A Brief History
On August 6, 1917, future actor, composer, and singer Robert Mitchum was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Mitchum would live nearly to age 80 despite being a heavy smoker his entire adult life, with lung cancer and emphysema eventually doing him in. In honor of one of my favorite actors of all time and in a plea to all cigarette smokers out there to quit this life shortening habit, we list 10 Songs with the Word Cigarette(s) in the Lyrics. There are a bajillion of them, including several by Frank Sinatra, The Kinks, Blue Oyster Cult, the Cranberries, Soundgarden, Madonna and many other famous acts, including most country western singers. (Note: Mitchum wrote as well as sang “The Ballad of Thunder Road” for the 1958 film he starred in, Thunder Road.) Heck, there is even a group called Cigarettes After Sex!
Digging Deeper
1. “Smoke, Smoke, Smoke (That Cigarette)”, Merle Travis and Tex Williams, 1947.
This song made it to #1 on the country charts for the original performers and for Phil Harris, and numerous covers of the tune have been made, but such luminaries as Sammy Davis, Jr., Michael Nesmith, Willie Nelson, Commander Cody and Jimmy Dean. The song is also featured in the 2005 movie, Thank You for Smoking, as well as on television and a video game.
2. “(I Can’t Get No) Satisfaction”, The Rolling Stones, 1965.
“But he can’t be a man cuz he doesn’t smoke, the same cigarettes as me!” This mega hit was ranked #2 on the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time list by Rolling Stone Magazine in 2004, and is usually listed in the top few of ‘greatest songs of all time’ lists, giving this lyric tremendous play, and hearkens back to a time when people strongly identified with the brand of cigarettes they smoked. (“I’d rather fight, than switch!”)
3. “Sunday Morning Coming Down”, Johnny Cash, 1970.
This really great song was written by Kris Kristofferson and was first recorded in 1969 by Ray Stevens, whose version only hit #55 on the country charts, but the Johnny Cash version was a #1 country hit and not only made the song famous, it rocket propelled the career of Kristofferson. Ray Price, Frankie Laine, Lynn Anderson, Jerry Lee Lewis, Janis Joplin and Willie Nelson covered the song (among others, as well as Kristofferson himself, including duets.)
4. “Love is Like a Cigarette”, Duke Ellington and His Orchestra, 1936.
The title of the song is also a lyric in the song, probably one of the more ridiculous “Love is like” themes in any song! A whole passel of people covered this song, including k.d. lang, Dorothy Lamour, Vera Lynn, Stanley Worth, Mourning Widows, Hard Boiled, and a lot of 1930’s singers. Can you imagine telling your lover today that your love is like a cigarette? I guess during the Great Depression cigarette love was good enough.
5. “Cigarettes and Alcohol”, Oasis, 1994.
“I was looking for some action, but all I found were cigarettes and alcohol.” Wow, total epic fail, I guess. Another line in the song is “But all I need are cigarettes and alcohol” and the song was covered in 1998 by the raspy voiced Rod Stewart who sounds like he’s had a few cigarettes and alcohol!
6. “Cigarettes and Coffee Blues”, Marty Robbins, 1963.
“I’ve got these cigarettes and coffee blues”, presumably a bad kind of blues to have. Another song about love gone wrong and moping around, can’t sleep, just drinking coffee and smoking cigarettes. Boo hoo. Lefty Frizell and Jean Shepard covered this happy little tune.
7. “(As Long as They’ve Got) Cigarettes in Hell”, Oasis, 2000.
This song must be by some really hard core nicotine addicted writers. “I don’t mind not going to Heaven, As long as they’ve got, As long as they’ve got cigarettes in Hell.” Oasis must have some sort of connection to the cigarette industry. I don’t know, I’m just sayin’.
8. “Flowers on the Wall”, Statler Brothers, 1966.
“Smokin’ cigarettes and watchin’ Captain Kangaroo, now don’t tell me, I’ve nothin’ to do.” Apparently playing solitaire and smoking while watching kids’ television is when you really do have nothing else to do. Oh, and counting flowers on the wall, too. Can you change the lyrics to come up with some funny parody? If so, let us know.
9. “King of the Road”, Roger Miller, 1965.
He doesn’t have much, but he’s happy, or so it seems. “I aint got no cigarettes” must be about as destitute as a guy could get back in the 1960’s. (Note: A great, funny song parody of “King of the Road” is “Queen of the House” by Jody Miller, no relation, and no mention of cigarettes.) R.E.M. and others covered this classic tune.
10. “Smoke Two Joints”, Sublime, 2002.
Finally, a mention of cigarettes without a tobacco connection! “…all four of them habitually smoked marijuana cigarettes…” Yeah, and if they wait a little while it’ll be legal in just about every state! “Smoke cigarettes ‘til the day she dies.” These guys just come up with some real meaty lyrics, and not just on this song.
Question for students (and subscribers): What songs would you add to the list? Please let us know in the comments section below this article.
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Historical Evidence
For more information, please see…
Server, Lee. Robert Mitchum. Griffin, 2002.