Love Is Like a Cigarette

K. D. Lang's song "Love Is Like a Cigarette" delves into the transient and often bittersweet nature of love. The lyrics begin by questioning the idealized notions of love, comparing it to heavenly and natural phenomena like stars, birds, and flowers. However, the singer quickly dismisses these romanticized images, suggesting that such idealizations are unrealistic and unattainable. This sets the stage for the central metaphor of the song: love as a cigarette.

The comparison of love to a cigarette is both poignant and evocative. Just as a cigarette can ignite a brief but intense pleasure, love can spark moments of profound joy and excitement. The lyrics describe how the singer's heart was set aglow by their lover, much like the tip of a lit cigarette. This metaphor extends to the physical sensation of a cigarette touching one's lips, paralleling the thrill of a lover's touch. However, the pleasure derived from a cigarette is fleeting, and it eventually burns out, leaving behind only ashes. Similarly, the song suggests that love, too, can fade away, leaving behind feelings of regret and loss.

The imagery of a cigarette being easily flicked away by one's fingertips underscores the ease with which love can be discarded. This act of flicking away a cigarette symbolizes the casual and sometimes careless manner in which people can end relationships. The repetition of the phrase "love is like a cigarette" throughout the song reinforces the idea that love, while initially intoxicating, is ultimately ephemeral and can leave one feeling empty and forgotten. K. D. Lang's soulful delivery and the melancholic tone of the song further amplify the sense of longing and disillusionment that permeates the lyrics.