Fight Or Flight

Conan Gray's 'Fight Or Flight' is a poignant exploration of the emotional turmoil one experiences when faced with infidelity and the end of a relationship. The song's title itself, 'Fight Or Flight,' refers to the instinctive physiological response to a threatening situation, which in the context of the song, is the emotional threat of heartbreak. Gray uses this metaphor to express the dilemma of confronting the painful truth or escaping from it.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of betrayal, with the protagonist discovering their partner's infidelity. The imagery of 'a crime scene' and 'clothes thrown on the balcony' suggests a chaotic emotional state, while the 'perfume out a magazine' indicates the presence of someone else. Gray's choice to 'rather die than have to cry in front of you' and 'rather lie than tell you I'm in love with you' highlights the pride and vulnerability in the face of betrayal, preferring to mask true feelings than to show weakness.

The song takes an unexpected turn when another person, also a victim of the same lover's deceit, appears at the protagonist's door. This shared experience of betrayal creates a bond between the two strangers, as they both grapple with the pain of being cheated on. The repeated chorus at the end emphasizes the central theme of the song: the struggle between confronting the painful reality (fight) or avoiding it altogether (flight).