Four or Five Times

Song Meaning

The lyrics to "Four or Five Times" present a peculiar, insistent numerical directive. It's a mantra for repeated action, suggesting a specific, limited effort. There's a curious blend of encouragement and a hint of resignation. The phrase "four or five times" anchors every stanza. A core tension emerges between the promise of "delight, doing things right" and the stark realities of potential sadness. The lyrics even push this further, asserting that "if you die, you oughta try" – a darkly humorous or fatalistic encouragement to engage, despite potential ultimate failure. This suggests a pragmatic approach to life's experiences, acknowledging both joy and sorrow. The numerical specificity is fascinating. While the lyrics briefly expand to count up to "nine ten eleven," they consistently pull back to the titular "four or five times." This isn't about endless repetition; it's about a measured, perhaps optimal, amount. The instruction to "Kiss him and then kiss him" paired with a declaration of truth, then immediately followed by "Kissing goodbye," introduces a poignant, almost contradictory, romantic scenario, hinting at a fleeting but intense connection. The effectiveness lies in this ambiguous yet insistent repetition. "Four or five times" becomes a versatile directive: a suggestion for moderation, a minimum effort, or a limit to indulgence. It captures a human tendency to quantify experience, to find a sweet spot between too little and too much. The lyrics leave the listener pondering what exactly needs to be done "right" and why this specific, small number holds such significance.