Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk
Wainwright Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
These are just a couple of my cravings
Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger
A little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me
If I should buy jellybeans
Have to eat them all in just one sitting
Everything it seems I like's a little bit sweeter
And then there's those other things
Which for several reasons we won't mention
Everything about 'em is a little bit stranger, a little bit harder
A little bit deadly
It isn't very smart
Tends to make one part
So brokenhearted
Sitting here remembering me
Always been a shoe made for the city
Go ahead accuse me of just singing about places
With scrappy boys faces have general run of the town
Playing with prodigal sons
Takes a lot of sentimental Valiums
Can't expect the world to be your Raggedy Andy
While running on empty you little old doll with a frown
You got to keep in the game
Retaining mystique while facing forward
I suggest a reading of a lesson in tightropes
Or surfing your high hopes or adios Kansas
It isn't very smart
Tends to make one part
So brokenhearted
Still there's not a show on my back
Holes or a friendly intervention
I'm just a little bit heiress, a little bit Irish
A little bit Tower of Pisa
Whenever I see ya
So please be kind, if I'm a mess
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
In "Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk," Rufus Wainwright sings about his cravings for cigarettes and chocolate milk, which he views as symbolic of his general attraction to things that are a little bit harmful for him. He notes that everything he likes is a little bit stronger, a little bit thicker, a little bit sweeter, and a little bit fatter than it should be, which hints at his tendencies towards addiction and self-destructive behavior. He also alludes to other vices or desires that are a little bit stranger and harder, and potentially deadly, all of which could be interpreted as stand-ins for drugs, alcohol, or other harmful behaviors.
The lyrics also touch on Wainwright's identity as an artist and a city-dweller. He references places with "scrappy boys faces" and "prodigal sons," suggesting a connection to the urban environment and a certain countercultural lifestyle. He sings about wanting to retain his mystique and face forward, and references "a lesson in tightropes" and "surfing your high hopes" as methods for doing so. The song ultimately concludes on a note of self-acceptance and vulnerability, with Wainwright acknowledging that he's a little bit messy but asking for kindness nonetheless.
Line by Line Meaning
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
Two of my favorite things, indulgences that I crave and desire
These are just a couple of my cravings
These are just two examples of the many things I desire and yearn for in life
Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger
All of the things I enjoy are a little bit more potent and addictive than they should be
A little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me
These things are also a little bit richer and more indulgent, but ultimately not good for me
If I should buy jellybeans
If I were to indulge in small sweets like jellybeans
Have to eat them all in just one sitting
I have no self-control when it comes to these sweet indulgences
Everything it seems I like's a little bit sweeter
All of the things I enjoy are a little bit more sugary and sweet than they should be
A little bit fatter, a little bit harmful for me
These indulgences also happen to be a little bit more fattening and detrimental to my health
And then there's those other things
There are other things I crave and desire, but for various reasons we won't talk about them
Which for several reasons we won't mention
I have my reasons for not wanting to reveal what these other things are
Everything about 'em is a little bit stranger, a little bit harder
These other things are a little bit more peculiar and difficult to understand
A little bit deadly
They may also be a little bit dangerous or harmful to me
It isn't very smart
It's not very intelligent or wise
Tends to make one part
Has a tendency to break one's heart or cause emotional pain
So brokenhearted
Leaves me feeling sad and heartbroken
Sitting here remembering me
Thinking back on my past experiences and memories
Always been a shoe made for the city
I have always felt like I was meant for life in the city
Go ahead accuse me of just singing about places
You can accuse me of only singing about certain locations or settings
With scrappy boys faces have general run of the town
Where young, tough-looking boys are typically in charge of the area
Playing with prodigal sons
Spending time with people who come from wealthy or privileged backgrounds
Takes a lot of sentimental Valiums
Requires a lot of emotional medication to deal with
Can't expect the world to be your Raggedy Andy
You can't expect the world to always be kind and gentle towards you
While running on empty you little old doll with a frown
Even when you're feeling drained or lacking in energy, you have to keep going with a sad expression on your face
You got to keep in the game
You have to keep going and stay competitive
Retaining mystique while facing forward
Maintaining an air of mystery and intrigue while looking ahead to the future
I suggest a reading of a lesson in tightropes
I recommend reading up on how to balance and maintain stability
Or surfing your high hopes or adios Kansas
Or if that's not your thing, you can surf on your higher ambitions or just leave everything behind
Still there's not a show on my back
I'm not carrying any visible signs of damage or distress
Holes or a friendly intervention
There are no obvious issues or people trying to intervene in my life
I'm just a little bit heiress, a little bit Irish
I come from a somewhat wealthy background and have some Irish heritage
A little bit Tower of Pisa
I may be a little unstable or shaky, like the leaning tower of Pisa
Whenever I see ya
Whenever I see you
So please be kind, if I'm a mess
Please be understanding and patient with me if I appear to be in a difficult state
Cigarettes and chocolate milk
Repeating the chorus, emphasizing again how much I enjoy these indulgences
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: RUFUS WAINWRIGHT
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind