The deadline for writing this blog approaches, the minutes seem to accumulate faster than normal. Time is moving faster than I am this morning. All I can think of is a song about writers block by the band Chicago.
I heard this song on the radio for decades, the music was compelling and driving, and it had a nice hook . . . and I had no idea what it was about. Then one day I was hanging out with my friend Paul and he explained it to me.
It’s a song about being up in the middle of the night, early morning actually, at 3:34am (twenty five, or six, until 4am), trying to write something. Perhaps he’s trying to write a song, or a college paper, a letter, a chapter in a book, a newspaper column, an article, a blog . . . probably not a blog since the song is from the 70’s, but the singer captures that feeling of desperation and low level panic that one experiences with a deadline looming and nothing coming forth.
Wow, what a clever song, an unusual topic for a rock song for sure. This great song, that was a huge commercial success, is simply telling a little story about a struggle we can all (all who write) relate to, and putting it to compelling music. The music was so great that I did not even mind not knowing what it was about for many years, I just enjoyed the jam. My appreciation grew even more, once I understood it.
It’s a song about about a tragedy that becomes a comedy because it has a happy ending. The story is about how a great band, Chicago, created a piece of art about suffering in the early morning with writers block that transcended the suffering and became something wildly successful. So cool!
Here are the lyrics. Enjoy!
Ben Wagner (174)
Member The 365 Commitment
Twenty Five or Six to Four
[Verse 1]
Waiting for the break of day
Searching for something to say
Flashing lights against the sky
Giving up I close my eyes
Sitting cross-legged on the floor
Twenty five or six to four
[Verse 2]
Staring blindly into space
Getting up to splash my face
Wanting just to stay awake
Wondering how much I can take
Should I try to do some more?
Twenty five or six to four
{Instrumental}
[Verse 3]
Feeling like I ought to sleep
Spinning room is sinking deep
Searching for something to say
Waiting for the break of day
Twenty five or six to four
Twenty five or six to four
