Interpretation of The Fray's song "How to Save a Life"

Summary

This song is a very emotional and depressing song about the death of a friend from committing suicide. The persona tried everything to save his friend but apparently not enough, since his friend died. And He's beating himself over it.

I

"Step one, you say we need to talk
He walks, you say sit down it's just a talk
He smiles politely back at you
You stare politely right on through
Some sort of window to your right
As he goes left and you stay right
Between the lines of fear and blame
And you begin to wonder why you came"

Verse I tells about what you should do in order to save a life, but it is more of him talking to himself.

(Line 1,2) 1st step{as he said}, talk to the person(friend) and talk to him, and if he tries to leave make him stay.

(Line 3,4) It's an awkward moment. You don't know how to start the conversation, hence, you just smiled at each other.

(Line 5,6)You gave him a silver lining, a choice to go to the right things( window to your right= his passage way to leave his empty and dark present life), but he went to go his own way, as you remained in the right(correct). You remained right because you didn't force him to sit down and go where you want him to got, because it would be WRONG of you. At least you think it's the right thing.

(Line 7,8) You're on the edge where you fear what he might do to himself and at the same time you blame him for going that direction or you blame yourself for not getting him to do the right things. And with all the fear and blame, you come to question yourself, "What am I doing here?", "Why am I trying to saving this person?"

II

"Let him know that you know best
Cause after all you do know best
Try to slip past his defense
Without granting innocence
Lay down a list of what is wrong
The things you've told him all along
And pray to God he hears you
And pray to God he hears you"

(Line 1,2) The lines say it all, but why is it the YOU know best? Because you see things from a far. You see the big picture, hence you know best.

(Line 3,4) Try to not stop convincing him that he is wrong, even after countless times he tries to defend himself and try to justify his wrong doings. And do it without forgetting the things you know about him. He's a friend.

(Line 5,6) Tell him all the things he's doing wrong, don't ever tire of it.

(Line 7,8) And after all this, you have done your part. All you can do now is pray that he listened to what you have to say, and pray that he doesn't think you're another enemy but a friend who's trying to help.

III

"As he begins to raise his voice
You lower yours and grant him one last choice
Drive until you lose the road
Or break with the ones you've followed
He will do one of two things
He will admit to everything
Or he'll say he's just not the same
And you'll begin to wonder why you came"

(Line 1,2) Be patient. If he gets angry, don't get angry as well. You'll get nowhere if you're both angry. Give him his room to breath and make his choice. After all, you're only trying to help. At the end of the day, it's still his choice.

(Line 3,4) He can choose to continue with his bad ways until he gets into a sticky situation where he's lost and can't undo what he has done, or he can stop at once. And let the people ,who made him stop, help him go the right direction.

(Line 5,6,7) He will make his choice, it either he admits all his wrongs(everything starts with the acceptance) and then change and be helped, or he can make some of his alibis and propositions that would justify his actions.

IV

"Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life"

(Line 1) He's blaming himself for the death of his friend.

(Line 2) He lost his friend because of all his friend's problems(bitterness)

(Line 3) He's thinking that he could've saved his friend's life, if only he talked/chatted with him that night, so that he wouldn't feel so alone.

(Line 4) He knows how to save a life, he just wrote 3 verses 'bout it. But does he really know? If he really knows how to save a life, then why did he lose his friend's life.