For you 25 or 6 to 4

[Xipe Totec]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSOaoPDO16Y

[ThomCat]

1. Can you explain to me what 25 or 6 to 4 means?

[LeftyFingerPop]

2. I know....

do you really want to know?

[Xipe Totec]

4. Does Anybody Really Know What Time It Is?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBuUUBrC9eQ

[GreenPartyVoter]

Does anybody really care?

[Xipe Totec]

9. ...

[GreenPartyVoter]

11. I love that song. My 10 yr old just discovered it recently when the school jazz band played it

[LeftyFingerPop]

7. Thanks...listening now...

Good memories!

[ThomCat]

6. Yes.

[LeftyFingerPop]

10. Xipe explained it better than I could Thom...

Good to see you this evening.

[Xipe Totec]

3. 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 AM

Chicago fans have long argued about the meaning of the song. When it was released, there was speculation that the lyrics were drug-related; but the same thing was said about many songs in the late 1960s and early 1970s and the rumor has been largely dismissed. Lamm himself says that the title is "just a reference to the time of day," and that "the song is about writing a song. It's not mystical." The time of day in reference is 3:35 AM (or 3:34 AM), which would then be 25 (or 26) minutes to 4 AM.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. Been wondering about that. Thanks

[ThomCat]

8. Ah. Okay.

Cool. Thank you.

[pokerfan]

12. Yep, it's a song about writing a song

according to The Straight Dope.

Lamm says it's simpler than that. "The song is about writing a song. It's not mystical," he says. Take a look at some of the lyrics:

Waiting for the break of day--He's been up all night and now it's getting close to sunrise.
Searching for something to say--Trying to think of song lyrics.
Flashing lights against the sky--Perhaps stars or the traditional flashing neon hotel sign.
Giving up I close my eyes--He's exhausted and his eyes hurt from being open too long, so he closes them.
Staring blindly into space--This expression can be seen often on the faces of writers and reporters. Trust me.
Getting up to splash my face--Something you do when you're trying to stay awake, though a good cup of Starbuck's does wonders for Cecil and me.
Wanting just to stay awake, wondering how much I can take--How far can he push himself to get the song done?
Should I try to do some more?--This is the line that makes many think it's a drug song. But it is just as easily construed as a frustrated writer wondering if he should try to do some more lyrics/songwriting.

http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/m25or6to4.html

[Tuesday Afternoon]

13. thanks for that link and the quotes.

"the last line"