Cigarette Smoke
Arctic Monkeys Lyrics


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Get out the way, mister
With your short sharp tips
No, I won't read your lips right now
And baby, hey
You send a shiver down my spine
But do you read my mind
Do you...
And you're looking pretty suspicious
And probably planning a heist
He's wanting to go to the strippers
It makes him feel all nice

(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Smacking a bloke yeah)
Smacking a bloke here tonight

Get out the way, mister
With your short sharp tips
No, I won't read your lips right now
And baby, hey
You send a shiver down my spine
But do you read my mind
Do you...

He's prob'ly got stopped by a panda
For speeding on his way there
... flashing of digital cameras
From tourists in Trafalgar Square

(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Snortin' some coke yeah)
Snortin' some coke off her thighs
Bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla...

(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Smacking a bloke yeah)
Smacking a bloke here tonight
And I just can't see for the
(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Snortin' some coke yeah)
Snortin' some coke off her thighs
Lalalalalala laaaaaaaoooo
Oww

Overall Meaning

The Arctic Monkeys' "Cigarette Smoke" is a song that tells a story about a man who goes out to a strip club to have a good time. The singer in the song is not the most likable character, as he appears to be a bit suspicious and planning a heist. The man is also seen snorting cocaine off a stripper's thighs and smacking a random bloke. The music video for the song features a smoky, dingy strip club, which adds to the dark and grimy atmosphere of the story.


The first stanza is directed at a man who represents authority, and the singer is asking him to step aside, indicating that he is going to do what he wants. He is also feeling drawn towards someone who sends shivers down his spine, but he is unsure if they are able to read his mind. The second stanza moves to describe the character's experience at the strip club. He is surrounded by cigarette smoke and is watching a stripper. He is also caught snorting cocaine off her thighs and getting into a fight with another man. The final stanza ends on a somber note, with the singer unable to see clearly because of the cigarette smoke in his eyes.


Overall, "Cigarette Smoke" is a dark and gritty song that tells a vivid story of a man's experience at a strip club. It delves into themes of indulgence, addiction, and danger.


Line by Line Meaning

Get out the way, mister
The singer is telling someone to move out of their way


With your short sharp tips
The person being asked to move has something pointy or sharp that implies danger


No, I won't read your lips right now
The singer does not want to pay attention to the other person's words or message


And baby, hey
The artist addresses someone they consider attractive or endearing in a familiar way


You send a shiver down my spine
The person being addressed has an effect on the artist, both physical and emotional


But do you read my mind
The singer questions if the other person understands their intentions or thoughts


Do you...
The singer leaves the question open-ended


And you're looking pretty suspicious
The person being addressed has a demeanor or behavior that is unsettling to the artist


And probably planning a heist
The artist imagines that the other person is involved in some type of illegal activity


He's wanting to go to the strippers
A third person (not addressed directly) wants to go to a strip club


It makes him feel all nice
This activity brings pleasure or satisfaction to the third person


(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The chorus begins


The cigarette smoke in your eyes
The singer observes that the other person has smoke in their eyes


Watching a stripper and
The third person is looking at someone performing a striptease


(Smacking a bloke yeah)
The third person hits or slaps someone else


Smacking a bloke here tonight
The third person engages in a physical altercation with someone else present that evening


He's prob'ly got stopped by a panda
The third person gets pulled over for speeding by the police (represented by a 'panda')


For speeding on his way there
The third person was driving too fast on their way to a destination


... flashing of digital cameras
The scene shifts to a different location


From tourists in Trafalgar Square
The artist describes people taking pictures in a specific area of London


(Snortin' some coke yeah)
The chorus is repeated


Snortin' some coke off her thighs
The third person is using drugs in the presence of someone else


(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The chorus is repeated again


And I just can't see for the
The artist is blinded by


The cigarette smoke in your eyes
The smoke from the other person's cigarette


Lalalalalala laaaaaaaoooo
The song ends with a nonsensical vocalization


Oww
An additional vocalization to indicate pain or discomfort




Contributed by Evelyn A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@guiigg

Get out the way, mister
With your short sharp tips
No, I won't read your lips right now
And, baby, hey
You send a shiver down my spine
But do you read my mind
Do you
And you're looking pretty suspicious
And probably planning a heist
He's wanting to go to the strippers
It makes him feel all nice

(Cigarette smoke, yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Smacking a bloke yeah)
Smacking a bloke here tonight

Get out the way, mister
With your short sharp tips
No, I won't read your lips right now
And baby, hey
You send a shiver down my spine
But do you read my mind
Do you

He's prob'ly got stopped by a panda
For speeding on his way there
.Flashing of digital cameras
From tourists in trafalgar square

(Cigarette smoke, yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Snortin' some coke, yeah)
Snortin' some coke off her thighs
Bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla

(Cigarette smoke, yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Smacking a bloke, yeah)
Smacking a bloke here tonight
And I just can't see for the
(Cigarette smoke, yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Snortin' some coke, yeah)
Snortin' some coke off her thighs
La, la, la, la, la
Oww



@sandoval9276

Get out the way, mister
With your short sharp tips
No, I won't read your lips right now
And baby, hey
You send a shiver down my spine
But do you read my mind
Do you...
And you're looking pretty suspicious
And probably planning a heist
He's wanting to go to the strippers
It makes him feel all nice

(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Smacking a bloke yeah)
Smacking a bloke here tonight

Get out the way, mister
With your short sharp tips
No, I won't read your lips right now
And baby, hey
You send a shiver down my spine
But do you read my mind
Do you...

He's prob'ly got stopped by a panda
For speeding on his way there
...flashing of digital cameras
From tourists in trafalgar square

(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Snortin' some coke yeah)
Snortin' some coke off her thighs
Bla-bla-bla-bla-bla-bla...

(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Smacking a bloke yeah)
Smacking a bloke here tonight
And I just can't see for the
(Cigarette smoke yeah)
The cigarette smoke in your eyes
Watching a stripper and
(Snortin' some coke yeah)
Snortin' some coke off her thighs
Lalalalalala laaaaaaaoooo
Oww



All comments from YouTube:

@fabrinasperandio

I grew up listen to this version and I was surprised that, after searching for it on Spotify, I've found out it doesn't exist officially!

@tomberridge5258

Likewise! Always sang ‘snorting some coke off her thigh’ instead of ‘think you should not have anymore’

@ivandelarosa1791

Same, I used to sing the beginning like nothing. And when cigarette smoker would play, I’ll be so confused. Everyone would look at me dumb

@nou1756

currently going through this, had to youtube this to make sure my entire childhood wasn't a lie

@cata3273

fr i was like listening the spotify version and getting the lyrics wrong

@GuiNBKiller

Me too😮

3 More Replies...

@JoshuaNicoll

I like how in cigarette smoker fiona, Alex mentions her brother's off to the strippers, showing that Fiona is this guys younger sister, and that the family probably aren't all that nice despite the money. These songs don't fight with one another, they're just about different people, the harder heavier rock one for the tougher brother, the more carefree lighter faster one for the younger and more carefree younger sister.

@kubrakaya1528

when alex said blablablablabla, bro i felt that

@hotboogergirl9767

FACTS THO

@Tsvkiii

deadass🤦🏾‍♂️😂😂

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