Mr. Cigarette

[filipinojew33]

My fav of the new release. i wish dangerous boys from ghost was recorded in this quality.

Mr. cigarette

He's the starving man's supper
he's the tired man's rest
he's the selfish man's possession
the hopeless man's best bet
he's the quiet man's conversation
he's the cold man's blanket
he's the lonely man's companion
mr. cigarette

he's the lost man's road map
he's the driving man's jet
he's the lazy man's profession (take 2 he's the carefree man's computer)
he's the poor man's tv set
he's the frightened man's courage
he's the beaten man's comeback
he's the lazy man's companion
mr. cigarette

tar and nicotine, tar and nicotine
cancer i die ignore
tar and nicotine, tar and nicotine
cancer of the soul

he's the bleeding man's bandage
he's the angry man's regret
he's the fallen man's redemption
the slighted man's revenge
he's the inmate's currency
he's the dying man's last request
he's the loveless man's good night kiss
mr. cigarette

I agree with GB, first take was better. I thought on take 2 the band would join in. Railroad's are cool but i prefer GB's version.

[Kathy]

This is my fave of all the new stuff.

[sivad]

Instead of "cancer I die ignore" I hear "cancer they diagnose." This seriously distrubs me . . .

[Squaw]

Nov 25, 2010 15:16:37 GMT -5 sivad said:

Instead of "cancer I die ignore" I hear "cancer they diagnose." This seriously distrubs me . . .

I believe your ears heard correctly.

[filipinojew33]

indeed, upon further listenings i concur. Hope Paul doesn't pull a zevon.

[Squaw]

Nov 25, 2010 15:16:37 GMT -5 sivad said:

This seriously distrubs me . . .

sivad724, I've been thinking about this too. After he says "cancer they diagnose" (you were right!) he says "cancer of the soul." Seems he may be referring to addiction, vices or the use of anything as a crutch or pacifier.

This is the theme of This Machine; technology as a crutch. Foolish Handshake makes reference to alcohol getting him jailed. While there he brings up his “costume” and “foolish handshake” used as a means of social acceptance, again, a crutch of sorts.

My interpretation may not be correct, but I prefer to think PW is passing on some wisdom; “education being his profession”, and not hinting about his physical wellbeing and the common medical meaning of the word cancer.

[timtoast]

I dunno...you've got strong references to cancer and then a song titled "Grandpaboy's Last stand" in which he meets his maker? That's a lot of death/dying references to me. Heck, you could even make a pointless argument that vinyl is a dead medium.

[Squaw]

Nov 26, 2010 17:58:30 GMT -5 timtoast said:

I dunno...you've got strong references to cancer and then a song titled "Grandpaboy's Last stand" in which he meets his maker? That's a lot of death/dying references to me. Heck, you could even make a pointless argument that vinyl is a dead medium.

True, but one could say that the moniker Grandpaboy was also a crutch, one that dies and is reincarnated as Mr. F. He has stated that Grandpaboy was his rocker side, maybe Mr. F is his folker side, or even Fatherly side.