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What does “25 or 6 to 4” Mean?
My continuing series of “songs that matter”
Each songwriter has their own process. Sometimes it begins with a melody, while other times, it starts with a hook or a single line. Maybe they overhear a conversation at the grocery store, and it sparks a song idea. A simple expression or phrase can lead to a hit song. It can start with an emotion or be about love or loss. A beautiful setting can inspire a lyric. Robert Lamm wrote one of Chicago’s most enduring hits while looking out over Hollywood.
Let’s take a closer look at “25 or 6 to 4” by Chicago.
The song’s percussive opening riff layers guitar, bass, and then drums. In 2018, Chicago trombonist James Pankow told Backstage with Joe Chambers: “Robert created that line. I think it’s become a required lick for every new guitar player. We’ve closed the show with that thing forever. It’s become an anthem.”
The popular song has appeared in movies, television shows, commercials, and video games, and it’s a staple for school bands.
Through the years, many theories have been brought forward about what the song is actually about- everything from being code for something to odds on a horse race to psychedelic drugs. The song was banned in 1970 in Singapore when it was initially released due to its alleged allusions to…
