Soul Coughing,was founded by vocalist and guitarist Mike Doughty (who billed himself at the time as 'M. Doughty'), a folk singer, slam poet, and music writer.
Doughty was a doorman at the old Knitting Factory on Houston Street in New York. While working there he met sampler artist Mark De Gli Antoni, upright bass player Sebastian Steinberg, drummer Yuval Gabay, and artist David Linton. Doughty convinced them to join him in forming a new band. They played their first gig, as 'M. Doughty's Soul Coughing' at the Knitting Factory on June 15, 1992, a late-Monday night slot that Doughty cadged from his boss because nobody else wanted it. In 1993, he founded a club night called SLAW at CBGB's 313 Gallery, which was meant to emulate the popular jazz and hip hop club Giant Step, but eventually became a showcase for Soul Coughing. Posters for SLAW were headlined 'Deep Slacker Jazz' (a parody of The Who's slogan 'Maximum R&B'), which became an enduring description of the band's sound.
The band was signed within a year to Warner Brothers subsidiary Slash Records, and released three albums: Ruby Vroom (1994), Irresistible Bliss (1996), and El Oso (1998). They enjoyed minor hit singles with "Circles," "Super Bon Bon," and "Screenwriter's Blues."
The band broke up in 2000, after years of feuding over songwriting credits and publishing money. Doughty continued as a solo artist, and Gabay, Steinberg, and De Gli Antoni have been involved with other projects including a trio disc sans Doughty in 2004.
4 Out Of 5
Soul Coughing Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Like a symbol of math, a symbol meaning Greater Than.
I come recommended by four out of five,
I'm a factor in the whole plan.
Four and five therefore nine,
Nine and nine therefore eighteen,
Four and five therefore nine.
Sometimes I was
Drifting on a coffee buzz.
Quantify my luck
I need a mercy fuck.
You crowd me out.
You crowd me out.
The lyrics of Soul Coughing's song 4 Out Of 5 seem to be enigmatic and admittedly abstract, not easy to understand at first glance. The first verse describes a girl's kneecaps thrusting in one direction, which is compared to a mathematical symbol - the greater than sign. This metaphorically shows how powerful the girl's impact can be and how she is always moving forward, consistently growing and developing in one direction. The image of mathematical symbols plays on the abstract nature of the lyrics and seems to symbolize progress better than words could.
The chorus goes, "I come recommended by four out of five, I'm a factor in the whole plan." The singer appears to be advertising himself, presenting himself as an essential and vital component to the whole scheme. He repeats the phrase "four and five" over and over, performing quick math equations, which seem to demonstrate how everything is interconnected, and everything revolves around the number nine. In a way, it presents the singer, who comes recommended by four out of five, as an integral part of the plan.
In the second verse, the lyrics become more personal, describing the singer's experiences. The lyrics "Sometimes I was drifting on a coffee buzz" suggest that the singer is grappling with bouts of ennui or apathy, likely due to caffeine consumption. In the next line, "Quantify my luck, I need a mercy fuck," Soul Coughing touches on something that's universal: sometimes people have bad luck and they can't seem to catch a break. The expression "mercy fuck" here implies that somebody might need some affection or, in this case, help or relief.
Line by Line Meaning
Her knees thrust in one direction
Her legs are pointed in the same direction as if she's moving forward or focused on a singular goal.
Like a symbol of math, a symbol meaning Greater Than.
The pose is compared to the mathematical symbol for Greater Than which represents moving forward and being greater than your current state.
I come recommended by four out of five,
80% of people recommend me or approve of me in some way.
I'm a factor in the whole plan.
I am an important part of the bigger picture.
Four and five therefore nine,
Addition of four and five equals nine.
Nine and nine therefore eighteen,
Addition of nine and nine equals eighteen.
Eighteen and eighteen therefore thirty-six,
Addition of eighteen and eighteen equals thirty-six.
Four and five therefore nine.
Reiterating that four plus five equals nine.
Sometimes I was
Occasionally I was.
Drifting on a coffee buzz.
Feeling energized from drinking coffee.
Quantify my luck
Measure my luck or determine how lucky I am.
I need a mercy fuck.
I need someone to have pity sex with me.
You crowd me out.
You're suffocating me or making it difficult for me to exist comfortably.
You crowd me out.
Reiterating that the other person is suffocating me or taking up too much space around me.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: MARK DEGLIANTONI, MICHAEL DOUGHTY, SEBASTIAN STEINBERG, YUVAL GABAY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind