Killed a Man

1. "I killed a man last night, gave him what he deserved" Here, Post Malone is metaphorically talking about "killing" a part of himself. The "man" he killed represents an old, troubled version of himself. The phrase "gave him what he deserved" suggests that this destructive side deserved to disappear.
2. "Dug a midnight grave, and I put him in that dirt" In this verse, he reinforces the metaphor of burying the past, suggesting that he "buried" this old version of himself in a "midnight grave." It symbolizes the closing of a chapter, likely representing a negative side of his life.
3. "I woke up this morning, my conscience fully clear" After "killing" this part of himself, he wakes up with a clear conscience. This represents the idea that after leaving behind old habits or behaviors, he feels renewed and free from guilt.
4. "Felt closer to Jesus than I ever had in years" Here, he expresses that this change made him feel closer to spirituality or a better version of himself, suggesting redemption and healing.
5. "He can't hurt the ones I love, he can't break no angel's heart" The "he" mentioned here refers to the old, negative version of himself, and now that it's gone, that destructive part can't hurt the people around him or damage important relationships, metaphorically meaning "he can't break an angel's heart" (likely referring to a loved one).
6. "He can't take that whiskey bottle and tear my world apart" In this verse, he specifically mentions alcohol as a negative influence in his life. The old self, who had issues with alcohol, can no longer tear apart his life and relationships.
7. "He can't stand there in the mirror, he can't tell me no more lies" The "he" can no longer hide behind lies or illusions. This reflects the idea that he stopped deceiving himself and living in denial about who he was.
8. "Yeah, I killed a man, I killed a man last night" This is the chorus, reaffirming that he got rid of his old self in a metaphorical and symbolic way.
9. "Lord knows he had it comin', his sins were adding up" Here, he acknowledges that this old part of himself was piling up sins and mistakes. It was inevitable that something had to change.
10. "But when he drove that girl away, I finally had enough" This verse talks about a significant breaking point he caused (possibly with a loved one), which was the tipping point for him to decide to change. "Driving the girl away" symbolizes losing someone important due to his behavior.
11. "I coulda pled the fifth, but I poured it down the drain" "Plead the fifth" refers to the legal right to remain silent in the U.S. to avoid self-incrimination. Here, he plays on words, saying that instead of remaining silent or denying, he got rid of the alcohol (the fifth bottle) and confronted his problems.
12. "Said that sinner's prayer, and I sent him on his way" He mentions a "sinner's prayer," symbolizing repentance and the desire to change, bidding farewell to his old self.
13. "Wish it didn't take this long, but now he's finally gone" Here, he reflects that he wishes this change had happened sooner, but now that the "man" (his old self) is gone, he can move forward.
14. "Now he can't hurt the ones I love, he can't break no angel's heart" This verse repeats, emphasizing that his old self, who caused pain and suffering to others, can no longer do so.
15. "He can't stand there in the mirror, he can't tell me no more lies" Repeating the earlier verse, he reinforces that he is free from the lies he used to tell himself.
16. "He's gone for good this time, I killed a man, I killed a man last night" He emphasizes that this change is permanent. His old self is gone for good, and this transformation is real.
17. "I killed a man, I killed a man last night" The final chorus again reaffirms the personal transformation and overcoming his troubled past.

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