what is the meaning of chicago's 25 or 6 to 4
25 or 6 to 4
The song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night . The song 's title is the time at which the song is set : 25 or 26 minutes before 4 AM . Because of the unique phrasing of the song 's title , `` 25 or 6 to 4 '' has been incorrectly speculated to be a veiled reference to drug quantities , or a mystical allusion . The 1986 music video for the song references the correct meaning at its beginning . The song was banned in Singapore in 1970 and again in 1986 because of its `` alleged allusions to drugs . '' In 1993 , the ban on this song was lifted , along with long - time bans on songs by other artists such as the Beatles , Bob Dylan and Creedence Clearwater Revival . 
The song is about trying to write a song in the middle of the night . The song 's title is the time at which the song is set : 25 or 26 minutes before 4 AM . Because of the unique phrasing of the song 's title , `` 25 or 6 to 4 '' has been incorrectly speculated to be a veiled reference to drug quantities , or a mystical allusion . The 1986 music video for the song references the correct meaning at its beginning . The song was banned in Singapore in 1970 and again in 1986 because of its `` alleged allusions to drugs . '' In 1993 , the ban on this song was lifted , along with long - time bans on songs by other artists such as the Beatles , Bob Dylan and Creedence Clearwater Revival .
The song's title is the time at which the song is set: 25 or 26 minutes before 4 AM. The 1986 music video for the song references the correct meaning at its beginning.
The song 's title is the time at which the song is set : 25 or 26 minutes before 4 AM . The 1986 music video for the song references the correct meaning at its beginning .