The Last Cigarette - Ed Harcourt

Found his memoirs in an old junk shop

Dated from 1916

Sentenced to death while still shell-shocked

For deserting the infantry

Blindfold on and one step back

No need to get upset

Don’t be hasty with the trigger boys

Let him smoke his one last cigarette

Down in the hospital on the 9th ward

An old man scratches his head

Reaching into his bedside drawer

He waits 'til the nurse is downstairs

'I'm nearly cured I’ve been so brave

And there’s no need to fret

I’m gonna really quit this time

Let me smoke my one last cigarette'

Straight as a corkscrew

As bright as the night

Blind to the horror

Blind to the very horror of this sorry life

The awkward girl with a broken heart

Smashes her mirror until it fractures

Leaning down she picks up a shard

And ponders to question her actions

A selfish act, she’s full aware

But the best one she’s done yet

With tired eyes and steady hands

She’ll smoke her one last cigarette

Straight as a corkscrew

As bright as the night

Blind to the horror

Blind to the very horror of this sorry life