‘Dead At The Honky Tonk’ by Post Malone - Lyrics & Meaning

Just when you thought Post Malone's foray into country music couldn't get any better, his freshly dropped F-1 Trillion came accompanied by the surprise F-1 Trillion - Long Bed.

This deluxe version of Malone's country debut consists of 9 more tracks, a batch of new solo offerings from the hitmaker and a departure from the original F-1 Trillion's star-studded lineup.

One of the surplus songs, 'Dead At The Honky Tonk,' is a smoldering offering that will leave you wondering, "Is it possible to die of a broken heart?"

Opening with a few pensive plucks before erupting into a fiery foot-tapper, 'Dead At The Honky Tonk' is one of the expanded release's heftier numbers, whiskey-drenched and rock-tinged.

It is a potent tune, fueled by heated strings and muscular beats, with an arrangement that tells a story just as much as its lyrics do.

"Knee deep in the Bulleit
One foot in the dirt
Yeah, his blood shot eyes are empty
As a Monday morning church.
On a stool in the corner
Where he's been all week
Only way I know he's breathing
Is he just took a drink.
And he keeps headin' toward the neon light..."

In 'Dead At The Honky Tonk', Malone paints a portrait of someone who is – as the kids say – "down bad." The artist sings of someone who has recently been unlucky in love, someone who is now drowning their heartbreak is some dive bar.

As the musician explains, he looks like he's on his last leg and headed for some demise if he keeps soaking his sorrows in this way.

"There's a hole in his heart
Down at the hole-in-the-wall
They found him with his hand
Wrapped 'round a whiskey poured too strong
There ain't no murder weapon
Just a note that said she's gone
And if they put in the paper
Then it wouldn't say much at all:
'One man dead at the honky tonk.'"

This character is going through a breakup. His person has left him via note; therefore, leaving him to sink deeper into this whiskey-drenched state.

It's not pretty, but also it's apparently not unexpected:

We all saw it comin'
From a mile away
We knew that a good-bye
Would put him in the grave
And no she won't go to prison
But he's doin' life
She tied him to the bar
And let that firewater rise
Her leavin' sent him to the other side....

While 'Dead At The Honky Tonk' is a touch dramatic, it does make one wonder if death by broken heart is possible. It sure feels that way sometimes.

Post Malone has not spoken about 'Dead At The Honky Tonk’ specifically just yet, but the Texas native has touched more broadly on how welcoming the country music community has been to him since he announced his foray into the genre.

In an interview with Anthony Mason for CBS in Nashville, the ‘Chemical’ singer-songwriter shared, “Everyone here was so accepting and kind”. When Mason described this as a testament to Post Malone's genial, warm character, Posty immediately responded with an endearing dismissal, “I disagree. I think it's a testament to them”.

Knee deep in the Bulleit
One foot in the dirt
Yeah, his blood shot eyes are empty
As a Monday morning church.
On a stool in the corner
Where he's been all week
Only way I know he's breathing
Is he just took a drink.
And he keeps headin' toward the neon light...

There's a hole in his heart
Down at the hole-in-the-wall
They found him with his hand
Wrapped 'round a whiskey poured too strong
There ain't no murder weapon
Just a note that said she's gone
And if they put in the paper
Then it wouldn't say much at all:
"One man dead at the honky tonk."

We all saw it comin'
From a mile away
We knew that a good-bye
Would put him in the grave
And no she won't go to prison
But he's doin' life
She tied him to the bar
And let that firewater rise
Her leavin' sent him to the other side....

There's a hole in his heart
Down at the hole-in-the-wall
They found him with his hand
Wrapped 'round a whiskey poured too strong
There ain't no murder weapon
Just a note that said she's gone
And if they put in the paper
Then it wouldn't say much at all:
"One man dead at the honky tonk."

He's leanin' on that bottle
And it's cuttin' like a knife
And he keeps headin' toward the neon light...

There's a hole in his heart
Down at the hole-in-the-wall
They found him in there
Drowning in a whiskey waterfall
There ain't no murder weapon
Just a note that said she's gone
And if they put in the paper
Then it wouldn't say much at all:
"One man dead at the honky tonk."

"One man dead at the honky tonk."
"One man dead at the honky tonk."
"One man dead at the honky tonk."

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