Four Letter Word
Lukas Nelson & Promise of the Real Lyrics

Well it's only been two years
It hasn't been too long since they got married and started living together.

And she already hates my dog
His wife dislikes his pet dog, which means they have different tastes and preferences.

She's been up and down the street
His wife moves around a lot as if she is unaware of the community's regulations about staying in one place.

Like she don't understand the law
She seems to violate social norms and laws in the area by moving around and disrespecting the authorities.

And I'm pining for some time
He wants some time alone without his wife's presence.

Where I ain't looking at her face
He needs a break from seeing his wife's face every day.

And every time she talks to me
He finds it hard to pay attention to her when she is talking to him.

I'm staring into space and I get antsy
He finds himself feeling anxious, and his mind drifts off or goes blank when she talks to him.

Real commitment seems absurd
He feels overwhelmed by the concept of being completely committed to his wife.

Out here in the country
He implies that perhaps he had to move to a countryside area to get away from his wife, suggesting that he sees living in the country as an escape.

Forever is a four letter word
The idea of being with his wife forever seems daunting and unpleasant to him.

We got married in a hurry
He and his wife wed quickly, without significant preparation or forethought.

It was such a lovely day
Despite their relationship challenges, he still remembers their wedding as an enjoyable time.

I said do you and she said I do
He asked her to marry him, and she said yes.

And now she's here to stay
Despite his doubts and concerns, she is now his wife and in his life for good.

My independence calls me
He values his independence and freedom in his relationship.

From a pay phone far away
He is reaching out to a friend from a distance to discuss his concerns about the marriage.

He says listen man I'm worried
His friend is concerned about his wellbeing regarding his marriage.

You ain't never been this way and I get antsy
His friend notices that he has never acted this way towards a partner before, and he is struggling with feelings of anxiety in his marriage.

Well I grew up in the country
He reflects on his rural upbringing and how it is different from his current situation.

With no borders, lines or lots
His childhood in the countryside was characterized by a lack of restrictions and boundaries.

But when I moved into the city
After moving to the city, he developed a more guarded and enclosed demeanor.

I built walls around my block
Metaphorically, he has constructed emotional barriers to protect himself from others.

And I crawled into a hole
He retreated further into himself after exhausting emotional resources.

I thought would keep me safe and warm
His isolation from others was intended to provide him with safety and comfort.

But she tricked into crawling out
His wife convinced him to open up and allow her into his life, causing him to change his ways and return to a less guarded state of being.

And now I'm working on her farm and I get antsy
He has become involved in his wife's life and work, but it still makes him feel anxious to be in such close proximity to her all the time.