Green attended Emerson College briefly in 1998 before leaving to concentrate on his music, going on to co-found the anti folk group The Moldy Peaches with Kimya Dawson. In 2004 The Moldy Peaches went on hiatus and both Green and Dawson embarked on solo careers.
Green released several albums on Rough Trade Records. Among his better known songs are "Jessica" (about singer Jessica Simpson), "Novotel", "Friends of Mine", "Dance with Me", "Carolina" and "Emily", and, in Britain, his cover of The Libertines track "What a Waster".
Prior to Jacket Full of Danger in 2006, all of Green's albums had been released on the 22nd of the month. His latest album was released on March 18, 2008 and is titled Sixes & Sevens. Titles include "Morning After Midnight", "Twee Twee Dee", and "Drowning Head First", the latter a duet between Green and his girlfriend.
In January 2008, The Moldy Peaches began having a resurgence in popularity, due to their music being included in the hit indie film Juno.
Cigarette Burns Forever
Adam Green Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The message is spliced together
Now I would never let her
But where did people go to get her
You took me to the private party
And swore that they would not cart me
Drive careful less they hear ye
When all the time they learnt to fear you.
The gold digger strikes his damsels
But when I lost the magic sandals
I said some things I could not handle.
Going 90 off my star
So is flashing by as the flame retards
Don't you wanna be some other
And all the people have to drug each other.
I fell into a life of leisure
I saw to a path of pleasure
Don't it make it that much better
To find a cigarette burns forever
The lyrics of Adam Green's song "Cigarette Burns Forever" may seem like they are disconnected and nonsensical at first glance. However, upon closer inspection, there are some interesting themes at play here. The song seems to be about escapism and the various ways that people try to escape from reality. The first couple of lines, “Cigarette burns forever, the message is spliced together,” suggest that the song is about a message that has been chopped up and reassembled in a way that doesn't make immediate sense.
The next couple of lines, “Now I would never let her, but where did people go to get her,” seem to suggest a sense of regret or missed opportunity. The line "you took me to the private party, and swore that they would not cart me" suggests that the singer is being taken to a party where they don't necessarily belong. There is a sense of danger here, as indicated by the warning "drive careful less they hear ye." The verse concludes with the line "when all the time they learnt to fear you," suggesting that the singer has a certain amount of power or influence.
The rest of the song continues in this vein, with references to gambling ("the sidewinder drinks and gambles"), lost magic ("when I lost the magic sandals"), and a life of leisure ("I fell into a life of leisure"). The final line, "don't it make it that much better to find a cigarette burns forever," suggests that the singer has found some measure of pleasure or satisfaction in this world of escape and illusion.
Overall, the lyrics of "Cigarette Burns Forever" seem to be about the different ways that people seek to escape from reality, whether through partying, gambling, or other forms of escapism. There is a certain sense of darkness or danger that pervades the song, suggesting that these methods of escape are not always healthy or sustainable.
Line by Line Meaning
Cigarette burns forever
The memory of a short-lived pleasure lasts forever, just like a cigarette burn that never fades away.
The message is spliced together
The information conveyed is fragmented and unreliable.
Now I would never let her
I regret my past actions and I wouldn't make the same mistake again.
But where did people go to get her
I wonder how others obtained the object of my desire.
You took me to the private party
You introduced me to a world of exclusive events and inner circles.
And swore that they would not cart me
You promised that I wouldn't be thrown out or excluded.
Drive careful less they hear ye
Be cautious while driving to avoid attracting unwanted attention.
When all the time they learnt to fear you.
People became afraid of you over time due to your questionable reputation.
The sidewinder drinks and gambles
The tricky and deceitful person indulges in risky behavior like drinking and gambling.
The gold digger strikes his damsels
The manipulative person takes advantage of vulnerable and naive individuals for financial gain.
But when I lost the magic sandals
But when I lost my source of power or luck, my confidence and behavior changed.
I said some things I could not handle.
I uttered words that exposed my true feelings or weaknesses, which I wasn't prepared to deal with.
Going 90 off my star
I'm moving rapidly away from my intended destination or path in life.
So is flashing by as the flame retards
Life is passing quickly despite my attempts to slow it down and savor the moment.
Don't you wanna be some other
Don't you ever wish to be someone else or escape your current reality?
And all the people have to drug each other.
Individuals resort to substance abuse or other means of escapism to cope with their unhappiness or dissatisfaction with life.
I fell into a life of leisure
I became complacent and lazy, indulging in a luxurious lifestyle without any real purpose or drive.
I saw to a path of pleasure
I prioritized instant gratification and superficial pleasures over long-term goals and genuine fulfillment.
Don't it make it that much better
Doesn't the fact that even a fleeting pleasure can have a lasting impact make it all the more desirable?
To find a cigarette burns forever
To find something that leaves a lasting mark, even if it's just a reminder of a temporary pleasure.
Contributed by Riley R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@realleon2328
listening to this song at age 12 and then Sufjan at age 16 is why I'm a The National fan at age 20. It just keeps going doesn't it.
@KieraBey
Lovely weather we're having.
@clippedwings225
A pleasant desert breeze.
@MsSavas11
I don't want to sound stupidly enthusiastic, but this is one of the best songs I've ever heard- and I listen to dozens of songs every single day. Thanks, Adam!
@Ihatethrillers
I remember I was in love with this one girl, I was 18, and she was 3 or 4 years my senior. By "in love," I mean as in love as an 18 year old boy can believe himself to be with some woman.
I walked to her house and met her while her husband was gone, and she kicked me out in the middle of the night because she was afraid he was going to come back and discover us.
While I was walking home under a barely broken dawn, I had this feeling of complete emptiness throughout myself, like I had become so hollow as a man. This song played so loud in my head during that walk home, and every time I hear it, I remember that feeling I felt so strongly as a played and confused boy, and it consumes me.
Strange times. These days I feel wrong for being with a woman who had a family, but I was 18 and stupid.
@pepperking44
That's deep
@VeroniqueKowalewicz
+Bol Ogenstein What I find stupid is being married at such a young age!!!
@TheresiaMariaWeber-ig8rq
Bol Ogenstein ❤️
@EverIight
Shitty circumstances but a nice story, I definitely didn’t have the same situation but this song is certainly close to my heart as well
@Hatguy23
Brought a small tear to my eye. I remember that feeling.