Cigarettes

David Kushner's song 'Cigarettes' is a poignant reflection on loss and the struggle to cope with the absence of a loved one. The lyrics use the smell of cigarettes as a sensory trigger, evoking memories of the person who has departed. This scent becomes a symbol of the presence that is now missing, a reminder of shared moments and a past intimacy that is no longer accessible. The act of smoking, in this context, is an attempt to bridge the gap between the past and the present, to feel a connection with the person who is gone by inhaling the same aroma that once signified their presence.

The song's chorus emphasizes the finality of the departure and the resulting emotional turmoil. The repeated lines 'Now you're gone, out of reach' and 'It's so dark, I can't see' convey a sense of profound disorientation and despair. The darkness here is metaphorical, representing the inability to find direction or comfort in the wake of the loved one's absence. The phrase 'Lost your light that guided me' further reinforces the idea of the departed as a beacon in the singer's life, whose loss has left them adrift.

Kushner's lyrics also touch upon the theme of unfinished business and regret, as expressed in the line 'I wish I could accept / Everything we left undone.' This suggests a yearning for closure and the difficulty of moving on when there are unresolved issues or words left unsaid. The song's mournful tone and the use of cigarettes as a metaphor for connection and memory create a powerful narrative of grief and the search for solace in the remnants of a relationship that has ended.