Smoke
Lucero Lyrics


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The Bike was on the street
Outside a midtown bar
He went looking for a drink
Wasn't looking very hard
She was sitting on his seat
When he came out the door
She said "run away with me."
He'd heard the line before
He said "better men than me have been all but left behind."
She said "we're doing pretty good if we can just get out alive."

She wrapped her arms around his waist
Nowhere to run to anyways
They bolted out into the streets
Unknown and beautiful

Unknown and beautiful
Unknown and beautiful
Unknown and beautiful
Unknown and beautiful
Into the streets

Too many nights alone
Too many days gone by
With nothing much to show
She was running out of time
He was all she'd ever need
If they could just outrun the past
She said "run away with me."
She tried but couldn't laugh
He said "lesser men than me have put up better fights."
She said "we're doing pretty good if we can just get out alive."

She wrapped her arms around his waist
Nowhere to run to anyways
They bolted out into the streets
Unknown and beautiful

Unknown and beautiful
Unknown and beautiful
Unknown and beautiful
Unknown and beautiful

Freedom was all that she owned
She moved faster all on her own
But the freedom had left her, left her drifting like smoke
Left her drifting like smoke

He'd come on off the road
On his shoulder laid her cheek
The bitter taste of smoke
The bike between her knees
The engine running loud
Couldn't hear her if he tried




She spoke into the wind,
"Run away with me tonight."

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Lucero's song Smoke depict a couple's desire to escape their mundane lives and go on an adventure together. The song begins with the singer finding his bike, which has been occupied by a woman who invites him to "run away" with her. He initially dismisses this clichéd line, but eventually gives in to the woman's insistence, recognizing the chance to escape his unremarkable existence. As the couple sets out into the unknown, they are filled with a sense of liberty and beauty that is captured by the repeated line "unknown and beautiful."


The second verse reveals more about the woman's motivations for leaving, as she has been stuck in a monotonous routine and feels the urgency of the passing of time. However, the prospect of escaping with the singer, whom she sees as her ideal partner, gives her hope. The singer acknowledges the problems and mistakes of their past but decides that their future is worth fighting for. The song's chorus is repeated, emphasizing the couple's freedom and the allure of the unknown.


The final section of the song takes a more somber and introspective tone. The couple has been riding for a while, and the woman's fleeting sense of freedom is fading. The smell of smoke from the bike serves as a reminder of their mortality and, ultimately, their inability to control their destiny. The song's conclusion leaves the listener with a sense of uncertainty as to whether the couple will succeed in their escape or eventually succumb to the realities of life.


Line by Line Meaning

The Bike was on the street
A motorcycle was parked on the road


Outside a midtown bar
It was located near a bar in the middle of the city


He went looking for a drink
The man was searching for an alcoholic beverage


Wasn't looking very hard
He was not putting much effort into his search


She was sitting on his seat
A woman was sitting on the motorcycle's seat


When he came out the door
The man left the bar and returned to the motorcycle


She said 'run away with me.'
The woman asked the man to escape with her


He'd heard the line before
The man was familiar with this type of proposition


He said 'better men than me have been all but left behind.'
The man replied by stating that more accomplished people than him have been abandoned


She said 'we're doing pretty good if we can just get out alive.'
The woman remarked that they are doing well as long as they survive


She wrapped her arms around his waist
The woman hugged the man from behind


Nowhere to run to anyways
They had nowhere to go regardless of the direction they take


They bolted out into the streets
They quickly drove away from their current location


Unknown and beautiful
They could go anywhere and experience something wonderful


Too many nights alone
The woman had experienced loneliness frequently


Too many days gone by
She had recently lost plenty of time


With nothing much to show
She had little progress to demonstrate


She was running out of time
She had a limited amount of time remaining


He was all she'd ever need
The man was sufficient for all of her needs


If they could just outrun the past
They aimed to escape their history and start anew


She tried but couldn't laugh
The woman attempted to chuckle but was unable to


He said 'lesser men than me have put up better fights.'
The man confessed that even weaker individuals have put up better fights


Freedom was all that she owned
Freedom was the woman's only possession


She moved faster all on her own
She was able to move quickly on her own


But the freedom had left her, left her drifting like smoke
She no longer had freedom and felt lost


He'd come on off the road
The man had arrived back from a trip


On his shoulder laid her cheek
The woman rested her cheek on the man's shoulder


The bitter taste of smoke
They could taste smoke


The bike between her knees
The woman had her legs around the motorcycle


The engine running loud
The motorcycle was making a loud noise


Couldn't hear her if he tried
The engine was too noisy for him to hear her speak


She spoke into the wind, 'Run away with me tonight.'
The woman spoke, knowing that the wind would carry her words away, asking the man to flee with her that evening




Contributed by Hunter H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Comments from YouTube:

Joseph Leger

If i, as a rhythm guitarist singer songwriter, could ever make a stamp in music with my authenticity, precision, wisdom and self acceptance like this man, Ben Nichols. .. I woud know I did everything I could to leave a positive stamp in a disgusting musical world. I would know I helped people, not contributed to the filth that makes music such a dying art. I live and love this band.

Waid McMillion

Great lyric..Great music...Great song...Freaking Amazing Band!!!

Rhett Bourland

I used to think Ben was saying "I know you're beautiful." I liked that a little better because I listened to it a lot when it first came out. CD came out the same day my wife had a double mastectomy and always makes me think of her. Seeing them a month or two later was what helped me realize life was finally returning to normal. Thanks for the memories guys.

Lonnie Manuel

Saw them in Baton Rouge last year with Arlo McKinley opening up. Small crowd. For Arlo’s set I was 5 feet from stage. Lucero came out and Arlo walked just in front of me and watched Lucero set. Fuckin amazing.

JP

lovelovelovelove this band.

Ethan ridesbikes

such a good song.... i need more

bthore1985

Roy... the drums make this song, man.

Mike N

see you in Norfolk tonight

Gril

1,000

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