Signed to Heavenly Recordings, he debuted in 2000 with the 6-track EP Maplewood. His full length effort, Here Be Monsters followed in 2001.
He has since released From Every Sphere (2003), Strangers (2004), The Beautiful Lie (2006, his last for Heavenly), Lustre (2010), Back Into The Woods (2013), Time Of Dust (2014), and Furnaces (2016).
His first instrument is the piano, but he also uses several less common keyboard instruments as well as the guitar. Live, he is accompanied by a band typically comprising a drummer, guitarist, violinist and trumpeter. His work is sometimes reminiscent of Tom Waits but still entirely his own, varied and passionate style.
The Last Cigarette
Ed Harcourt Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Dated from 1916
Sentenced to death while still shell-shocked
For deserting the infantry
Blindfold on and one step back
No need to get upset
Don't be hasty with the trigger boys
Let him smoke his one last cigarette
Down in the hospital on the 9th ward
An old man scratches his head
Reaching into his bedside drawer
He waits 'til the nurse is downstairs
'I'm nearly cured I've been so brave
And there's no need to fret
I'm gonna really quit this time
Let me smoke my one last cigarette'
Straight as a corkscrew
As bright as the night
Blind to the horror
Blind to the very horror of this sorry life
The awkward girl with a broken heart
Smashes her mirror until it fractures
Leaning down she picks up a shard
And ponders to question her actions
A selfish act, she's full aware
But the best one she's done yet
With tired eyes and steady hands
She'll smoke her one last cigarette
Straight as a corkscrew
As bright as the night
Blind to the horror
Blind to the very horror of this sorry life
The lyrics of Ed Harcourt’s The Last Cigarette are a powerful commentary on various circumstances in life, culminating in the finality of death. The first verse sets the tone for the song by introducing a story of a soldier who was sentenced to death for deserting the infantry during the time of World War I. The idea of being sentenced to death for leaving a war underscores the theme of death, one that becomes more prominent as the song progresses. The line “blindfold on and one step back” creates vivid imagery and emphasizes the finality of the punishment. The soldiers are ordered not to be hasty with the trigger, allowing the man to smoke his last cigarette, which shows an empathetic side of humanity in the face of tragedy.
The second verse introduces a new character, an old man in a hospital, who is about to quit smoking. The line “let him smoke his one last cigarette” reappears in this verse, this time as a plea from the old man. The line takes on a different meaning in this context and can symbolize the fragility of life and the choices we make. The old man recognizes that he was brave and nearly cured, but still requests to smoke his last cigarette, emphasizing the importance of small indulgences in the face of tragedy. The third verse brings to light the situation of a girl with a broken heart who decides to break her mirror and smoke her final cigarette. This act symbolizes a turning point in her life, a decision to move on from her emotional turmoil. The lyrics of each verse are linked by the idea of smoking the last cigarette, representing a sense of finality and an acceptance of mortality.
The chorus, “straight as a corkscrew, as bright as the night, blind to the horror, blind to the very horror of this sorry life,” gives a somber refrain that ties the concept of mortality and acceptance of the inevitable into the story of each verse. The image of being “as bright as the night” is particularly haunting, as it speaks to the idea of fleeting moments of joy that exist despite the darkness that we all must inevitably face.
Line by Line Meaning
Found his memoirs in an old junk shop
While going through old items in a thrift store, the singer came across a personal journal
Dated from 1916
The journal was written over a century ago
Sentenced to death while still shell-shocked
The writer of the journal was given the death penalty while still recovering from the trauma of war
For deserting the infantry
The reason for the death sentence was due to the writer leaving the military without official permission
Blindfold on and one step back
The writer was being prepared for execution, with a blindfold to cover their eyes
No need to get upset
Despite the serious and somber circumstances, the singer tells others not to worry or be too emotional
Don't be hasty with the trigger boys
Those responsible for carrying out the execution are cautioned to take their time and be careful
Let him smoke his one last cigarette
The convicted person is given the opportunity to enjoy one final cigarette before they die
Down in the hospital on the 9th ward
The setting shifts to a hospital room on the ninth floor
An old man scratches his head
An elderly gentleman rubs his scalp, possibly as a sign of discomfort or confusion
Reaching into his bedside drawer
The old man opens a drawer located near his bed
He waits 'til the nurse is downstairs
The man waits until the nurse is not present before doing something
'I'm nearly cured I've been so brave
The old man is optimistic about his health and feels he has been strong during his illness
And there's no need to fret
The man expresses to himself or possibly someone else that there is nothing to worry about
I'm gonna really quit this time
The man is resolved to quit smoking
Let me smoke my one last cigarette
Before giving up smoking, the man requests one final chance to smoke a cigarette
Straight as a corkscrew
A descriptive line that suggests the presence of someone who is very sober and alert
As bright as the night
Another descriptive line that contains a contradiction.
Blind to the horror
The singer is participating in or experiencing something terrible, but they seem oblivious to the gravity of the situation
Blind to the very horror of this sorry life
The previous line is reiterated here, and the phrase 'sorry life' is used to emphasize the idea that life is difficult and unpleasant
The awkward girl with a broken heart
A young woman who is feeling vulnerable and hurting emotionally is introduced
Smashes her mirror until it fractures
In an outburst of emotion, the girl shatters the mirror by throwing something at it
Leaning down she picks up a shard
The girl lowers herself to the ground and retrieves a piece of the shattered mirror
And ponders to question her actions
The girl pauses and thinks about what she has done and why she might have done it
A selfish act, she's full aware
The girl understands that she acted in a way that could be interpreted as self-centered
But the best one she's done yet
Despite the negative consequences of her actions, the girl feels that she has accomplished something noteworthy
With tired eyes and steady hands
The girl is physically and emotionally exhausted, but she has herself under control
She'll smoke her one last cigarette
Like the previous two stanzas, the last line here repeats the idea of someone having one final cigarette before a significant life event occurs
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ED HARCOURT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind