Sex & Cigarettes – English Lyrics

• By: Toni Braxton
• Album: Sex & Cigarettes

Lyrics & Translation

Learning a language through music is a powerful tool, and Toni Braxton's 'Sex & Cigarettes' offers a compelling entry point into the emotive and nuanced world of R&B English. The song's raw and direct lyrics provide a rich vocabulary for expressing complex feelings of betrayal and heartache. What makes this song special for learners is its clear narrative and the way Braxton's powerful vocal delivery emphasizes the emotional weight of each word, making the language both memorable and deeply felt.

[English]

Tell me how am I supposed to trust you

When I can never tell just where the hell you been?

Am I supposed to lie alone to suffer?

But you can't expect for me to just pretend

Yes I do, yes I do, yes I do, I do love you

And you know, and you know, and you know I put up with too much

Tell me why do me, why don't you act like you're supposed to?

I guess you're too cold, too bold to give a fuck

You make me crazy, crazy

I swear you act like you hate me, hate me

How can you tell me "I love you"

Then do the things you do?

At least try and lie to me, lie to me

Oh yeah

Instead, you come straight to our bed

Smelling like sex and cigarettes

...

Remember when I used to catch you lying?

You'd double back and cover up your dirt

But lately, you don't even try and hide it

It's the lies and disrespect that hurts me worse

Yes I do, yes I do, I do, I really do love you

And you know, and you know, and you know I put up with too much

Tell me why do me, why don't you act like you're supposed to?

I guess you're too cold, too bold to give a fuck

You make me crazy, crazy

I swear you act like you hate me, hate me

How can you tell me, "I love you"

Then do the things you do?

At least try and lie to me, lie to me

Oh yeah

Instead you come straight to our bed

Smelling like sex and cigarettes

...

I can't believe it, we're going through this again

We're too old, and I thought you'd outgrown this

This is driving me crazy, can't do this no more

Not again, not again

You make me crazy

I swear you act like you hate me

How can you tell me, "I love you"

Then do the things you do?

At least try and lie to me, lie to me, yeah

Instead you come straight to our bed

Smelling like sex and cigarettes

Sex and cigarettes

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
trust /trʌst/ B1	noun - firm belief in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something. verb - to believe in the reliability, truth, ability, or strength of someone or something.
suffer /ˈsʌfər/ B1	verb - to experience or be subjected to something bad or unpleasant.
pretend /prɪˈtend/ A2	verb - behave as if something is true when it is not.
love /lʌv/ A2	noun - an intense feeling of affection. verb - feel deep affection for.
cold /koʊld/ A2	adjective - of or at a low or relatively low temperature. adjective - lacking affection or warmth.
bold /boʊld/ B2	adjective - showing an ability to take risks; confident and courageous.
crazy /ˈkreɪzi/ A2	adjective - mentally deranged, extremely enthusiastic.
hate /heɪt/ A2	verb - feel intense dislike for. noun - intense dislike.
lie /laɪ/ A2	verb - an intentionally false statement. noun - a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive.
hide /haɪd/ A2	verb - put or keep out of sight.
disrespect /ˌdɪs.rɪˈspekt/ B1	noun - lack of respect for someone or something.
hurt /hɜːrt/ A2	verb - cause emotional pain to. noun - emotional or physical pain.
drive /draɪv/ B1	verb - operate a vehicle. verb - cause someone to act in a particular way.
believe /bɪˈliːv/ A2	verb - accept that something is true.
outgrow /aʊtˈɡroʊ/ B2	verb - grow too big for.
sex /seks/ C1	noun - sexual activity involving intercourse.
cigarette /ˈsɪɡərɛt/ B1	noun - a roll of tobacco wrapped in paper for smoking.

Key Grammar Structures

• Tell me how am I supposed to trust you

  ➔ Question Tag/Inversion

  ➔ The sentence uses inversion after 'how' to create a more emphatic question. Instead of 'How can I trust you?', it's 'How am I to trust you?' emphasizing the speaker's difficulty in trusting.

• Am I supposed to lie alone to suffer?

  ➔ Modal Verb + Infinitive (supposed to)

  ➔ "Supposed to" expresses an expectation or obligation. Here, it questions whether the speaker is expected to suffer alone.

• Yes I do, yes I do, yes I do, I do love you

  ➔ Emphasis through Repetition

  ➔ The repetition of 'Yes I do' and 'I do love you' emphasizes the speaker's strong feelings despite the circumstances. It shows desperation and a refusal to let go.

• It's the lies and disrespect that hurts me worse

  ➔ Comparative Adverb (worse)

  ➔ "Worse" is a comparative adverb modifying 'hurts'. It indicates that the lies and disrespect cause more pain than anything else.

• At least try and lie to me, lie to me

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The use of 'try and lie' is an imperative, a direct command. The speaker is desperately asking for a lie rather than the painful truth.

• Instead, you come straight to our bed

  ➔ Adverbial Conjunction ('Instead')

  ➔ "Instead" introduces a contrasting action. It highlights the speaker's disappointment that the partner chooses to engage in infidelity rather than offer any pretense of remorse or explanation.