive before you ask here. I made the same mistake one time a few years ago.