Four Letter Word
Tyler Cain Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Cause you don't feel it till it hurts
Til you love someone and they let you go
And there ain't a feeling that'll fill that hole
Soul is a four letter word
Cause it don't hit ya til it hurts
Love ain't nothing but a verb
Gotta put in the time, hold her when she hurts
Let her know what she's really worth
Cause love ain't nothing but a verb
It only works if you work
This life ain't for the faint of heart
You're bulletproof until you fall apart
The road we walk shapes who we are
We all burn until we burn out like a star
Yeah all burn until we burn out like a star
Time is a fair-weather friend
And we don't know when it'll end
The years go quick but the days are long
One day you look in the mirror and the child's all gone
Time is a fair-weather friend
And you don't know when it'll end
Soul is a four letter word
Cause you don't feel it till it hurts
Til you love someone and they let you go
And there ain't a feeling that'll fill the hole
Soul is a 4 letter word
Cause it don't hit ya til it hurts
The lyrics of Tyler Cain's "Four Letter Word" explore the complex nature of love, the challenges of life, the passing of time, and the depth of human emotions. The use of metaphors and imagery throughout the song helps to convey deeper meanings and evoke emotional responses.
In the first verse, the singer describes how the soul is a four-letter word because its true essence is only felt when it hurts. It suggests that the most profound connection and understanding of oneself comes from experiencing heartbreak or loss. The pain of loving someone deeply and then being let go creates an empty feeling that nothing else can fill. It emphasizes the depths of emotion that love can bring and how it can impact one's soul.
Moving on to the second verse, the lyrics focus on love as an action, emphasizing that it requires effort and commitment. Love is described as a verb, indicating that it is an active choice and involves constant work. The singer suggests that one must invest time and care in a relationship and be there for their partner during difficult times. It underscores the importance of valuing and appreciating someone's worth, showing them that they are loved and valued.
The third verse reflects on the challenges of life and how it can shape who we are as individuals. The singer compares life to being bulletproof until we break apart, signifying that we may feel invincible until we face adversity or hardship. The journey or path we take in life molds us into who we become, highlighting that we all eventually burn out, much like a star. It hints at the fleeting nature of existence and the inevitable end that awaits us all.
In the final verse, the lyrics contemplate the passing of time and its unpredictable nature. Time is personified as a fair-weather friend, implying that it can be both supportive and fickle. The years seem to fly by, yet the days can feel incredibly long. The singer reflects on how quickly life progresses, and one day, when looking in the mirror, it becomes evident that youth and innocence have faded away. It conveys a sense of nostalgia and the realization that time waits for no one.
Overall, the lyrics of "Four Letter Word" delve into profound emotional themes such as love, loss, the human experience, and the passage of time. The song encourages listeners to consider the depths of their emotions, the importance of active participation in relationships, and the transient nature of existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Soul is a four letter word
The essence of being, the core of one's existence, is expressed by a simple four letter word
Cause you don't feel it till it hurts
The true depth and intensity of one's soul is only truly experienced when it causes emotional pain
Til you love someone and they let you go
The realization of one's soul is brought forth through the act of loving someone deeply, only for them to distance themselves from you
And there ain't a feeling that'll fill that hole
No other emotion or experience can fill the void left behind when love is lost and one's soul feels empty
Soul is a four letter word
Once again, emphasizing that the concept of the soul can be succinctly described with a four letter word
Cause it don't hit ya til it hurts
The impact and significance of the soul is only truly realized when it causes emotional pain or distress
Love ain't nothing but a verb
Love is not simply an abstract concept, but an action that requires active effort and engagement
It only works if you work
Love can only thrive and be sustained when both parties involved commit to putting in the necessary work and effort
Gotta put in the time, hold her when she hurts
To truly love someone, one must invest time and be there to support them during times of pain or distress
Let her know what she's really worth
Part of actively loving someone involves constantly reminding them of their value and importance
Cause love ain't nothing but a verb
Once again, emphasizing that love is an action, a continuous process, rather than a stagnant state of being
It only works if you work
Reiterating the idea that love can only thrive and succeed if both parties involved contribute and put in the necessary effort
This life ain't for the faint of heart
The journey of life is challenging and demanding, requiring strength and resilience
You're bulletproof until you fall apart
Initially, one may feel invincible and unaffected by life's hardships, but eventually, they break down and become vulnerable
The road we walk shapes who we are
The experiences and challenges we encounter along our journey significantly influence and mold our identity
We all burn until we burn out like a star
We all live with intensity and passion, but eventually, that fire within us fades away, like a star reaching the end of its lifespan
Yeah all burn until we burn out like a star
Re-emphasizing that every individual experiences a period of intense burning, passion, and energy before eventually reaching a point of exhaustion
Time is a fair-weather friend
Time is a companion who is unpredictable and unreliable, sometimes supporting us and at other times betraying us
And we don't know when it'll end
It is impossible to predict when our time on this Earth will come to an end
The years go quick but the days are long
While life as a whole may seem to pass by rapidly, individual days can feel never-ending and filled with struggles
One day you look in the mirror and the child's all gone
Eventually, the carefree innocence of youth disappears, and we are left facing the responsibilities and burdens of adulthood
Time is a fair-weather friend
Reiterating that time can be both supportive and deceptive, showing its true nature only when circumstances change
And you don't know when it'll end
Once again, reminding us that we cannot predict or control the duration of our existence
Soul is a four letter word
The profound essence of one's being, encapsulated by a simple word composed of four letters
Cause you don't feel it till it hurts
The true depth and impact of one's soul is not fully experienced until it brings forth emotional pain or distress
Til you love someone and they let you go
The soul's profound significance is unveiled when one loves another intensely, only to have that love rejected or abandoned
And there ain't a feeling that'll fill the hole
No other emotion or sensation can adequately fill the void left behind when the soul feels empty or incomplete
Soul is a 4 letter word
Once again, emphasizing that the soul's essence can be described using only four letters
Cause it don't hit ya til it hurts
The impact and realization of the soul's significance are only truly felt when it brings forth emotional pain or anguish
Lyrics © O/B/O DistroKid
Written by: Meghan Moore, Tyler Cain
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind