Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)

"Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" is a Western swing novelty song written by Merle Travis and Tex Williams. It was a massive hit for Tex Williams and His Western Caravan in 1947.

The song is a humorous lament about the singer's excessive cigarette smoking habit and the lengths to which he'll go to obtain and enjoy his next smoke. The lyrics are filled with colorful Western slang and exaggerate the smoker's dependence on nicotine. It uses repetitive phrasing and a driving Western swing rhythm, making it catchy and memorable.

The single was released on the Capitol Records label. It rose to number one on the Billboard country charts and even crossed over to the pop charts, becoming one of the best-selling records of the year.

The success of "Smoke! Smoke! Smoke! (That Cigarette)" significantly boosted Tex Williams' career, cementing his status as a popular Western swing artist. The song has been covered by numerous other artists over the years and remains a classic example of Western swing music. Its enduring popularity is often attributed to its lighthearted approach to a common vice and its undeniably infectious melody. The song's popularity also occurred during a period when smoking was far more socially acceptable and widely advertised, reflecting a different cultural attitude toward tobacco use than exists today.