Cigarettes and chocolate milk
These are just a couple of my cravings
Everything it seems I like's a little bit stronger
A little bit thicker, a little bit harmful for me

If I should buy jellybeans
Have to eat them all in just one sitting
Everything it seems I like's a little bit sweeter
A little bit fatter, a little bit harmful for me

And then there's those other things
Which for several reasons we won't mention
Everything about 'em is a little bit stranger, a little bit harder
A little bit deadly

It isn't very smart
Tends to make one part
So brokenhearted

Sitting here remembering me
Always been a shoe made for the city
Go ahead accuse me of just singing about places
With scrappy boys faces have general run of the town

Playing with prodigal sons
Takes a lot of sentimental Valiums
Can't expect the world to be your Raggedy Andy
While running on empty you little old doll with a frown

You got to keep in the game
Retaining mystique while facing forward
I suggest a reading of a lesson in tightropes
Or surfing your high hopes or adios Kansas

It isn't very smart
Tends to make one part
So brokenhearted

Still there's not a show on my back
Holes or a friendly intervention
I'm just a little bit heiress, a little bit Irish
A little bit Tower of Pisa
Whenever I see ya
So please be kind, if I'm a mess

Cigarettes and chocolate milk
Cigarettes and chocolate milk

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Lyrics submitted by ang, edited by GTony

Cigarettes And Chocolate Milk Lyrics as written by Rufus Wainwright

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.

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Cigarettes and Chocolate Milk song meanings

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36 Comments

+2
General Comment
This song is so... sheepish! The beginning especially. I also feel like it can be looked at two ways- On the more literal level, I agree with everything that's been already said. But also feel like, he's sort of presenting himself to someone-- and asking them to excuse him if he's not all together. The line: "Whenever I see ya So please be kind if I'm a mess." Really fits in with that, don't you think? And the lines about being broken hearted kind of makes me think that he's not particularly happy with the way he is... Songs are great when you can look at them in different ways, eh?

This song is so... sheepish! The beginning especially. I also feel like it can be looked at two ways- On the more literal level, I agree with everything that's been already said. But also feel like, he's sort of presenting himself to someone-- and asking them to excuse him if he's not all together. The line: "Whenever I see ya So please be kind if I'm a mess." Really fits in with that, don't you think? And the lines about being broken hearted kind of makes me think that he's not particularly happy with the way he is... Songs are great when you can look at them in different ways, eh?

Reason:

anna118kon March 25, 2003 Link
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@anna118k
+1
General Comment
How can you not relate to this song in some shape or form? It's all about wanting everything you can't have in extremes! Everything seems to be just a little bit too much of this or that...the story of my life at least...

How can you not relate to this song in some shape or form? It's all about wanting everything you can't have in extremes! Everything seems to be just a little bit too much of this or that...the story of my life at least...

Reason:

MercurySmileon January 13, 2002 Link
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@MercurySmile
+1
General Comment
This song is just completely about debauchery on more extreme levels (sex, drugs, alchohol), but he relates it all to very innocent-enough things like jellybeans and chocolate milk to illicit a much stronger feeling of empathy and understanding. In doing all these things he's making his life inbalanced and maybe ruining chances he's had with people. He's only asking that you forgive his slightly greedy tendencies as human nature.

This song is just completely about debauchery on more extreme levels (sex, drugs, alchohol), but he relates it all to very innocent-enough things like jellybeans and chocolate milk to illicit a much stronger feeling of empathy and understanding. In doing all these things he's making his life inbalanced and maybe ruining chances he's had with people. He's only asking that you forgive his slightly greedy tendencies as human nature.

Reason:

spweasleon May 14, 2004 Link
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@spweasle
+1
General Comment
The line "A little bit Tower of Pisa" is brilliant. Leaning but still standing, that's what the lifestyle gets you (if you're lucky).

The line "A little bit Tower of Pisa" is brilliant. Leaning but still standing, that's what the lifestyle gets you (if you're lucky).

Reason:

ambulant2000on December 14, 2004 Link
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@ambulant2000
+1
General Comment
rufus is the conjoined twin living in my head who posesses the talent and an astounding grasp of the english language. i am but the parasite feasting off of his genius.

rufus is the conjoined twin living in my head who posesses the talent and an astounding grasp of the english language. i am but the parasite feasting off of his genius.

Reason:

hobo-lifestyleon April 03, 2007 Link
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@hobo-lifestyle
+1
General Comment
I don't know if I agree with people about 'cigarettes and chocolate milk' merely being symbols for more serious addictions. As a singer, those two items are most definitely damaging to you. Smoking of course lowers your lung capacity, and chocolate milk is horrible for the vocal chords (it basically coats them in mucus and makes your singing voice sound horrid). I agree that the minor problems are being used as an allegory, but don't ignore the obvious meaning to support a theory that's still easily incoporated.

I don't know if I agree with people about 'cigarettes and chocolate milk' merely being symbols for more serious addictions. As a singer, those two items are most definitely damaging to you. Smoking of course lowers your lung capacity, and chocolate milk is horrible for the vocal chords (it basically coats them in mucus and makes your singing voice sound horrid). I agree that the minor problems are being used as an allegory, but don't ignore the obvious meaning to support a theory that's still easily incoporated.

Reason:

psychocellochicaon July 22, 2007 Link
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@psychocellochica
0
General Comment
mwa ha ha, jellybeans all in one sitting. that is so me.

mwa ha ha, jellybeans all in one sitting. that is so me.

Reason:

angelgarbageon June 21, 2002 Link
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@angelgarbage
0
General Comment
I love Rufus Wainwright. I think he has one of the most beautiful voices out there. "You got to keep in the game Retaining mystique while facing forward " That is a great line. . . .

I love Rufus Wainwright. I think he has one of the most beautiful voices out there. "You got to keep in the game Retaining mystique while facing forward " That is a great line. . . .

Reason:

FyreGoddesson August 13, 2002 Link
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@FyreGoddess

hahaha I always thought it was "retaining your seat while facing forward"

carolinaloveron April 29, 2011
0
General Comment
i agree with mercurysmile. it's like you're always striving for something more. rufus wainwright...weee.

i agree with mercurysmile. it's like you're always striving for something more. rufus wainwright...weee.

Reason:

brighteyes25on March 12, 2003 Link
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@brighteyes25
0
General Comment
The first time I heard this song I was on a road trip half asleep and sat up going "this is my song man." Rufus is the male version of Fiona Apple, I love him. Definately agree with spweasle, this song is so innocent in how it talks about his desires.

The first time I heard this song I was on a road trip half asleep and sat up going "this is my song man." Rufus is the male version of Fiona Apple, I love him. Definately agree with spweasle, this song is so innocent in how it talks about his desires.

Reason:

erasedpoetryon January 15, 2005 Link
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@erasedpoetry