Post Malone’s “Mourning” Lyrics Meaning

On 19 May 2023, Republic Records and Mercury Records introduced “Mourning” to the marketplace, making this the second single we have been treated to from “Austin”, Post Malone’s fifth studio album. 

His most-recent studio LP, “Twelve Carat Toothache” (2022), came out less than a year ago. And whereas it did chart across the globe, it failed to go multi-platinum as with his previous efforts.

That said, Posty composed “Mourning” with two of his regular collaborators, certified hitmakers Watt and Louis Bell.

The Lyrics of “Mourning”

Perhaps the simplest way to describe the verses of this piece are as an illustration of the vocalist’s alcohol-fueled, party-like lifestyle. By the looks of things, Malone spends an ample amount of time traveling around the country, hitting up different hotspots with his friends and chasing models. 

And the main narrative seems to revolve around him getting so boozed during one of such outings that Post comes to regret it. Along those lines, he also seems to conclude that said friends are dishonest or have their own interests at heart when dealing with him, i.e. putting the onus on Malone to keep things poppin’.

That sentiment of regret actually extends into the chorus. In fact, the vocalist reveals that the reason this song is called “mourning” is sort of a double entendre or homonym. That is to say that it is in the mornings, when the sun ‘kills his buzz’ – i.e. brings down the high from the night before – that Post is also in mourning. 

And in that latter regard, what he’s apparently alluding to is the struggle for sobriety. Or as relayed, he ‘doesn’t want to sober up’ but is being compelled to anyway. The mention of the sun, in context, can be taken as symbolic, pointing to the narrator being forced to face the day, after a night of hard partying, even though he doesn’t want to.

“Don’t wanna sober up
The sun is killin’ my buzz, that’s why they call it mourning
Thought I was strong enough
Threw my bottle at the sky, said, ‘God, that’s a warning’
Don’t wanna sober up
Try to keep it inside, but I just wanna pour it
Thought I was strong enough
Got a lotta s–t to say, couldn’t fit it in the chorus”

The chorus also reveals that Post is ‘trying to keep it inside’ but instead ‘just wanna pour it’. That, coupled with him lamenting his lack of strength afterwards, can be deemed the clearest clues alluding to this piece being based on the vocalist’s desire to stop drinking. And recently, Malone did publicly state his intention to give “smokes and brews” but not rushing himself in keeping that resolution.

So all things considered, what it appears the vocalist is actually “mourning” is being caught up in a lifestyle that encourages him to hit the bottle, even though he’s no longer as keen on doing so. Viewed from a different angle, he’s upset that he can’t have his cake and eat it too, i.e. abuse alcohol without having to deal with the related negative effects afterwards.