The Story
Conan Gray Lyrics

Let me tell you a story
The start of the song, setting the tone for the theme of the song, which is storytelling.

About a boy and a girl
The first story being told is about a boy and a girl, introducing a narrative of love.

It's kinda short, kinda boring
The story being told is not grandiose or thrilling, but a simple one.

But the end is a whirl
Though the rest of the story is ordinary, the ending is unexpected and dramatic.

They were just sixteen
The age of the artists in the first story.

When the people were mean
The world was unkind to the singers in the first story.

So they didn't love themselves
As a result of the unkind world, the boy and girl in the first story struggled to love themselves.

And now they're gone
The boy and girl in the first story are no longer alive.

Headstones on a lawn
Their grave markers are on a lawn, a poignant image of their deaths.

And when I was younger
The beginning of the second story, now being told by the singer.

I knew a boy and a boy
The singer's story is about two boys who are friends.

Best friends with each other
They are close friends.

But always wished they were more
They both desired more than just friendship but were too scared to explore those feelings.

'Cause they loved one other
They had romantic feelings for each other.

But never discovered
They never acknowledged or acted on their feelings.

'Cause they were too afraid
Fear held them back from pursuing a romantic relationship.

Of what they'd say
They were afraid of societal judgment if they came out as more than friends.

Moved to different states
They later moved apart and lost touch.

Oh, and I'm afraid that's just the way the world works
The singer reflects on the harsh reality that sometimes people are afraid to be true to themselves and their feelings due to societal pressure.

It ain't funny, it ain't pretty, it ain't sweet
Emphasizing the seriousness of the topic and its hardships.

But I think that it could work for you and me
Despite the difficulties, the singer believes that love can triumph.

Just wait and see
The future is uncertain, but the singer remains hopeful.

It's not the end of the story
The singer reminds the listener that despite difficulties, there is always room for more of the story to be written.

Now it's on to the sequel
The singer begins the third and final story.

About me and my friend
The new story is about the singer and another friend.

Both our parents were evil
The parents in the third story are less than ideal.

So we both made a bet
The singer and the friend come up with a plan to escape their parents.

If we worked and we saved
The plan was to work and save up money to leave their parents' homes.

We could both run away
The ultimate goal was to leave and run away together to start a new life.

And we'd have a better life
The hope was that the new life would be an improvement over their current situation.

And I was right
The plan worked out for the singer.

I wonder if she's alright
The singer is uncertain about the friend's current situation.

And the movie's always running in my head
The singer reflects on the multiple stories that they have shared and how they continue in their thoughts long after they have ended.

All the people, all the lovers, all my friends
Reflecting on the relationships discussed in the songs and how they impact the singer.

And I hope that they all get their happy end
The singer hopes that all the characters in their stories find happiness.

In the end
Reflecting on the ultimate conclusion of every story.