Connell

Conan Gray's song 'Connell' is a raw, emotional outpouring of heartbreak. Gray details being in a relationship where his emotional investment wasn't returned. The lyrics start with a picture revealing infidelity, showing the pain of seeing your loved one with someone else. This opening image sets the tone of disappointment and hurt throughout the song.

Gray uses strong metaphors for his pain, like 'kissing a ghost,' suggesting the feeling of clinging to something unreal or intangible. He acknowledges his own fault in believing something that wasn't truly there. The song also touches on self-deprecation, with Gray blaming himself for being unworthy of love, a feeling intensified by comparing himself to his dad, hinting at a repeating cycle of emotional hurt.

The cultural and geographical difference between the lovers, 'Texas skies' and 'London streets,' symbolizes the emotional distance and incompatibility. Gray reflects on how this relationship only confirms his worst insecurities, reinforcing the idea that he doesn't deserve love. Repeating 'Connell' at the end constantly reminds him of the source of his pain, summing up unrequited love and the inner struggle it brings.