Lyric discussion by Ximena 

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 :)