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Cold Beer and Cigarettes Lyrics

A white ghost, making his way up the west coast
Trying to focus his high hopes on a vagina or two
He's taking his chances
Meanwhile, back in his living room
Bright smiles are watching his toddler run speed trials
Over a grandmother's rug
And nature advances

Up the interstate
He's been awake
And pretty drunk for three whole days
No one wants to stop
Until they get to where they're going
I'll get to where I'm going pretty soon

So he takes another drink
'Cause watching the scenery bleed
Into each similar scene
Isn't as sweet as it had been in his dreams

It's faster to buy cigarettes and some cold beer
If you don't rattle the cashier
By asking her back to your room
She's calling security

Our car's on fire in the parking lot
And nobody wants it to rain
But God isn't listening
So all of the windshields glisten
The water and oil mix
Causing the fire to spread
To five or six innocent automobiles
Waiting in their nearby spots
What a cruel God we've got

Right on, right on, right on
Right on, right on
Right on, right on, right on
Right on, right on

So he takes another drink
'Cause watching the formula bleed
Into each similar thing
Isn't as sweet as it had been in his dreams
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13 Meanings

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Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

def my fav song on the new EP, i think this song is somewhat biographical for bazan and it sounds like he is telling the story of what happens while he tours and is away from his home/family. he needs things like beer and cigarettes to help him cope with lonliness, faith, etc...basically to cope with life.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

I think the biographical take is a bit of a stretch, he surely doesn't have children nor would he probably consider himself an adulterer. What I take out of it is just the lesson that things never go as planned, and how a whole bunch of seemingly minor random events can sometimes come together to snowball into something much bigger. Mostly its just a great song.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

I think the biographical take is a bit of a stretch, he surely doesn't have children nor would he probably consider himself an adulterer. What I take out of it is just the lesson that things never go as planned, and how a whole bunch of seemingly minor random events can sometimes come together to snowball into something much bigger. Mostly its just a great song.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

He does, in fact, have children, a little girl around 2 i think. However, I do disagree with the whole bio thing. This song just packs a powerful punch anyway. I love the part of "She's calling security

Our car's on fire in the parking lot And nobody wants it to rain But God isn't listening So all of the windshields glisten The water and oil mix Causing the fire to spread To five or six innocent automobiles Waiting in their nearby spots What a cruel God we've got" It's just a joke in the middle of a song. I don't know why it's so good, but he just sings it just right.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

the way i take this is that it is slightly biographically based. like the song follows a fairly believable path until the end where his car catches on fire. which is quite a drastic change in events. i'd say that it probably is somewhat biographical in that we all from time and time again lust, and though, having never been married, i'm sure probably happens when you're married too. especially when you've been alone for a long time. my take is that he threw the last part in to make what otherwise would be a rather believable story seem fictional, while some of it i think he might have felt.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

It happens when you're married too. It's not like your eyes and brain shut off after you tie the knot. And girls love musicians, especially if you're headlining the show.

But I know I've written stories partially based on my own experiences, and partially based on stories I've heard or read. So like you said, I think the last part is made up, or perhaps it happened to someone that he knows.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

Does anybody know the chords to this song?

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

To me this song seems more like a look into how we believe God is cruel and that for some reason we deserve better for our lives even though we go out and cheat on our wives and we as people suck.

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

He does have kids

Cover art for Cold Beer and Cigarettes lyrics by David Bazan

He does have kids