Love is Just a Four Letter Word
Bob Dylan & Joan Baez Lyrics

Seems like only yesterday
The singer recalls a recent memory.

I left my mind behind
The singer was lost in thought in a specific location.

Down in the gypsy café
The location of the memory is a café.

With a friend of a friend of mine
The artist was with an acquaintance.

Who sat with a baby heavy on her knee
The acquaintance was holding a baby during the conversation.

Yet spoke of life most free from slavery
The acquaintance talked about life without restrictions.

With eyes that showed no trace of misery
The acquaintance was not miserable when talking about life.

A phrase in connection first with she occurred
The acquaintance mentioned a phrase.

That love is just a four-letter word
The phrase mentioned was 'love is just a four-letter word.'

Outside a rambling store-front window
The artist describes the surroundings after leaving the café.

Cats meowed to the break of day
The sound of cats meowing can be heard.

Me, I kept my mouth shut
The artist did not speak.

To you I had no words to say
The singer did not have anything to say to the acquaintance.

My experience was limited and underfed
The singer had little life experience.

You were talking while I hid
The acquaintance was talking while the singer remained silent.

To the one who was the father of your kid
The person the acquaintance was talking to was the father of her child.

You probably didn't think I did, but I heard
The artist overheard the conversation.

You say, that love is just a four-letter word
The acquaintance repeats the same phrase about love.

I said goodbye unnoticed
The singer left without being noticed.

Pushed forth into my own games
The artist was preoccupied with personal issues.

Drifting in and out of lifetimes
The artist felt lost in life.

Unmentionable by name
The things the artist experienced or felt are unnamed.

Searching for my double, looking for
The singer was searching for someone like themself.

Complete evaporation to the core
The artist wanted to disappear completely.

Though I tried and failed at finding any door
The singer had no success in finding an escape.

I must have thought that there was nothing more absurd
The singer considered their search for meaning futile.

Than that love is just a four-letter word
The phrase about love reappears in the singer's thoughts.

Though I never knew just what you meant
The artist did not understand the acquaintance's meaning.

When you were speaking to your man
The person the acquaintance was talking to is now referred to as 'your man.'

I can only think in terms of me
The singer can only relate to their own experiences.

And now I understand
The singer has gained insight into their own experiences.

After waking enough times to think I see
The artist reflects on their experiences.

The holy kiss that's supposed to last eternity
The artist references a kiss that is meant to be significant and eternal.

Blow up in smoke, it's destiny
The significant moment ends up being insignificant and fated to end badly.

Falls on strangers, travels free
The moment is forgotten and becomes insignificant in the lives of others.

Yes, I know now, traps are only set by me
The artist realizes that they set themself up for disappointment.

And I do not really need to be assured
The singer reaches acceptance.

That love is just a four-letter word
The phrase about love is now understood by the singer.

Strange it is to be beside you
The singer describes being in the presence of the acquaintance again after time has passed.

Many years the tables turned
The roles between the artist and the acquaintance have changed over the years.

You'd probably not believe me
The artist recognizes that their experiences may be unbelievable to the acquaintance.

If I told you all I've learned
The singer has gained a lot of knowledge since their last encounter with the acquaintance.

And it is very, very weird indeed
The feelings and thoughts experienced by the singer are strange.

To hear words like forever, fleets
The artist is reminded of phrases often associated with love.

Of ships run through my mind, I cannot cheat
The artist cannot help but think of these phrases.

It's like looking in the teacher's face complete
The artist compares their thoughts and understanding to learning from a teacher.

I can say nothing to you but repeat what I heard
The singer can only repeat things said or heard in the past, rather than expressing new understanding.

That love is just a four-letter word
The phrase about love echoes through the artist's thoughts and experiences.