meaning of the song how to save a life by the fray
How to Save a Life According to lead singer Isaac Slade, the song was composed and influenced by his experience while working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teens:
Just Give Me a Reason The song is about the desire to hold on to a relationship even when it appears to be breaking down.[1]
Laid to Rest The song is meant to be a first-person narrative of a murder victim, haunting his killer from beyond the grave. On the other side, the lyrics may also have a connection to the Iraq War, like most of the songs from Ashes of the Wake.
Eleanor Rigby The song is often described as a lament for lonely people[16] or a commentary on post-war life in Britain.[17][18]
How to Save a Life Slade claims that the song is about all of the people that tried to reach out to the boy but were unsuccessful. As Slade says in an interview, the boy's friends and family approached him by saying, "Quit taking drugs and cutting yourself or I won't talk to you again," but all he needed was some support. The boy was losing friends and going through depression. He lost his best friend and could not deal with it. The verses of the song describe an attempt by an adult to confront a troubled teen. In the chorus, the singer laments that he himself was unable to save a friend because he did not know how.
Eubie Blake If I'd known I was going to live this long, I would have taken better care of myself.