"To Save a Life" is a song by American Christian rock band Tenth Avenue North. The song was released in 2009 as the lead single from the band's second studio album, "Over and Underneath." The song has since become a popular choice for Christian radio and has garnered praise for its thought-provoking lyrics and emotional delivery.
The song centers around the theme of suicide prevention and encourages listeners to reach out to those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. The chorus of the song repeats the line "I want to save a life, I want to speak up for the broken, I want to love the unlovable." These lyrics convey the message that everyone has the power to make a positive impact in the lives of others, even if it seems like an insurmountable task.
The song also touches on the theme of feeling alone and isolated, a common factor in many suicide cases. The opening verse sings, "I see the world through different eyes / I see the hurt, the pain, the lies / I see the lost, the lonely, the forgotten / I see the ones that no one else has noticed." These lyrics speak to the idea that we all have the ability to notice and reach out to those who may be struggling, even if they feel invisible to the rest of the world.
One of the most powerful lines in the song comes in the bridge, where the singer pleads, "Don't let go, don't give up / You don't have to fall, you don't have to break / You don't have to drown, you don't have to fade / You don't have to die, you don't have to hurt this way." These lyrics convey a sense of hope and encouragement for those who may be feeling overwhelmed and helpless. They remind listeners that there is always a way out, and that they are not alone in their struggles.
Overall, "To Save a Life" is a poignant and powerful song that encourages listeners to reach out and help those who may be struggling with thoughts of suicide. Its message of hope and the importance of connecting with others is a reminder that we all have the ability to make a difference in the lives of others.
How to Save a Life
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. Retrieved September 18, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2010. Or "staying up all night" could literally mean staying up all night while his friend was going through withdraw from the drugs he was taking and "had he know how to save a life" would then mean if he knew staying up all night with him to help him through his withdraw was what he needed to save his life, he would have done that. The song, in the girls perspective, is a conversation that we all know and dread, where you need to understand how serious the relationship will continue to be. 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? The duration of the song How to Save a Life is 4:22 minutes. Even though we might have little chance to help people who do not want to change, it is essential not to give up on them.
I did everything I was supposed to do. Had I known how to save a life. . My InterpretationThis song can mean a lot of things for many people. Addiction is a huge problem today and they have to help themselves. .
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? Late to the party on the comments but having read your post it really made me see this song differently and I think you have it spot on. Someone who's working to get through depression and being suicidal, this song makes me feel like I'm able to see me through my close friend, who's stayed up with me through long nights just to keep me alive. As stubborn as they are, you light up their world. After every breakup I always relate to this song. The song reminds us that no one is perfect, and once in a while, we all need a shoulder to lean on. Retrieved July 28, 2020. I have so many regrets.
So to me, it's about someone who's terrified about someone they love committing suicide and being lost without them. He struggled so much with drugs, school and life in general that I literally didn't know what to do to help him. At the end, she say that she would have stayed with him in the conversation they were having as long as possible if she only knew how to save "a life". The lyrics came from an experience singer Isaac Slade had with a teenager who was struggling with crack addiction, while working as a mentor on a camp for troubled youths. 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 And where did I go wrong? Here are all the shows the tune has graced.
Every Time The Fray's "How To Save A Life" Was Used To Soundtrack Your Fave TV Shows
Retrieved July 7, 2012. I agree with you on some points but on others I don't. . He lost his best friend and could not deal with it. Retrieved February 13, 2016.
It was recorded at the Epic Records studio, and it is the second single track from the album How To Save A Life. But with my past, this is how I've always interpreted the song. . In addition to that, the Fray band left the song open for personal interpretation. It was a really inspiring weekend.
The meaning behind the song “How To Save A Life” by Fray
Im a huge believer in not going to bed angry. The activities weren't the special part, it's the fact it was me and my dad there together that made it special. Retrieved January 13, 2019. Retrieved February 10, 2021. And reassure him that everything is going to be ok because after all "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" The friend the storyteller is confronting seems to know what the talk is about so he tries to stay calm by "smiling politely" But the storyteller cant bare to look his friend in the eye so he "stares right on through the window" The window could symbolize literally a window the storyteller is looking at to avoid eye contact with his friend because he is "fearful" of what his friend will think of what he has to say and fearful for his friends life , especially if his friend is not willing to take the "blame" for his actions.
. This is your chance too. This arose from the response that Slade got from the song: I got a lot of e-mails about it. . Three years ago there was some tough love and oh my gosh patience but if we could make it through, anyone can!! It all depends on who you are and what you're going through. In the beginning of a "she" is trying to save a relationship or friendship that she had with "him". It was also used when Derek died and Meredith stood at his bedside.
Retrieved July 19, 2021. Where did I go wrong, I lost a friend Somewhere along in the bitterness 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 I would have stayed up with you all night Had I known how to save a life. I lost a friend somewhere along in the bitterness. Retrieved July 7, 2012. Retrieved February 6, 2012.
I used to wonder what it meant, but now I know, because I went through it. Sure, it's not the only song of theirs to become a TV mainstay. Retrieved April 15, 2012. It's painful every time he tries to talk to me now, even though it's been months. Retrieved March 12, 2020.