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Everything you need to know about this conflicted 2026 single from Elizabeth Nichols.
- Song ‘Sweet Cigarette’
- Lyrics“His breath smells like peppermints
And yours smells like whiskey
You call me sexy
He calls me pretty
He’s picking me flowers and you just pick fights... - Artist(s) Elizabeth Nichols
- Released February 6, 2026
- Label Pulse Records
- Songwriter(s) Elizabeth Nichols
- Producer(s) Mike Robinson
The Background:
After teasing ‘Sweet Cigarette’ and building a sense of hype throughout the first few weeks of 2026, Elizabeth Nichols finally confirmed she'd be dropping it on February 6th.
It's a conflicted ode to the classic adage that “the heart wants what it wants”, with Nichols laying it out plain to see that she has a man that treats her perfectly well, but she can't help but yearn to fall back into the arms of the bad-boy alternative.
The Sound:
‘Sweet Cigarette’ carries a much darker, more dramatic ambience compared to earlier releases such as ‘Little Birds’ and the uber-viral ‘I Got a New One’. The light strum of an acoustic guitar is replaced by a brooding, ominous riff, with Nichols’ emphatic hook accompanied by a deliberate, reverb-drenched drum pattern. While the lyrics could easily lend themselves to the playfulness that permeates much of Nichols’ catalogue, the composition gives this a more sombre atmosphere.
The Meaning:
Over the course of ’Sweet Cigarette’, the ‘Daughter’ singer-songwriter lists the qualities of two prospective lovers that she's weighing up. Their characters seem to directly oppose one another, with Nichols juxtaposing the thoughtfulness and kindness of one with the selfishness and crudeness of the other. In doing so, she makes it clear who the objectively “right” choice is - but love is never so simple.
In the infectious hook, our narrator candidly confesses that, even though she knows the other man treats her better, she can't help but long to be reunited with the bad-boy (“Call me an addict / A masochist / Can’t let go of you / My sweet cigarette”).
Nichols likens his allure to that of a “sweet cigarette”, deeming him a vice that is destructive, but one she can't shake. The track comes across as one of those classic pro-and-con lists lovers make in movies when trying to decide which person to go for, where she is trying to convince herself to end up with the good-guy. Ultimately, though, our protagonist knows she will succumb to the bad-boy's charms.
What has Elizabeth Nichols said about ‘Sweet Cigarette’?
In an official statement ahead of the song's release, Nichols teases, “I feel like your twenties is the time to figure out who you are, what you like and don't like and have a little fun while you're at it. Be dramatic. Make questionable decisions. Ride the rollercoaster. Stay out late. Do it for the plot. Run from the boy that is good and safe. Chase the spark. How else are you going to get the reckless out of your system? It can be thrilling to ignore your gut and walk that thin line between love and hate…especially when your ex is just the right amount of toxic”.
For the full lyrics to Elizabeth Nichols’ ‘Sweet Cigarette’, see below:
“His breath smells like peppermints
And yours smells like whiskey
You call me sexy
He calls me pretty
He’s picking me flowers and you just pick fights
Him and I talk for hours
You and I talk at night
He’s good and you’re bad
You’re wrong and he’s right
But I bet I know who I’ll go home with tonight
Call me an addict
A masochist
Can’t let go of you
My sweet cigarette
He opens my doors and
You open a can
Sundays you’re in bed
He’s a God fearing man
We just sit in your car
He books a table for two
He does all the things that I begged you to do
He’s good and you’re bad
You’re wrong and he’s right
But I’d bet I know who I’ll go home with tonight
Call me an addict
A masochist
Can’t let go of you
My sweet cigarette
I say I’m done
Just one more hit
You stay on my lips
my sweet cigarette
He’s good and you’re bad
You’re wrong and he’s right
But I’d bet I know who I’ll go home with tonight
Call me an addict
A masochist
Can’t let go of you
My sweet cigarette
I say I’m done
Just one more hit
You stay on my lips
my sweet cigarette
You stay on my breath
My sweet cigarette
I can’t seem to quit
My sweet cigarette”
For more on Elizabeth Nichols, see below:
