NICOTINE, NICOTINE

It stains my fingers

It chews my tongue

It says I’m old

Before I’m young

I spit it out

Then call it back

A hungry ghost

In a crumpled pack

When I can't live

I reach for the pack

White paper crumple

Thumbs on the crack

Hands like twigs

Eyes full of static

I taste the burn

And I hate how I want it

When the room gets small

And my chest gets tight

I hear that call

In the dead of night

Nicotine, nicotine

Hold me in your teeth

Nicotine, nicotine

Keep me on my feet

Nicotine, nicotine

I don't feel clean

Nicotine, nicotine

You're the thing I need

When I don't have money

I count up change

Spare coins cold

In the vending chain

Loose bills gone

Before the week can start

Still I buy that lie

With a hole in my heart

When the rent is due

And the fridge is bare

I need one more drag

Like I need air

Nicotine, nicotine

Hold me in your teeth

Nicotine, nicotine

Keep me on my feet

Nicotine, nicotine

I don't feel clean

Nicotine, nicotine

You're the thing I need

When going to war

Or my boss won't bend

Hands shake hard

At the assembly line end

Back in the truck

In the break room light

I swallow the ache

And I make it through the night

It stains my fingers

It chews my tongue

It says I’m old

Before I’m young

I spit it out

Then call it back

A hungry ghost

In a crumpled pack

Nicotine, nicotine

Hold me in your teeth

Nicotine, nicotine

Keep me on my feet

Nicotine, nicotine

I don't feel clean

Nicotine, nicotine

You're the thing I need

When I can't live

Nicotine, nicotine

Nicotine, nicotine

Nicotine, nicotine

Hold ime in, blow me out

Nicotine, nicotine

Nicotine, nicotine