Better Now

"Better Now" by Post Malone is a poignant exploration of the complex emotions that follow a difficult breakup. The song's central theme revolves around the facade of being “better now” that both he and his ex-girlfriend project to the world and to each other. It delves into the universal experience of post-heartbreak denial, nostalgia, and the lingering sting of lost love. Malone articulates the idea that their claims of being happier are a defense mechanism, a front put up because they are no longer in each other's lives to witness the truth. The lyrics reveal a deep sense of regret and an acknowledgment of his own role in the relationship's demise, suggesting that his focus on wealth and success (“Everything came second to the Benzo”) contributed to the fallout. The song captures the internal conflict between the desire to move on and the inability to let go of the past, a sentiment that resonates with anyone who has experienced a significant romantic loss.

The song delves into the emotional turmoil following a painful breakup. The narrator and his ex-lover are both pretending to be happier and “better now” that they are no longer together. He suspects her claims of being better off are only because he is not physically present, a sentiment he admits to reciprocating. This mutual pretense forms the core of the song's emotional conflict.

He reminisces about the depth of their past relationship, expressing disbelief that it has ended. He recalls how integrated she was into his life, knowing all of his family, including his aunts and uncles. A poignant memory is shared of them celebrating with twenty candles, looking forward to a shared future that now will never be. The shift from a cherished photo by the bedside to it being discarded in a drawer with unwanted socks symbolizes the decay of their love and the pain of what has been lost.

The narrator attempts to distract himself from the heartache by indulging in a fast-paced lifestyle, drinking Hennessy and spending time with his friends, whom he refers to as his “brothers like it's Jonas.” However, these attempts are futile as he cannot erase her from his thoughts. The pain is further amplified when he sees her with a new partner. While he tries to be nonchalant, admitting the new man seems “pretty cool,” he confesses that he is still broken over her.

Throughout the song, there's a recurring sense of regret and a longing for what used to be. He acknowledges his own faults, admitting he never meant to let her down and that he prioritized material success, symbolized by his “Benzo,” over their relationship. Despite his changed life with “foreign” cars and a “bigger chain,” he finds himself constantly looking back on the “better days” they shared. The song concludes with a raw and vulnerable admission of his enduring love, promising he will be okay while simultaneously declaring her the only love of his life, highlighting the unresolved and deeply ingrained nature of his feelings.

"Better Now" was released in 2018 as part of Post Malone's second studio album, Beerbongs & Bentleys. The song was written by Post Malone (Austin Post), Billy Walsh, Louis Bell, and Frank Dukes, with the latter two also handling the production. In an interview, Frank Dukes revealed that the song was creatively pieced together, or "frankensteined," from various scraps of other studio sessions with Malone. The verse melody was conceived first without lyrics, accompanied by a different beat and an "awkward" hook. It was Louis Bell who recalled an unused chorus from a previous session, which then became the central hook of "Better Now". Dukes then composed a new backing track on guitar, drawing inspiration from the band Weezer. The song was sent to UK contemporary hit radio on May 25, 2018, and to US contemporary hit radio on June 5, 2018, as the album's fifth and final single. Upon its release, the song received significant praise, with Taylor Swift reportedly telling Malone she was "jealous" of the song and wished she had written it.

The rhyme scheme in "Better Now" is a significant element of its catchy and memorable quality. The chorus follows a consistent AABB rhyme scheme with lines like "better now, better now / not around, not around" and "let you down, let you down / gave you everything, everything". This simple and effective structure enhances the song's pop appeal. The verses also feature a relatively straightforward rhyme scheme, which contributes to the song's narrative flow. Post Malone employs both perfect rhymes and near rhymes throughout the track. The song's rhythm is built around a tempo of approximately 145-150 beats per minute, giving it an upbeat feel that contrasts with its melancholic lyrical themes. The rhythmic structure is characterized by a steady, driving beat, common in pop and hip-hop music. Post Malone's vocal delivery is rhythmically intricate, often featuring a sing-song flow that syncopates with the underlying beat. This interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the musical rhythm is a key component of his style, making the song both danceable and emotionally resonant. The use of all downstrokes with palm muting on the guitar in some tutorials suggests a percussive and intense rhythmic drive.

"Better Now" showcases Post Malone's signature blend of musical and literary techniques. Musically, the song is a fusion of pop-rap and R&B, characterized by a catchy, melodic hook and a rhythmic vocal delivery that walks the line between singing and rapping. His vocal style has been described as "laconic," and in this track, he employs a fast vibrato effect on elongated words, which has become a trademark of his sound. The production, handled by Frank Dukes and Louis Bell, features a prominent guitar line, influenced by the band Weezer, which provides a melodic counterpoint to the hip-hop-infused beat. Lyrically, the song employs a narrative and conversational tone, making the story feel personal and relatable. The use of vivid imagery, such as the picture in the dresser with the unwanted socks, creates a strong emotional connection with the listener. The chorus acts as the thematic backbone of the song, with its repetition emphasizing the central conflict of the narrative. The reference to the "Jonas Brothers" serves as a contemporary cultural touchstone, grounding the song in a specific generational context.

"Better Now" achieved significant commercial success and cultural impact upon its release. The song reached the top 10 on music charts in numerous countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Ireland, and New Zealand. It peaked at number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in the US. The song's popularity was so widespread that it even caught the attention of Taylor Swift, who praised the track and told Post Malone she wished she had written it. "Better Now" was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 61st Annual Grammy Awards, solidifying its critical acclaim. The music video, a black-and-white montage of tour footage directed by Adam Degross, showcases Post Malone's immense popularity and energetic live performances. The song played a key role in the success of the album *Beerbongs & Bentleys*, which broke streaming records and debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. "Better Now" remains one of Post Malone's most popular songs and is a staple of his live shows, continuing to resonate with a wide audience due to its relatable themes of heartbreak and regret.

"Better Now" is rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its emotional impact. The line, “Everything came second to the Benzo,” uses the luxury car as a metaphor for materialism and the pursuit of fame and fortune, which he implies took precedence over his relationship and led to its downfall. The image of “Twenty candles, blow 'em out and open your eyes” is a powerful symbol of a shared past and dreams for the future, likely alluding to a significant birthday or moment of celebration filled with youthful hope and innocence that has since been shattered. The contrast between the “picture posted by your bedside” and it now being “in your dresser with the socks you don't like” is a poignant metaphor for the devaluation of their once-cherished memories and relationship. This stark imagery effectively communicates the painful transition from being a central part of someone's life to being a discarded, unwanted remnant. Additionally, the recurring theme of looking back on “better days” despite his current success, symbolized by “foreign” cars and a “bigger chain,” underscores the idea that material wealth cannot replace genuine emotional connection and happiness.

The most prominent recurring motif in "Better Now" is the titular phrase itself, "better now." This phrase is repeated in the chorus by both the narrator and his imagined ex-lover, creating a powerful sense of irony and emotional dissonance. The repetition highlights the central theme of the song: the shared pretense of being over the relationship. Another key recurring phrase is "not around," which serves as the justification for their supposed improved state. The line "I never meant to let you down" is also repeated, underscoring the narrator's feelings of guilt and regret. The motif of retrospection is explicitly stated with the line, "I keep on looking back on better days," which reinforces the theme of nostalgia and the difficulty of moving on despite outward appearances of success. The outro contains a desperate promise, "I promise, I swear to you, I'll be okay / You're only the love of my life," which is a poignant and ironic final statement that encapsulates the song's emotional core of unresolved love and pain.