The song lyrics were written by the band Van Halen, as they were asked to write a song for the 1979 movie "Over the Edge" starring Matt Dillon. The movie (and the lyrics, although more obliquely) are about bored, rebellious youth with nothing better to do than get into trouble. If you see the movie, these lyrics will make more sense. It's a great movie if you grew up in the 70s/80s you'll definitely remember some of these characters from your own life. Fun fact, after writing the song, Van Halen decided not to let the movie use it.
Hey hey it's been so long since I have written with pen
Ya know it's sharper than a sabre, I don't feel like Errol Flynn
Got no computer I can't type the letter in
You're not responding right I guess I better start again
Well lets pretend this fellas hungry got a dozen mouths to feed
He asked for money for a bus pass and my, heart bleeds
I throw him a dollar that's exactly what he needs
To get another jug of Thunderbird and naturally ask me for a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
A wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
A wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
I know it's killing me
Yea I know it's killing me
Yea I know it's killing me
Yea I know I know I know I know I know I know I need a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
(Shut up!)
It's getting late you got to get the kitten fed
You got to kiss the little woman put the children in the bed
Check the sports and weather and the living and the dead
You don't have to read the headlines you can hear what Johnny Carson said
Oh mister sandman won't you listen to me please I'm saying
I'll stay in bed but I'll pretend I'm on my knees and praying
One for my hunger and another for my greed
And just forget about my envy Lord and give me what I need, I need a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
A wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
A wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
I know it's killing me
I know it's killing me
I know it's killing me
Yea I know I know I know I know I know I know I need a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Ya know it's sharper than a sabre, I don't feel like Errol Flynn
Got no computer I can't type the letter in
You're not responding right I guess I better start again
Well lets pretend this fellas hungry got a dozen mouths to feed
He asked for money for a bus pass and my, heart bleeds
I throw him a dollar that's exactly what he needs
To get another jug of Thunderbird and naturally ask me for a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
A wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
A wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
I know it's killing me
Yea I know it's killing me
Yea I know it's killing me
Yea I know I know I know I know I know I know I need a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
(Shut up!)
It's getting late you got to get the kitten fed
You got to kiss the little woman put the children in the bed
Check the sports and weather and the living and the dead
You don't have to read the headlines you can hear what Johnny Carson said
Oh mister sandman won't you listen to me please I'm saying
I'll stay in bed but I'll pretend I'm on my knees and praying
One for my hunger and another for my greed
And just forget about my envy Lord and give me what I need, I need a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
A wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
A wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua, a wha wha wha hua
I know it's killing me
I know it's killing me
I know it's killing me
Yea I know I know I know I know I know I know I need a
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Last cigarette, last cigarette, last cigarette, one before I go to bed
Lyrics submitted by cactusdave
Last Cigarette Lyrics as written by Jon Bon Jovi David Bryan
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
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I love this song. Hate dramarama but this song kicks ass. The whole song is about who awsome i am.
A few mistakes in the transcription, here are the correct lines (I believe):
"Hey, hey it's been so long since I have written with a pen..."
"It's getting late, you've got to get the kitten fed..."
"Oh Mister Sandman, won't you listen to me please..."
We've all got our little rituals and habits that mean more to us than the important stuff. Even if it's not enjoyable, even if it's bad for you, you still need it. Doesn't matter whether you're a rock singer, a homeless wino, or a suburban dad.
It's pretty funny that someone misidentified this as a cover of the Bon Jovi song of the same name, because it means the exact opposite--Bon Jovi is comparing a girl to a last cigarette because that's how amazing she is, completely without irony.