Released: 2023
Aight, fam, let’s get into this joint. “Chemical” is a deep dive into the relentless grip of toxic love and the battles we face with our own compulsions. Post Malone lays it down with a confession about a relationship that’s both addictive and destructive, the type that’s hard to quit because it’s wired into the system – like a chemical reaction you can’t control.
The track kicks off with Post singing ’bout oxytocin, that love hormone that got us all acting a fool sometimes, making everything feel good in the moment. But see, when the high fades, reality sets back in and things don’t feel the same no more. The lyrics paint a picture of a man stuck in a cycle, knowing the world’s all kinds of messed up, yet feeling powerless to step away from the one who breaks him – ’cause despite the pain, leaving feels impossible. The phrase “I couldn’t leave you if I tried” is straight-up admitting that the hold is too strong; it’s past the mind, deep in the bones.
Malone hits us with that habit of returning to what ain’t good for us, almost like an addiction – breaking rules he set for himself, vowing each time it’s the last time. The “smokin’ in the car” and “Seven Nation Army, fightin’ at the bar” lines, that’s real life for so many, seeking solace in a moment away from the chaos or in the thick of a drunken brawl, still trying to fix things with apologies and desperate attempts to make it right. The reference to a “Seven Nation Army,” comes from a classic track by The White Stripes, and in this context, it symbolizes a ‘me against the world’ vibe in the relationship’s dynamic.
Post knows it’s messed up – he’s self-aware, he sees the cycle, but that hook, “it’s chemical,” that’s the repeating mantra that gives us the truth behind why he can’t quit. It’s beyond his control; it’s like his very makeup, his biology, won’t let him cut the cord. He details this push and pull – each time he’s close to moving on, she does something to reel him back in and mess up his thought process.
Nearing the end, there’s a bleak acceptance that maybe there’s no such thing as mistakes in this game – perhaps it’s all predestined, which makes trying to fight it or change futile. It’s a resignation that despite the toxicity, maybe it’s meant to be. The repetition of the lines about chemical ties, reinforced with the minimalistic “Da-da-da” outro, underscores the song’s theme of helplessness against these irresistible, if harmful, forces.
Ultimately, “Chemical” is less about the romance and more about the inescapable nature of our darkest connections and the inner conflict they bring. It’s a raw slice of life set to melody, something Post Malone’s been a master at serving up. It’s that reality check coated in a vibe, reminding us that sometimes, the things we can’t let go of are the very things we probably should.
