The Last Cigarette
Smoke Signals of Sorrow: Ed Harcourt's Poetic Reflections on Life's Last Moments
Lyrics
Found his memoirs in an old junk shop
Discovery of memoirs in an old junk shop.
Dated from 1916
Memoirs dated from 1916.
Sentenced to death while still shell-shocked
Person sentenced to death while suffering from shell-shock for deserting the infantry.
For deserting the infantry
Reason for the death sentence due to desertion.
Blindfold on and one step back
Imagery of blindfolded person taking a step back, potentially facing execution.
No need to get upset
Advice not to be upset in the face of the situation.
Don't be hasty with the trigger boys
Caution against hasty actions by those in charge.
Let him smoke his one last cigarette
Advocacy for allowing the condemned person to smoke a final cigarette.
Down in the hospital on the 9th ward
Setting in a hospital on the 9th ward.
An old man scratches his head
Description of an old man in contemplation.
Reaching into his bedside drawer
Old man reaching into his bedside drawer.
He waits 'til the nurse is downstairs
Waiting for the nurse to leave before taking action.
'I'm nearly cured I've been so brave
Expression of bravery in the face of illness.
And there's no need to fret
Assurance that there's no need to worry.
I'm gonna really quit this time
Declaration of the intention to quit smoking.
Let me smoke my one last cigarette'
Request to be allowed to smoke one last cigarette.
Straight as a corkscrew
Description of someone being straight as a corkscrew.
As bright as the night
Simile describing brightness comparable to the night.
Blind to the horror
Reference to being blind to the horror of life.
Blind to the very horror of this sorry life
Reiteration of being blind to the profound sorrows of life.
The awkward girl with a broken heart
Description of an awkward girl with a broken heart.
Smashes her mirror until it fractures
Depiction of the girl smashing her mirror in distress.
Leaning down she picks up a shard
Act of picking up a shard and contemplating actions.
And ponders to question her actions
Reflection on the consequences of her actions.
A selfish act, she's full aware
Acknowledgment of the selfishness of the act.
But the best one she's done yet
Acknowledgment that it's the best action she has taken.
With tired eyes and steady hands
Description of tired eyes and steady hands, ready to smoke the last cigarette.
She'll smoke her one last cigarette
Declaration of intent to smoke one last cigarette.
Straight as a corkscrew
Repetition of being straight as a corkscrew.
As bright as the night
Repetition of brightness comparable to the night.
Blind to the horror
Reiteration of being blind to the horror of life.
Blind to the very horror of this sorry life
Reiteration of being blind to the profound sorrows of life.
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