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Lyrics of How to Save a Life - New Album Version by The Fray

verse

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
You begin to wonder why you came

chorus

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

verse

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
Pray to God He hears you
And I pray to God He hears you

chorus

And 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

verse

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

chorus

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
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

bridge

How to save a life
How to save a life

chorus

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
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

outro

How to save a life
How to save a life
Writer(s): Isaac Slade, Joseph King

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Meaning
The song 'How to Save a Life' by The Fray portrays a conversation where one person tries to help a friend in need but struggles to truly connect and understand them. The lyrics depict the challenges of communication, the feeling of losing a friendship due to misunderstandings and the desire to have known how to prevent it, using the metaphor of learning how to save a life.
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Themes
Loss and regret
• Where did I go wrong? I lost a friend • Somewhere along in the bitterness
Communication and misunderstanding
• You stare politely right on through • Lay down a list of what is wrong • He smiles politely back at you
Desire to help
• Had I known how to save a life • I would have stayed up with you all night
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Moods
Heartbreak, reflection, angst, despair, solitude
Rating: PG
Lyrics to be enjoyed with parental supervision
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Contributions

Last edit 7 months ago
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