How to Save a Life

The Fray

About How to Save a Life

"How to Save a Life" is a song by American alternative rock band The Fray, released in March 2006 as the second single from their debut studio album of the same name. The song is one of the band's most popular airplay songs and peaked in the top 3 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart in the United States. It became the joint seventh longest charting single on the Billboard Hot 100, tying with Santana's "Smooth" (1999), at 58 consecutive weeks. The song has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA, and has sold 4. 7 million downloads as of January 2015, the fourth best-selling rock song in digital history. It is the band's highest-charting song to date, topping the Adult Top 40 chart for 15 consecutive weeks and topping the Canadian Airplay Chart. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal in 2007, but lost to "Dani California" by Red Hot Chili Peppers. 


Year:
2006
4:41
268 
#2

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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

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

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 I pray to God he hears you

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

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

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

How to save a life
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

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

How to save a life
How to save a life

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The Fray

The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005, which was certified double platinum by the RIAA and platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK. The Fray achieved national success with their first single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)", which became a top ten hit in the United States. The release of their second single, "How to Save a Life", brought the band worldwide fame. The song charted in the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 and was a top 5 single in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. more »

1 fan

Written by: Isaac Slade, Joseph King

Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


14 facts about this song

Album Release
"How to Save a Life" is the title track from The Fray's debut studio album which was released on 13 September, 2005.
Lyrics Inspiration
The inspiration for the lyrics of "How to Save a Life" came from lead vocalist Isaac Slade's experience as a mentor to a troubled teenage boy.
Chart Performance
"How to Save a Life" peaked at number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and became one of the band's biggest hits.
Worldwide Success
The song was a huge success worldwide, reaching the top 10 in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK.
Double Platinum
The song was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for selling over two million copies.
TV Show Appearances
"How to Save a Life" is well-known for its inclusion in multiple TV dramas, particularly Grey’s Anatomy and Scrubs.
Covered by Other Artists
Various artists, including The Script and Kelly Clarkson, have covered "How to Save a Life".
Charity Work
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, The Fray performed this song during a live stream fundraiser to aid Colorado's response to the pandemic.
Grammy Nomination
The song "How to Save a Life", along with its album, earned The Fray a nomination for Best Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocal at the 49th Annual Grammy Awards.
Songwriting Process
It took the band over 12 months to finally finish writing "How to Save a Life".
Remixed Versions
"How to Save a Life" underwent various remixes, including one by Jiggers and another by Jesús Baez.
Music Video
The music video for "How to Save a Life" was directed by Mark Pellington. It projected the band's message about loss and featured various people sharing their stories on large billboards to encourage support and understanding.
Suicide Prevention
The song has been widely used in campaigns for suicide prevention and mental health awareness due to its raw and emotional lyrics.
Longevity
Despite being released in 2005, "How to Save a Life" maintains cultural relevancy and has stayed popular over the years.

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    How to Save a Life

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 2006

    Billboard #3


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