Country Music

Ronnie Dunn “I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes”

Introduction

Ronnie Dunn 'Scared to Death' of Launching Solo Career

Ronnie Dunn’s “I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes” stands as one of the most poignant and underrated moments in his post–Brooks & Dunn solo career. Written by acclaimed songwriters Luke Laird, Lori McKenna, and Barry Dean, the song was released as the second single from Dunn’s 2014 album Peace, Love and Country Music, which he issued independently via his Little Will‑E Records label on April 8, 2014 . The single itself debuted on iTunes on November 19, 2013, and marked a turning point in Ronnie’s journey as a mature, self-produced artist .

While at first glance the title sounds like a simple nostalgia for a bygone vice, the song delves deeper. As Dunn explained during a performance on The Doctors, the titular cigarettes serve as a powerful metaphor for lamenting life’s lost freedoms and youthful innocence—the simpler days before responsibility weighed him down . Critics and fans alike praised the track’s lyrical honesty and understated production: country commentator “Razor X” called it “a lyrical masterpiece” highlighted by tasteful electric guitar and pedal steel that echo classic Brooks & Dunn sensibilities .

“I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes” arrived during a challenging but creative period for Dunn. After splitting from Arista Nashville, he embraced the freedom and risk of being an independent artist. The song’s modest commercial performance didn’t reflect its emotional resonance; years later, outlets like Whiskey Riff celebrated its depth and Dunn’s delivery, calling it his “most underrated solo release” .

Clocking in at just over three minutes, the song is anchored by Dunn’s signature baritone—worn and weathered by experience, yet full of longing. It’s a reflective standout on Peace, Love and Country Music, underscoring themes of regret, nostalgia, and the bittersweet ache of growing older. This introduction provides an intimate glimpse into how “I Wish I Still Smoked Cigarettes” channels Dunn’s personal and artistic evolution—melding richly drawn lyrics with a timeless country sound.

Video

https://youtu.be/TQApz0IudDg?si=oWZM_NLJrWA29VTn

Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I wish I still smoked cigarettes
Light one up and travel time
When a stiff drink and a whispered yes
Was enough to light a fire, to feel alive
Wish I could go back to those nights sometimes
I wish I still drove a muscle car
Horses rumbling under the hood
Flying past the welcome sign under the stars
Wishing I could leave for good, I swore I would
Every now and then I go back to that neighborhood

[Chorus]
Wish I still did a lot of things I don’t do anymore
When I didn’t know what wasn’t good for me
But I knew everything else for sure
I guess what I really miss is the freedom and
The way it felt, the innocence
That’s what I really meant
When I said

[Verse 2]
I wish I still smoked cigarettes
I felt more grown up then
We were talking about where we gonna go
Instead of talking bout where we’d been
We’d ride around the lake and make those plans
Still had the world in the palm of our hands
We never had a chance, now and then
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[Chorus]

[Verse 3]
Wish I still smoked cigarettes
Something to calm my nerves
Wherever you are tonight
You were better than I deserved
Wish I still smoked cigarettes
So I had something to let go up in smoke

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