Lemon Tree by Post Malone Lyrics Meaning – Unpeeling the Layers of Bitter-Sweet Existence
Lyrics
I tried with all my might
I thought I knew what you want
It isn’t all that nice
But I guess it will suffice
It’s hard to know what you want
Could you be
A little less sour?
We’re rottin’ by the hour
And my heart’s rotten too
And every film I watch
I’m on the side of the bad guy
So turn around and show me that I’m better
Some people got an apple
Some people got a tangerine
Look around and all I see
Is people happy with what they’re given
Life is pretty sweet, I’m told
I guess I’m shit outta luck
Growin’ a lemon tree
I’m gonna burn it down
And grow me somethin’ better, yeah, yeah
Blood on my hands, I’m on the fence
I double down
I swing and I miss, a kick in the ribs
In trouble now
Came from the dirt, back in the ground
When I die
But I’ma survive, I got my own ways, oh-oh
Could you be
A little less sour?
We’re rottin’ by the hour
And my heart’s rotten too
And every film I watch
I’m on the side of the bad guy
So turn around and show me that I’m better
Some people got an apple (some people got)
Some people got a tangerine (some people got a tangerine, oh-oh, yeah, yeah)
Look around and all I see
Is people happy with what they’re given
Life is pretty sweet, I’m told (I’m told)
I guess I’m shit outta luck
Growin’ a lemon tree (growin’ a lemon tree)
I’m gonna burn it down
And grow me somethin’ better, yeah, yeah
(And grow me somethin’ better)
(And grow me somethin’ better)
(And grow me somethin’ better)
Post Malone’s ‘Lemon Tree’ positions itself as a musical contemplation, an introspective ballad that navigates the murky waters of self-awareness and the aching pursuit of purpose. At first listen, the melody lulls the listener into a seemingly serene landscape, but as the lyrics unfurl, they delve into a poignant and bitter-sweet introspection of one’s place within the spectrum of life’s varied offerings.
The song is a testament to the nuanced artistry of Post Malone, who weaves a rich tapestry of metaphoric language that goes far beyond the superficial. It taps into the universal feeling of not quite fitting in, of wrestling with the dissatisfaction that comes from yearning for something seemingly out of reach. It resonates with a lingering taste of longing, a testament to human resilience and the ever-present quest for self-improvement.
Bittersweet Beginnings: Decoding the Marrow of Discontent
The opening lines immediately set the tone for a restless night, a metaphor for the artist’s tumultuous contemplation of his internal and external dissatisfactions. ‘Couldn’t fall asleep all night, I tried with all my might’ – here lies a struggle that transcends mere insomnia, hinting at deeper existential battles and the often vain attempts to understand and fulfill one’s desires.
‘I thought I knew what you want, it isn’t all that nice, but I guess it will suffice’ – within these words, Post Malone captures the essence of compromise and the resignation that comes with accepting less than one dreams for, whether in love, life, or the self.
The Sour Truth: Unwrapping Life’s Puckered Gifts
Central to ‘Lemon Tree’ is the motif of sourness, a vivid descriptor of both the emotional aftertaste left by life’s disappointments and the disillusionment that nips at one’s faith in a sweeter existence. When Malone croons, ‘Could you be a little less sour? We’re rotting by the hour,’ he confronts the pungent reality that life, like a fruit left unpicked, may deteriorate into bitterness.
Yet, there’s a stoic acceptance in this sentiment, a grudging acknowledgement of the shared human predicament of decay, both in spirit and in flesh, exemplified by the line ‘And my heart’s rotten too.’ The implication here is that one’s core, once ripe with hopes and dreams, can also wither, subject to the same forces that tarnish all.
Finding Solace in Villainy: An Unspoken Camaraderie
An unexpected turn in the narrative emerges as Malone expresses a kinship with the antagonist: ‘And every film I watch, I’m on the side of the bad guy.’ This line reveals a hidden layer within the fabric of the song, hinting at a sense of outcast identity and the comfort found in aligning with the misunderstood or the vilified.
By siding with the character often shunned, Malone subtly acknowledges his own feelings of disenfranchisement, a sense that perhaps in an inverted world, where the bitter fruit leads the orchard, his place could feel more natural, more his own.
The Desire for Transformation: From Lemon to Phoenix
Asserting his will to transcend the status quo, Malone delivers a potent declaration with ‘Growin’ a lemon tree, I’m gonna burn it down and grow me somethin’ better.’ This is where the citrus metaphor culminates into a fiery vow for change, a determination to rid oneself of innate sourness in pursuit of a more gratifying harvest.
It’s a bold statement of agency, a refusal to let the natural fate of one’s circumstances dictate the endgame. Malone is not content with the hand he’s been dealt — the lemon tree of life — and so he sets his sights on destruction as a prelude to rebirth, a cyclic narrative common to those who dare to dream.
The Vivid Tapestry of Metaphors: Post Malone’s Lyrical Artistry
‘Life is pretty sweet, I’m told, I guess I’m shit outta luck’ – amidst the emotional chaos, Malone’s lyrics stand stark, painting a picture of an existence that teeters on the edge of hope and hopelessness. This narrative is so compelling because it resonates with a truth many are afraid to voice: the sometimes bitter reality that life is not always the orchard of sweet fruits it’s promised to be.
Instead of wallowing, however, Malone chooses to pen a different end to his story, staking a claim in the future he intends to manifest. It’s in these moments that the song transcends its own melody, becoming an anthem for all who have ever dared to reimagine their life’s orchard – to burn the lemon groves of their discontent and bravely plant the seeds of something new.
