But I finally know what to do/
I must quit, I must quit You.

In “Coffee & Cigarettes”, Michelle Featherstone has the blues. But what is causing it? Could it be her overuse of coffee and cigarettes? Knowing she has many bad habits, she starts trying to eliminate them one by one, hoping that she will find the one that is causing her pain.

So, she quits coffee, cigarettes, booze, playing sad music, but still her depression persists. The only variable she hasn’t eliminated at this time is her significant other. So, she realizes it is time to quite that relationship too. This is harder. If only it was one of her vices.

You can hear the helplessness in Featherstone’s voice. She is at her wit’s end. She is trying to fix her life but it is wearing her out. The song builds to a crescendo as she realizes what she must do: she must break up with her partner.

As she sings the line “I must quit you”, it almost sound like a release—as if she is discovering the truth for the first time. The song is simple but powerful. This song was not a hit but it is very deserving to be on this list.

Coffee and Cigarettes Lyrics

I gave up coffee and cigarettes,
I hate to say it hasn’t helped me yet.
I thought my problems would just dissipate,
And all my pain would be in yesterday.

I poured my booze all down the kitchen drain,
And watched my bad habits get flushed away.
I thought that that would keep my head on straight,
And all my pain would be in yesterday.

But it’s true,
I’m still blue.
But I finally know what to do,
I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

I thought that if I didn’t go and play,
The sadness would get bored and go away.
I thought that if I didn’t go astray,
Then all my pain would be in yesterday.

But it’s true,
I’m still blue.
But I finally know what to do.
I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

I sold my guitar and my piano,
I thought that it was these that kept me low.
I thought if only I could try and change,
That all my pain would be in yesterday.

But it’s true,
I’m still blue.
But I finally know what to do.
I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

I must quit,
I must quit,
You.

Songwriters: Michelle Featherstone