The Fray - How to Save a Life - Lyrics Meaning

How to Save a Life was written in 2005 by The Fray Lead singer Isaac Slade. In an interview with USA Today Slade stated that he came up with the concept for the song based on an experience he had working at a camp for troubled teens. Slade said while at the camp he was paired up with a youth who was a musician and had experienced several traumas during his life. Feeling unequipped, Slade said he did not know how to deal with the young man because he had grown up as a suburbanite kid from a sheltered home. He stated that there was no manual written on how to save the young man from his problems.

Other band members contributed to the music composition of the song but Slade is credited for the concept and lyrics. Lead guitarist David Welsh said in an interview that the song came about very organically. Welsh stated that lead singer Isaac Slade came up with the piano melody while another band member created the drum beat. How to Save a Life has appeared on several television shows such as Grey's Anatomy, Scrubs and Cold Case.