20 Cigarettes Album Cover

20 Cigarettes

Morgan Wallen

Album: I’m The Problem

Released on May 16, 2025
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20 Cigarettes Lyrics by Morgan Wallen

20 cigarettes
And I lit me one
On that redwood deck
On Demonbreun
She was with her friends
Left ’em standing there
There was more than smoke
In that summer air

We burned two while she told me ’bout her hometown
She was drinkin’ Tito’s, said I better slow down
I was like, “Hell nah
I ain’t drinkin’ by myself, nah”
Said she loved my accent, so I kept talkin’
Reached for the pack on the table by my wallet
We tore off to light the night we had left

With 13 cigarettes
And I lit me one
With the windows cracked
In my old half-ton
Singin’ Take Me Home
On them country roads
So I turned off on one
Then next thing you know

We had a beer bottle lookin’ like an ashtray
Under that full moon, she was ’bout halfway
Naked in my truck bed
So I helped her with the rest
She was sayin’ my name
Barely even knew it
We were both lyin’
Said we never do this
To the music of the wind through the woods

It was probably somewhere around 2:00
In the mornin’ by the time we got down to

That lucky cigarette
Layin’ on our backs
We were out of breath
We both took a drag
Blew it in the sky
She was gone like that
One hell of a night
One hell of a pack

About "20 Cigarettes"

Song Meaning

“20 Cigarettes” by Morgan Wallen is a reflective ballad about coping with heartbreak and emotional pain through self-destructive habits. The repeated imagery of smoking serves as a metaphor for trying to numb the lingering memory of someone the narrator can’t forget, despite every effort to burn it away. Each cigarette symbolizes an attempt to let go, yet the pain and memories persist, highlighting the struggle of dealing with deep emotional wounds. With raw vulnerability and country soul, the song captures the helpless cycle of grief, regret, and the longing for closure that never seems to come.

Song Background

“20 Cigarettes” by Morgan Wallen is a country-pop track from his fourth studio album, I’m the Problem, released on May 16, 2025. Written by Blake Pendergrass, Chase McGill, Josh Miller, and Chris LaCorte, and produced by Joey Moi, the song tells the story of a spontaneous romantic encounter in Nashville’s Demonbreun area. After meeting a woman at a bar, the two share a night of connection—singing “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” leaving the city, and sleeping in his truck—before she vanishes, leaving behind only memories and a final cigarette. The song blends sparse electric guitar with bass and percussion, emphasizing themes of fleeting love and emotional reflection. While Billboard praised its storytelling and ranked it among the album’s best, Paste Magazine criticized it as a lighter, recycled version of Wallen’s earlier hit “7 Summers.”

Interpretation

The song “20 Cigarettes” by Morgan Wallen can be interpreted as a metaphorical reflection on fleeting love and the lingering emotional impact it leaves behind. The cigarettes symbolize moments of escape or attempts to cope with the pain of a brief but meaningful connection. Each cigarette represents a memory, a feeling, or a moment the narrator tries to burn away, but the emotional weight remains. The sudden disappearance of the woman after an intense night together highlights the theme of impermanence—how something so powerful can vanish without warning, leaving only traces that are hard to forget. The track captures the emotional struggle of trying to move on while clinging to a memory that refuses to fade, embodying heartbreak, nostalgia, and the haunting nature of unresolved feelings.

Song Credits

Producer: Joey Moi

Writers: Blake Pendergrass,Chase McGill,Josh Miller & Chris LaCorte

Composer: Joey Moi

Release Date: May 16, 2025

Q&A Section

Have a question about this song? Here are some answers.

Where to listen to "20 Cigarettes"

Click here to stream the song

Who is the artist of "20 Cigarettes"?

Morgan Wallen

When was "20 Cigarettes" released?

2025-05-16

What album includes "20 Cigarettes"?

I’m The Problem

What is the meaning of "20 Cigarettes"?

"20 Cigarettes" by Morgan Wallen is a reflective ballad about coping with heartbreak and emotional pain through self-destructive habits. The repeated imagery of smoking serves as a metaphor for trying to numb the lingering memory of someone the narrator can’t forget, despite every effort to burn it away. Each cigarette symbolizes an attempt to let go, yet the pain and memories persist, highlighting the struggle of dealing with deep emotional wounds. With raw vulnerability and country soul, the song captures the helpless cycle of grief, regret, and the longing for closure that never seems to come.

Who is the artist of "20 Cigarettes"?

Morgan Wallen

When was "20 Cigarettes" released?

2025-05-16

What album includes "20 Cigarettes"?

I’m The Problem

Where can I listen to "20 Cigarettes"?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_m7ebZ6lrVAuYpsV3W1kUm66JRCC8sqTo8&si=XxnhXe6c9rjy0WRp

What is the meaning of "20 Cigarettes"?

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