cigarette smoke – English Lyrics

• By: Olivia Rodrigo

Lyrics & Translation

Dive into the emotive world of Olivia Rodrigo with 'cigarette smoke.' This song is a perfect example of contemporary American conversational English, offering a great way to learn how to express complex emotions and nostalgic longing through simple yet powerful songwriting.

[English]

作词 : Olivia Rodrigo/Daniel Nigro

作曲 : Olivia Rodrigo/Daniel Nigro

Cigarette smoke

The smell that I know

It clings to my clothes

Seeps into my bones

It's a real quiet house

With the shower left on

Five beers in the fridge and the second car's gone

I regret you

And how long I stayed

I resent you

For not being brave, oh-oh

Tell me something honest so the memories turn dark

You said that I made lovin' look easy

'Til I made it hard

Give me back my time and I will give you back your heart

I thought that we played the perfect couple

'Til you didn't want the part

Some nights can be

So fxxking lonely

But it's better than beggin' for you to stand up for me, honeybee

I regret you

What I let slide

I resent you

For taking her side, oh-oh

Tell me something honest so the memories turn dark

You said that I made lovin' look easy

'Til I made it hard

Give me back my time and I will give you back your heart

I thought that we played the perfect couple

'Til you didn't want the part

It's bone-dry, bitter and hollow

You'll be miles away tomorrow

Why'd I try at all?

It's bone-dry, bitter and hollow

You'll never mend my sorrow

Why'd I try at all?

Tell me somethin' honest so the memories turn dark

Ooh, mm, the memories go dark

The memories go dark

The memories go dark

The memories go dark

Go dark

Go dark

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
cigarette /ˈsɪɡəret/ A2	noun - A thin cylinder of finely cut tobacco rolled in paper for smoking.
clings /klɪŋz/ B2	verb - To hold on tightly or to stick to something.
seeps /siːps/ C2	verb - To flow or leak slowly through porous material.
regret /rɪˈɡret/ B1	verb - To feel sad or disappointed about something that has happened.
resent /rɪˈzent/ C1	verb - To feel bitterness at having been treated unfairly.
brave /breɪv/ A2	adjective - Ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
honest /ˈɒnɪst/ A2	adjective - Free of deceit and untruthfulness; sincere.
lonely /ˈləʊnli/ A2	adjective - Sad because one has no friends or company.
beggin /ˈbeɡɪn/ B1	verb - To ask for something in an urgent or humble manner.
honeybee /ˈhʌnibiː/ B2	noun - A bee that produces honey; often used as a term of endearment.
bone-dry /ˌbəʊn ˈdraɪ/ C1	adjective - Extremely dry.
bitter /ˈbɪtə/ B2	adjective - Having a sharp, pungent taste; or showing anger and hurt.
hollow /ˈhɒləʊ/ B2	adjective - Having a hole or empty space inside; without real significance.
mend /mend/ B2	verb - To repair or fix something broken or damaged.
sorrow /ˈsɒrəʊ/ C1	noun - A feeling of deep distress caused by loss or disappointment.

Key Grammar Structures

• The smell that I know

  ➔ Relative clause (defining)

  ➔ "That" acts as a relative pronoun defining "the smell".

• With the shower left on

  ➔ Participle phrase (Passive)

  ➔ "Left" is the past participle describing the state of the "shower".

• I regret how long I stayed

  ➔ Noun clause (as object)

  ➔ "How long I stayed" functions as the direct object of "regret".

• Tell me something honest so the memories turn dark

  ➔ Conjunction of purpose (Result)

  ➔ "So" introduces the intended outcome of the previous action.

• Until I made it hard

  ➔ Subordinating conjunction (Time)

  ➔ "Until" marks the specific point in time when the situation changed.

• I thought that we played the perfect couple

  ➔ Past tense verb with zero relative pronoun

  ➔ "That" (optional) introduces the clause stating what was thought.

• It's better than begging for you to stand up for me

  ➔ Gerund phrase (Comparison)

  ➔ "Begging" is a gerund used as an object of the comparison "than".

• Why'd I try at all?

  ➔ Contraction (Why did I)

  ➔ "Why'd" combines "Why" and "did" for colloquial speech.