Song written by Ricky and Marty Wilde. Third track of the album Close. Released as a single in November 1988 in the UK and two months later in Europe. It was the last song Ricky and Marty co-wrote together for Kim.
Versions
There are three versions of ‘Four letter word’: the album version, an extended version and a Late Night Mix.
In 2006, Kim included a new version called Four Letter Word (2006) on her album Never Say Never.
Formats
The single was released on 7″ single, a limited edition box set 7″ single, a 12″ single and a CD-single.
See also this page in the discography.
Music video
A music video was filmed to promote the single. It was directed by Michael Geoghegan.
Go to this page for more information.
Live performances
‘Four letter word’ was performed live during the Here & Now Christmas Party tour in 2002, at Tivoli in Copenhagen in 2003, during live concerts in 2006, the Perfect Girl Tour in 2007, during live concerts in 2008 and 2009, during the Snapshots & Greatest Hits Tour in 2012, during a tour with Nik Kershaw in Australia in 2013, Christmas concerts in December 2013 and December 2015 and during the Wilde Wild Xmas Show in December 2017.
Cover versions
‘Four letter word’ was covered by Lynn Sweet. There are also two covers in Chinese, once by Fanny Cheng and once by Yvonne Lau.
Kim about ‘Four letter word’
Tony Swain wanted more from my singing than ever before. He let me sing higher notes than I’d ever sung. I got an enormous kick out of it. Next to singing techniques he demanded everything from my emotions as well. The melancholy on ‘Four letter word’ is the result of that. I matured as a singer with that song. I’m proud that my father wrote the lyrics of that song. He deserves an award for it. (1)
My Dad, Marty, was strumming his guitar when he came up with the idea for this disconsolate and clever love song. ‘Four letter word’, which was nominated for an Ivor Novello award, was the first ‘straight ballad’ I had released as a single in my eight-year career. (2)
Credits
Keyboards & programming: Ricky Wilde, Tony Swain
Guitars: Steve Byrd, Ricky Wilde
Produced by Ricky Wilde and Tony Swain
Engineered by James Richards.
Mix engineered by Richard Lengyel
Highest chart positions
Austria: 23
Germany: 27 (10 weeks)
Ireland: 5 (7 weeks)
Netherlands: 8 (7 weeks)
Switzerland: 18 (4 weeks)
United Kingdom: 6 (12 weeks)
Interview source
(1) Kim Wilde: the hangover after the party, Veronica (Netherlands), 25 March 1989
(2) Facebook Track by Track commentary, published 3 September 2013
Lyrics
I tell ya
It’s hell yeah
When love says goodbye it’s a four letter word
Because your heart knows
When love goes
The feeling is bad – it’s the pits of the world
It’s sad but true
When nothing you can do, can bring it back
Standing in the rain
She starts to cry
Is it all a game
She wonders why
Why it had to start
Why should it end, and take her apart
Because she shows it
She knows it
But what can she do, it’s a four letter word
Because it shakes you
It breaks you
And when it’s the end, it’s the worst thing you heard
It’s over now
And nothing you can do can bring it back
Calling out his name
She starts to cry
Guys are all the same
She wants to die
Hide away the tears
No-one will see, and no-one must hear
But oh
How can the love that she has be profain
And how can something that’s so beautiful
Just Jeckyl and Hyde around
It’s so sad…
I tell ya
It’s hell yeah
When love says goodbye
It’s a four letter word
Because your heart knows
When love goes
The feeling is bad
it’s the worst in the world
It’s sad but true
When nothing you can do, can get it back
Standing in the rain
She starts to cry
Shouting out is name
Four letter words