Many of you have said that this is about a guy that is in a lover type relationship that is ending. Though that may be the situation, I do not see that there is enough evidence in the lyrics to say that definitively.
The term "four letter word" has been around for a while. Normally, when it is use, it is not meant literally. When one says 'I have a few four letter words I would like to tell him' or 'That movie has too many four letter words for me' then the term means ' vulgar insults and/or the using foul language'
With that said...
What I believe this song to mean is, A person (a guy in this case since the singer is male) is in a relationship (does not have to be sexual but could just be a friend) and the relationship has taken it's toll on him. Since there is no mutual benefit in the relationship he feels taxed by it. That feeling that he is being used or mistreated then makes him feel insulted... especially when his friend uses the word "friend" to excuse and condone the mistreatment.
The singer now beyond the breaking point in the relationship makes the decision that the person being sang to is no longer a friend and ends the friendship... if there ever really was one.
Similar to the saying "with friends like these, who needs enemies?"
Many of you have said that this is about a guy that is in a lover type relationship that is ending. Though that may be the situation, I do not see that there is enough evidence in the lyrics to say that definitively.
The term "four letter word" has been around for a while. Normally, when it is use, it is not meant literally. When one says 'I have a few four letter words I would like to tell him' or 'That movie has too many four letter words for me' then the term means ' vulgar insults and/or the using foul language'
With that said...
What I believe this song to mean is, A person (a guy in this case since the singer is male) is in a relationship (does not have to be sexual but could just be a friend) and the relationship has taken it's toll on him. Since there is no mutual benefit in the relationship he feels taxed by it. That feeling that he is being used or mistreated then makes him feel insulted... especially when his friend uses the word "friend" to excuse and condone the mistreatment.
The singer now beyond the breaking point in the relationship makes the decision that the person being sang to is no longer a friend and ends the friendship... if there ever really was one.
Similar to the saying "with friends like these, who needs enemies?"
Just my thought on the song.