This is a hauntingly beautiful song about introspection, specifically about looking back at a relationship that started bad and ended so poorly, that the narrator wants to go back to the very beginning and tell himself to not even travel down that road. I believe that the relationship started poorly because of the lines:
"Take me back to the night we met:When the night was full of terrors: And your eyes were filled with tears: When you had not touched me yet"
So, the first night was not a great start, but the narrator pursued the relationship and eventually both overcame the rough start to fall in love with each other:
"I had all and then most of you"
Like many relationships that turn sour, it was not a quick decline, but a gradual one where the narrator and their partner fall out of love and gradually grow apart
"Some and now none of you"
Losing someone who was once everything in your world, who you could confide in, tell your secrets to, share all the most intimate parts of your life, to being strangers with that person is probably one of the most painful experiences a person can go through. So Painful, the narrator wants to go back in time and tell himself to not even pursue the relationship.
This was the perfect song for "13 Reasons Why"
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
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
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
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
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
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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Correction.
Its "and I know how to save a life" and "I pray to God he kills you then I pray to God he heals you".
I think there are other mistakes.
I think the song is about two people with a strong connection. One did save the other. Due to insecurities, trauma, differences, outside influence, misunderstanding, confusion, whatever something sent them different directions. Two magnets joined by accident then pulled apart. Maybe the one saved fell hard for the rescuer but felt rejection, fear, humiliation, or was just overwhelmed and too confused and fled. Either the rescuer did not feel the same, did not respond in kind, or did not make it clear to the saved who might have been still suffering from an accident.
The praying for bad things then turning around and praying for good things relates to inner conflict. When your feelings for someone are so intense they overwhelm you. On one hand you wish you never met or that they didn't exist. But you can't stand that thought so you thank God for them and that he watches over them. You love this person. But they make you feel like you are bleeding inside not knowing how they feel and not wanting to know they don't feel the same.
The admission part I am not sure whether that is "he" or "you". I thought it was "you". I see it as the saved if put on the spot will either admit to their feelings or deny them. Maybe its for the saver or both. If the saved fled before over admission but not having it reciprocated my guess is, if they encountered each other, they would be right back where they were. Trying to push away the one they feel drawn to. Then history would repeat itself. Or "he will say its not the same". The very thing the saved was afraid of before.
This song is about what happened and what could happen if they confront each other. They both care about each other. But how much?
This song means so much to me, a few years ago I thought God had let me down and he wasn't real. After listening to this song and reading the comments I realized this song can relate to so many people in difficult situations. I am now saved and I can't stop listening to this song... I think this song particularly can mean anything ex: drug addiction, driving drunk, etc... I really the think The Fray made this song so people could relate to it and let some emotion out... GUYS for those of you out there let go of your hatred its not your fault if a friend died or someone overdosed. Just please realize that God cares for you and he has a plan for you no matter how long it takes believe and trust in God! God will reveal his plans for you when hes ready don't end up like I did not believing there was a God because there is and he cares for you... Also never get into drugs, alcohol or prostitution etc.. those things ruin your life... Its alright to grieve but always trust God and you will get through it!!!!! <33
This song means so much to me, a few years ago I thought God had let me down and he wasn't real. After listening to this song and reading the comments I realized this song can relate to so many people in difficult situations. I am now saved and I can't stop listening to this song... I think this song particularly can mean anything ex: drug addiction, driving drunk, etc... I really the think The Fray made this song so people could relate to it and let some emotion out... GUYS for those of you out there let go of your hatred its not your fault if a friend died or someone overdosed. Just please realize that God cares for you and he has a plan for you no matter how long it takes believe and trust in God! God will reveal his plans for you when hes ready don't end up like I did not believing there was a God because there is and he cares for you... Also never get into drugs, alcohol or prostitution etc.. those things ruin your life... Its alright to grieve but always trust God and you will get through it!!!!! <33