FourFiveSeconds is a star-studded musical collaboration between Paul McCartney, Rihanna, and Kanye West. Each of one of the stars in this song adds a distinctive flavor that is unique to them. It’s a critically-acclaimed song that brings the best of both generations. The song is a mix of acoustic, folk, and soul. The song showed a new side of all of these artists. Very few star-studded collaborations are able to avoid the dilemma of “too many chefs”. However, in this song, the synergy of all the three megastars was laudable. The magic behind the genius of FourFiveSeconds lyrics meaning is a result of the brains of McCartney, Rihanna, and Kanye.
Kanye West, one of the most significant names for the pop and rap genre, along with the Queen of Mainstream, Rihanna gave this song a modern touch that made it relatable for this generation. Paul McCartney brought in the 60s nostalgic vibe with his guitar work. It reached the number 25 on the pop chart, which is mostly dominated by the new-age R&B/Rap/Pop mixture.
What does the title mean?
The title of the song is similar to a countdown. Now, this countdown could be to an emotional breakdown or the weekend; the latter being the time when most of us break down after a long and cumbersome week. The title of the song perfectly captures the urgency of the song that Kanye and Rihanna pour into it. In contrast, the chords and strumming of Paul McCartney give it a unique touch. FourFiveSeconds lyrics meaning is only elevated to the contrasting music behind them.
Verse 1 – What does it mean?
“I think I’ve had enough
I might get a little drunk
I say what’s on my mind
I might do a little time
‘Cause all of my kindness
Is taken for weakness”
The song opens with a somber tone, with Rihanna complaining about a faithless lover. She says that she’s had enough of the antics of her faithless lover. Because of his emotional availability, she just might get drunk. This is a nod to emotional issues that people often develop due to failing relationships, which ultimately leads to alcoholism. However, Rihanna might not be referring to hard drinking, but just a casual drink to take her mind off of her lover’s behavior. She says that she always tells him what’s on her mind.
The implication here is that her lover doesn’t communicate clearly and keeps secrets. The secret to a healthy relationship is proper communication. “Doing a little time” is a slang phrase that means spending time in jail. Of course, Rihanna will not be spending time in a literal jail. However, to her, the relationship feels more or less like a jail. She’s trapped. And the reason behind that, she explains, is her kindness.
She tries to go the extra mile for her lover, but he doesn’t reciprocate. FourFiveSeconds lyrics’ meaning might be difficult to grasp, but they’re worth it.
In the whole song, Kanye and Rihanna play two characters. Both tell their own stories. Whether these stories are connected or not is up for interpretation.
What does the Chorus mean?
“Now I’m four, five seconds from wildin’
And we got three more days ’til Friday
I’m just tryna make it back home by Monday mornin’
I swear I wish somebody would tell me
Ooh, that’s all I want”
What was hinted at in the first verse with the mention of alcohol is extended in the chorus? Rihanna sings about her wanting to go all out. She will party as hard as she can until Monday morning. Here, the corporate vibe comes in as most people wait for the weekend ardently. Rihanna says that there are still 3 more days till Friday and she just can’t wait for the weekend. And after partying for three days, she just wants to make sure that she reaches her home by Monday. The message here is that she’s done with her lover and wants to have fun and live her life without getting into any unnecessary trouble.
Another interpretation of the chorus can be that she wants trouble. She’s holding all the rage inside her and wants someone to provoke her. If that happens, she will truly go wild. This interpretation makes sense as the characters played by both Ye and Rihanna appear to be pretty frustrated. FourFiveSeconds lyrics meaning are also enhanced by the tone of Ye and Rihanna.
Verse 2 – What does it mean?
“Woke up an optimist
Sun was shinin’, I’m positive
We can run
Then I heard you was talkin’ trash
I’m on a mystery
Hold me back, I’m ’bout to spaz”
The second verse is sung by Kanye and Mccartney. This verse is a bit laid back. Kanye narrates his own experience of waking up feeling optimistic, and then he finds out that his lover was talking trash. His whole day is ruined because of his lover’s difficult behavior. Kanye then mystifies the verse a bit by talking about his own personal journey. He doesn’t want to be disturbed as he is on his own journey. He needs a lover who can complement that. In the last line, it is made clear that his character is also frustrated, and he is about to burst out.
What does the bridge mean?
“And I know that you’re up tonight
Thinkin’, “How could I be so selfish?”
But you called ’bout a thousand times
Wondering where I’ve been
Now I know that you’re up tonight
Thinkin’, “How could I be so reckless?”
But I just can’t apologize
I hope you can understand, yeah”
In the bridge, the focus shifts on the relationship itself. Rihanna sings about a jealous boyfriend, who keeps calling her to know where she is. There is already the element of suspicion in the relationship. She feels that cannot apologize for wanting her own life. Everyone needs to live their own life. If her boyfriend keeps her chained, emotionally, she cannot venture out and have experiences of her own. Not every experience in your life has to be related to your significant other.
Verse 3 – What does it mean?
“If I go to jail tonight
Promise you’ll pay my bail
See they want to buy my pride
But that just ain’t up for sale
See all of my kindness (Mhm)
Is taken for weakness”
The male figure in this song is reckless in his own way. He doesn’t want his lover to judge his experiences and not stand by him. If he goes to jail, his lover must be willing to pay his bail. This signifies the deep trust that both individuals have in their relationship. It’s the ideal relationship according to Kanye. If the whole world stands against him and tries to buy his pride, his lover should stand by him. He wants her to see all of the kindness and love he has for her. Another interpretation of this could be him complaining about how she takes his kindness for weakness. Often, in our society, a man is raised to be tough and ingrained into his mind, is a masculine axiom that real men do not show vulnerability. It’s something that takes a lot of toll on a lot of men’s minds throughout their lives.
Conclusion
The easy-going chords of Mccartney provide a contrast against the frustration of Kanye and Rihanna. That contrast only adds fuel to the energy of this song. To properly understand the FourFiveSeconds lyrics meaning, one must definitely listen to the song.
