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Say When Lyrics

See you there
Don't know where you come from
Unaware the stare from someone
Don't appear to care that I saw you, and I want you too
What's your name? Because I have to know it
You let me in and begin to show it
We're terrified, because we're heading straight for it, might get it
Your favorite song plays on the background
All alone but you turn it up now
And everyone is rising to meet you, to greet you

Turn around and you're walking toward me
I'm breaking down and you're breathing slowly
Say the word and I will be your man, your man

Say when
And my own two hands will comfort you
Tonight, tonight
Say when
And my own two arms will carry you
Tonight, tonight

Come close and even closer
We bring it in, but we go no further
We separate two ghosts in one mirror, no mirror

Later on, if it turns to chaos
Hurricanes coming all around us
See the crack, pull it back
From the window, you stay low

Say when
And my own two hands will comfort you
Tonight, tonight
Say when
And my own two arms will carry you
Tonight, tonight

Come across you lost and broken
You're coming to, but you're slow in waking
You start to shake
You still haven't spoken, what happened?
They're coming back and you just don't know when
You want to cry but there's nothing coming
They're gonna push until you give in, say when
Now we're here and it turns to chaos
Hurricane coming all around us
Another crack throws you back from the window
You stay low

It all began with the man and country
Every plan turns another century
Around again another nation, fallen
Maybe God can be on both sides of the gun
Never understood why
Some of us never get it so good, so good
Some of this was here before us
All of this will go after us
It never stops until we give in, give in

Say when
And my own two hands will comfort you
Tonight, tonight
Say when
And my own two arms will carry you
Tonight, tonight

Say when
And my own two hands will comfort you
Tonight, tonight.
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69 Meanings

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Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

I think this song is about a couple who got to know each other deeply. But somehow they never got close enough to each other as they both wanted for unexplained reasons. The girl seems to go through difficulties in her life, and the guy is always there, but he needs her to tell her when because she hides her problems so well. At times, they don't speak. The guy is left wondering what happened, but it's something too deep. He leaves the issue knowing that she just might explain what happened when she's ready for him to comfort her. The guy has long realized that many do not have a shoulder to lean against, and he stays with her even if she won't speak to him, waiting for her to say when, to comfort her, to be there for her.

3xX is amazing this makes perfect sense wow this song is so more powerful now

Not Valid

@3xX Exactly what I got out of it too. Great interpretation.

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

I think 3xX is right on the meaning. The lyrics are grand.

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

Idk it's just a thought but I think it's about war. Like two people who got to know each other really well while there country is at war or something like that?

Tis just a thought...

Agreed. If you go to page 2 and look at my review from about a month before yours, I lay it out.

Not Valid

yes, it is about a war. not love, sex or whatever! it come across to my mind that this is about the Last War.

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

I also read this interpretation of the lyrics: Maybe God can be on both sides of a coin Never understood why Some of us never get a shoulder, shoulder

Some of this was here before us All the rest will go after us Never stops until we get there, get there

My Interpretation

pretty sure the lyrics are:

maybe god can be on both sides of the gun never understood why some of us never get it so good

some of them less fortunate than us all the less will go after us it never stops 'til we give in

Not Valid

I agree with most of what car12meek says it is but if u combine what u 2 are sayin it's

Maybe god can be on both side of the gun never understood why some of us never get it so good, so good

some of this was here before us all the rest will go after us until we give in, give in

Not Valid

made an account to say that this, and never say never were the best songs in their album. So intense, so powerful.

Not Valid
Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

for all those people who think every song by the fray is about love and relationships and blahblahblah, please listen to their songs and read the lyrics a little closer.

this song is about the war.

basically he's saying "i'm scared, but if you (the government) say when, i'll be there to protect my country"

"You been the song playing on the background All along but you're turning up now And everyone is rising to meet you, to greet you" --the threat of war has been there all along, but now it's coming full force and we're prepared for it.

"Turn around and you're walking toward me I'm breaking down and you're breathing slowly You say the word and I will be your man, your man Say when and my own two hands Will comfort you tonight, tonight Say when and my own two arms Will carry you tonight, tonight" --i'm scared, but all you have to do is ask, and i'll give myself to this country

"Maybe God can be on both sides Of the gun, never understood why Some of us never get it so good, so good" --(my favorite line) he's referencing the fact that both sides here claim they're fighting for God and depending oon how you look at it, we're both wrong and we're both right.

"Some of this was here before us All of this will go after us It never stops until we give in" --the trouble was here before us, and it will continue to live after our deaths until someone is brave enough to step up and give into peace.

there's a lot of this song i don't completely understand, but thats what i love about the fray. there's no listener who can honestly say they know the meaning of every fray lyric. i love it :)

I must say, thats a very good observation and interpretation of the song; i never would have considered that meaning. but hmm im not sure what to think what th meaning is here but i definatly see where you are coming from, starting with the lyrics:

"They're coming back and you just don't know when You want to cry but there's nothing coming They're gonna push until you give in or say when"

The rest of the song does really seem to be talking about war and since there are muliple opinians regarding the meaning of this song...

Not Valid

i think in some ways you are correct but i don't think any song by the fray has a specific meaning they are left for people to interpret them the way they want to thats what i LOVE about them

Not Valid

You know, for someone who claims that "there's no listener who can honestly say they know the meaning of every fray lyric", you certainly seem to think you understand this song.

"for all those people who think every song by the fray is about love and relationships and blahblahblah, please listen to their songs and read the lyrics a little closer.

this song is about the war."

Nowhere in there did you say "in my opinion" or "my interpretation is". Songs are all about interpretation; you even acknowledged this when you said that nobody can know...

Not Valid
Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

I think it's about a boy who loves his friend, but she's in an abusive relationship.

I see you there, don't know where you come from Unaware of a stare from someone Don't appear to care that I saw you and I want you

What's your name 'cause I have to know it You let me in and begin to show it [love at first sight and they become friends]

We're terrified 'cause we're heading straight for it, might get it [they both like each other, but she's too dedicated to her boyfriend]

You been the song playing on the background All along but you're turning up now And everyone is rising to meet you, to greet you [she used to be a wallflower, but is slowly "budding" and has become popular? it also could be that he's known her all along, but never noticed his feelings, i'm not sure.]

Turn around and you're walking toward me I'm breaking down and you're breathing slowly You say the word and I will be your man, your man [he's having a hard time dealing with loving her but not being able to show it, but she's calm as can be]

Say when and my own two hands Will comfort you tonight, tonight Say when and my own two arms Will carry you tonight, tonight

We're coming close and then even closer We bring it in but we go no further We're separate, two ghosts in one mirror, no nearer [their relationship can't go any further than it is now]

Later on if it turns to chaos Hurricane coming all around us See the crack, pull it back from the window, you stay low [she fights with her boyfriend]

Say when and my own two hands Will comfort you tonight, tonight Say when and my own two arms Will carry you tonight, tonight

Come across you lost and broken You're coming to but you're slow in waking You start to shake, you still haven't spoken, what happened [he comes to comfort her after the blowout]

They're coming back and you just don't know when You want to cry but there's nothing coming They're gonna push until you give in or say when [the "they" is him specifically]

Now we're here, and it turns to chaos Hurricane, coming all around us Double crack throws you back from the window, you stay low [her boyfriend comes back to see her friend there and it just escalates]

It all began with a man & country Every plan turns another century Around again, another nation fallen

Maybe God can be on both sides Of the gun, never understood why Some of us never get it so good, so good [symbolic for the war between the couple]

Some of this was here before us All of this will go after us It never stops until we give in [about the cycle of abuse possibly?]

Say when and my own two hands Will comfort you tonight, tonight Say when and my own two arms Will carry you tonight, tonight

Say when and my own two hands Will comfort you tonight, tonight

i'm probably reading way too much into it, but that's just what i get out of it.

My Interpretation

that is the best interpretation iv read and its fits in with somebody i no, to me the best part of your interpretaition is this Come across you lost and broken You're coming to but you're slow in waking You start to shake, you still haven't spoken, what happened [he comes to comfort her after the blowout]

They're coming back and you just don't know when You want to cry but there's nothing coming They're gonna push until you give in or say when [the "they" is him specifically] but the whole interpretation is still beautiful thumbs up :)

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

This song is really about war, the coming war... and about God, "Say when And my own two hands will comfort you Tonight, tonight Say when And my own two arms will carry you Tonight, tonight"

God is telling us that He will be with us in times of "chaos" He will fight for the nations who believe in Him, and He also be the one who will rescue the people who will be persecuted by the war.

"Maybe God can be on both sides Of the gun, never understood why Some of us never get it so good, so good"

This is really about he LAST WAR when God will rescue those who love Him. "I'm coming back and you just don't know when You want to cry but there's nothing coming" But will never see Him literally, 'cause you know, He's a big big God... but we will feel Him as He will "carry us" from the ground.

But nobody knows when will the end time comes.... I think the writer wrote this song to interpret his feelings towards the Last War coming... But he's afraid that he'll lost his faith to God for he is being "shaken" by the world.

Say When -- 'he also dictates the signs of the end times...

"Now we're here and it turns to chaos Hurricanes coming all around us Another crack throws you back from the window You stay low"

cause in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 says "for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night."

Somebody has to correct the LYRICS. please.

My Interpretation

wow i never thot of it that way... amazing interpretation

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

I agree, this song is pretty straightforward I think.

3xX is dead on.

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

"All began with the man of country Every plan forms another century You're around again, another nation, fallen

Maybe God can be on both sides Another gone, never understood why Some of us never get a shoulder, shoulder

Some of this was here before us All the rest will go after us Never stops until we get there, get there"

This part makes me think it's about two lovers, but then the guy went to war... or i'm not sure exactly, but it has something to do with the world at war, cause of the line: "Maybe God can be on both sides," which could refer to like religious wars.

holy frick, this is currently nearly beating You Found Me as my favorite song from the new album right now. there's so much emotion in it... it's overwhelming.

Cover art for Say When lyrics by Fray, The

Best song on the new album. Hands down. Simply breathtaking.

I'm glad someone else agrees with me. Everyone seems to be going on about You Found Me, but I think this song is miles better.

Not Valid

I could not agree more. This is the type of song with so much emotion that it is nearly impossible to get tired of it too quickly. You Found Me was nice the first few times I heard it, but then I realized it was pretty generic. No staying power. This is really a great song. I also like We Build Then We Break. A very different sound than we're used to out of the Fray, but a great listen nonetheless.

I can't get enough of Say When, though. Glad you agree as well.

Not Valid

I agree, it gets to me every time. I'm liking the whold CD, but this one has definitely stood out for me.

Not Valid