Release Date
October 21, 2024
Label
Composers / Lyricists
HONEY NOISE, Brown Panda, Frankie Day, Chanti, Lee Hye-yum
Participating Members
Karina
Giselle
Winter
Ningning
About the Song
“Flights, Not Feelings” is the third track on aespa’s fifth mini album Whiplash, released in 2024 through SM Entertainment. Framed around the choice of movement over emotional attachment, the song captures a desire for freedom, honesty, and forward momentum, using flight as a metaphor for escape and self-determination. With production by THE HUB, “Flights, Not Feelings” adds a lighter yet resolute tone to the album, reinforcing aespa’s message of independence and clarity amid change.
[FULL LYRICS – ROMANIZATION & ENGLISH ONLY]
English Translation
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, not trying to burn myself.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, not trying to burn myself.
mo-du-ga jam-deu-reo it-neun
NIGHT OFF
chang-mu-neul du-deu-ryeo
kkae-un mok-so-ri
ha-neu-re tteo it-neun
STRANGE PLANE
nae-ga mal-ha-myeon eo-di-deun
de-ryeo-ga jul-lae
hey look
NIGHT OFF
chang-mu-neul du-deu-ryeo
kkae-un mok-so-ri
ha-neu-re tteo it-neun
STRANGE PLANE
nae-ga mal-ha-myeon eo-di-deun
de-ryeo-ga jul-lae
hey look
While everyone’s fast asleep on a night off, a voice taps on my window and wakes me up, a strange plane floating in the sky, wherever I say, it’ll take me there, hey look.
EVERY DAY
neom-chi-neun ma-eu-me
i’m so FLY
yeah yeah
i bring it back
i-jen nae ma-me
sol-ji-kal-lae
i wanna get out
i wanna try
i wanna escape
neom-chi-neun ma-eu-me
i’m so FLY
yeah yeah
i bring it back
i-jen nae ma-me
sol-ji-kal-lae
i wanna get out
i wanna try
i wanna escape
Every day my heart overflows, I’m so fly, yeah yeah, I bring it back, now I’ll be honest with myself, I wanna get out, I wanna try, I wanna escape.
oh
i tried to warn you
i-jen nae meot-dae-ro
let it FLOW
i tried to warn you
i-jen nae meot-dae-ro
let it FLOW
Oh, I tried to warn you, now I’ll do it my way, let it flow.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, not trying to burn myself.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
wanna earn it,
earn it
i’m not tryna hurt myself
wanna earn it,
earn it
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, I wanna earn it, earn it.
jeo gu-reum neo-meo
kkeut-kka-ji nae ma-meul pyeol-chyeo
i’m flying over the MOON
kkeut-kka-ji nae ma-meul pyeol-chyeo
i’m flying over the MOON
Beyond those clouds, I spread my heart all the way to the end, I’m flying over the moon.
seon-myeong-hae-jin na-ui ma-mi
you see?
bang-hyang-ki-reul ja-ba da-si
for me
yeah gon-du-se-un gam-gak
eong-kyeo it-neun MY LIFE
damn,
it’s hard pu-reo nwa
FLY HIGH
you see?
bang-hyang-ki-reul ja-ba da-si
for me
yeah gon-du-se-un gam-gak
eong-kyeo it-neun MY LIFE
damn,
it’s hard pu-reo nwa
FLY HIGH
My heart’s become clearer now, you see, I grab the compass again for myself, yeah tangled senses, my life all knotted up, damn, it’s hard, let it loose, fly high.
1, 2, 3
EX to be exact
1, 2, 3
yeah jeul-gi-myeon dwae
ga-chyeo it-deon nae
gam-jeong-ui MAZE
i wanna get out
i wanna try
i wanna escape
EX to be exact
1, 2, 3
yeah jeul-gi-myeon dwae
ga-chyeo it-deon nae
gam-jeong-ui MAZE
i wanna get out
i wanna try
i wanna escape
One, two, three, ex to be exact, one, two, three, yeah just enjoy it, the maze of emotions that trapped me, I wanna get out, I wanna try, I wanna escape.
oh
i tried to warn you
i ba-ra-meul neu-kkyeo
let it FLOW
i tried to warn you
i ba-ra-meul neu-kkyeo
let it FLOW
Oh, I tried to warn you, I feel the wind now, let it flow.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, not trying to burn myself.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
wanna earn it,
earn it
i’m not tryna hurt myself
wanna earn it,
earn it
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, I wanna earn it, earn it.
jeo gu-reum neo-meo
kkeut-kka-ji nae ma-meul pyeol-chyeo
(kkeut-eop-si ma-meul pyeol-chyeo)
i’m flying over the MOON
kkeut-kka-ji nae ma-meul pyeol-chyeo
(kkeut-eop-si ma-meul pyeol-chyeo)
i’m flying over the MOON
Beyond those clouds, I spread my heart to the very end, endlessly opening my heart, I’m flying over the moon.
sam-kil deu-tan
nae geu-rim-jan
jeo meol-li jeo-mi dwaet-ji
du-ryeo-um-gwa
geok-jeong-eun RIGHT
hul-hul da teo-reo beo-ryeo
gil eop-neun ji-do-reul
pyeol-chyeo nan
geu-jeo ma-mi
heul-leo-ga-neun go-seu-ro
FLYING NOW
nae geu-rim-jan
jeo meol-li jeo-mi dwaet-ji
du-ryeo-um-gwa
geok-jeong-eun RIGHT
hul-hul da teo-reo beo-ryeo
gil eop-neun ji-do-reul
pyeol-chyeo nan
geu-jeo ma-mi
heul-leo-ga-neun go-seu-ro
FLYING NOW
My shadow that felt like it swallowed me fades far away, fear and worry are right, I shake them all off, I unfold a map with no roads, and just let my heart flow wherever it goes, flying now.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
i’m not tryna hurt myself
tryna burn myself
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, not trying to burn myself.
catching FLIGHTS, not FEELINGS
i’m not tryna hurt myself
wanna earn it,
earn it
i’m not tryna hurt myself
wanna earn it,
earn it
Catching flights, not feelings, I’m not trying to hurt myself, I wanna earn it, earn it.
gin ba-mui jeo-pyeon
sae-rop-ge nae ma-meul pyeol-chyeo
(na-ra-bwa na-reul pyeol-chyeo)
i’m flying over the MOON
sae-rop-ge nae ma-meul pyeol-chyeo
(na-ra-bwa na-reul pyeol-chyeo)
i’m flying over the MOON
On the other side of this long night, I open my heart anew, fly up, open me wide, I’m flying over the moon.
you should catch a FLIGHT,
not the feels yuh
you should catch a FLIGHT,
not the feels yuh
you should catch a FLIGHT
not the feelings (x4)
not the feels yuh
you should catch a FLIGHT,
not the feels yuh
you should catch a FLIGHT
not the feelings (x4)
You should catch a flight, not the feels, yeah, you should catch a flight, not the feels, yeah, you should catch a flight, not the feelings, not the feelings, not the feelings, not the feelings.
🗣️ Practice Korean Words
목소리
(moksori)
voice
💡 Note: The sound produced by a person’s speech or singing, often acting as a call to adventure here
그림자
(geurimja)
shadow
💡 Note: A dark shape produced by a body, representing past worries or negative emotions in this context
지도
(jido)
map
💡 Note: A diagrammatic representation of an area, used here to symbolize exploring uncharted paths
감각
(gamgak)
sense
💡 Note: A faculty by which the body perceives an external stimulus; one’s feeling or sensation
🎵 Song Meaning & Interpretation
The lyrics describe choosing movement and freedom over emotional entanglement, framing flight as an escape from fear, hesitation, and confusion. By leaving behind familiar worries and expectations, the speaker follows instinct rather than attachment, opening their heart beyond limits and trusting where the flow leads. Flying becomes a metaphor for reclaiming control, shedding emotional weight, and embracing growth without being held back by feelings that once caused pain.
