Plastic Cigarette

Zach Bryan's "Plastic Cigarette" is a poignant exploration of nostalgia, love, and the passage of time. The song opens with a reflection on the rarity of writing love songs, suggesting a sense of longing and regret. The imagery of hair cascading down a spine and the tactile sensations of city streets evoke a vivid, almost cinematic quality, capturing moments of intimacy and fleeting connections. The mention of friends getting high on the West Side Highway adds a layer of youthful recklessness and the search for meaning in transient experiences.

The song's narrative weaves through memories of Byron Bay, a place that symbolizes both escape and introspection. The reference to quitting drinking and the worry of dying young highlights themes of self-destruction and the pressure of expectations. The absence of fathers during youth suggests a backdrop of emotional neglect, shaping the characters' present struggles. The recurring image of a plastic cigarette serves as a metaphor for artificiality and the facade of coping mechanisms, contrasting with the protagonist's desire for authenticity and connection.

Bryan's lyrics also delve into the complexities of relationships, as seen in the juxtaposition of collecting shells and being a shell of oneself. The advice from a brother to leave toxic influences underscores the tension between loyalty and self-preservation. The rain in Byron Bay, coupled with the act of writing unread poems, encapsulates feelings of isolation and unrequited expression. Ultimately, "Plastic Cigarette" is a meditation on the bittersweet nature of memories, the struggle to let go, and the search for genuine connection amidst life's ephemeral moments.