Four Letter Word

Album: Closer (1988)
Charted: 6
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This was the last song to be written by Marty and Ricky Wilde for Kim Wilde's Closer album. The soothing ballad finds the singer lamenting lost love. "My dad Marty was strumming his guitar when he came up with the idea of this disconsolate and clever love song," Kim Wilde recalled on her website.
  • The song marked the first occasion in Wilde's then eight-year career where she had released a straight ballad as a single. It peaked at #14 in the UK and received an Ivor Novello Award nomination.
  • The fact that love is a four-letter word has been used in several other popular songs. They include:

    "Four Letter Word" by Gossip

    "4 Letter Word" by David Cook

    "Love Is Just a Four- Letter Word" written by Bob Dylan and performed by Joan Baez.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Zakk Wylde

Zakk WyldeSongwriter Interviews

When he was playing Ozzfest with Black Label Society, a kid told Zakk he was the best Ozzy guitarist - Zakk had to correct him.

Emmylou Harris

Emmylou HarrisSongwriter Interviews

She thinks of herself as a "song interpreter," but back in the '80s another country star convinced Emmylou to take a crack at songwriting.

Eagles Lyrics Quiz

Eagles Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz

Lots of life lessons in these Eagles lyrics - can you match them to the correct song?

Joe Elliott of Def Leppard

Joe Elliott of Def LeppardSongwriter Interviews

The Def Leppard frontman talks about their "lamentable" hit he never thought of as a single, and why he's juiced by his Mott The Hoople cover band.

Kiss

KissFact or Fiction

Kiss is the subject of many outlandish rumors - some of which happen to be true. See if you can spot the fakes.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.