'How To Save A Life' by Wyatt Flores – Lyrics & Meaning

After sharing a great deal of covers to TikTok during the beginning stages of his country music career, one song started repeating time and time again for Wyatt Flores: 'How To Save A Life' by The Fray.

The Oklahoma native has been a fan of the tune for quite some time, sharing a cover of the smash hit in April and November of 2023, even going so far as to share a studio version of The Fray classic exclusively to Amazon Music. Flores eventually released the cover on all streaming services on December 26.

Since its release, Flores has been known to sing the impassioned cover during his live shows, spreading the message of mental health to country music lovers from coast to coast.

With his eight song project, Half Life, dropping on April 19, his version of 'How To Save A Life' – as well as his previously released singles 'Milwaukee' and 'Wish I Could Stay' – will be a part of this album, which is said to “come from the heart and capture [his perspective at 22 years old of the complexities of relationships and self-discovery and the balance between life and death.”

The heaviness of 'How To Save A Life' fits the bill beautifully, serving as the perfect piece to complete Half Life.

The Fray's tried and true version opens with a piano that remains consistent throughout the track, quickly introducing percussion that makes the song far more pop/rock-leaning than Flores' rendition.

On the contrary, the rising country star opens with some strumming on an acoustic guitar, introducing some scrumptious fiddle strings that give the song a softer, gentler feel.

The 22-year-old’s twangy vocals turn the cover into a true country song, all while oozing emotion out of each lyric.

"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"

According to the lead singer of The Fray, Issac Slade, 'How To Save A Life' is about all the people that tried to reach out to a boy struggling with drug and alcohol usage, as well as depression and suicidal thoughts. With everyone who extended the boy an olive branch finding themselves unsuccessful, he lost his friends in the midst of his suffering – with said friends simultaneously losing the boy to drugs and alcohol.

As the song opens, the narrator sits down with the boy to talk about the self-destructive cycle that he's stuck in. With lines like “he smiles politely back at you” and “you stare politely right on through” it shows that both parties are trying to mask their emotions during this serious talk.

The window referenced in line five symbolizes the escape from drug and alcohol usage, but when the boy “goes left and you stay right,” it's clear that the conversation is going in opposite directions.

"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'd known how to save a life"

Detailing the narrator’s overall frustration, they admit that they don't know how to help the boy.

However, they would've happily stayed up and given their time had they been able to break the self-destructive cycle that he's stuck in.

"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"

In an effort to get the boy to listen, the narrator tries explaining that they know better, as they can see the situation from a different perspective. Knowing that the boy will likely get defensive, they note that that they need to stand their ground and not let him off the hook.

Introducing an element of religion, the narrator simultaneously reveals their feelings of helplessness. Instead of trying to reason with the boy, they simply “pray to God He hears [him],” as the boy needs saving in any way, shape or form.

"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"

After grappling and pleading, the narrator has reached their final straw, ultimately telling the boy that if he continues down this path, his friends and family will isolate themselves from him and this self-destructive cycle.

Realizing that he will either admit fault and be open to help or continue, our narrator accepts defeat as the boy chooses the latter, once again wondering why they even bothered with this conversation.

While opening for Charles Wesley Godwin, Flores shared why he was so keen on releasing a cover of the The Fray.

“The reason I chose this one is because I speak a lot about mental health, and I’ve lost a lot of friends here recently. I’ve lost some family to it, and I’m tired of losing folks, and that’s why I speak on it, and that’s why I keep talking about it," he explained. "I struggle with it, the same as everyone else does. I just hope this music has done something for y’all. That is all I want to do in life is help others, and if I can do that through this, then I’ve done something."

The studio version hitting streaming services on December 26 also holds a special meaning to the Oklahoma native, sharing via X: “The day after Christmas has always been a rough day for me every year, so it seemed fitting to release my cover of ‘How to Save a Life’ today. Christmas time isn’t always as shiny and glamorous as it is for others ,and with 25 days of ongoing ‘happiness,’ ‘Christmas Spirit’ and ‘holiday cheer,’ the 26th of December can leave you in the dark when you wake up in the same world it’s always been.”

Referencing his breakthrough single, he concluded: “I hope this little late Christmas gift helps those who aren’t having the best holiday season. This song for me is what ‘Please Don’t Go’ is for y’all. I hope y’all enjoy this cover and enjoy the rest of the year!”

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

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'd 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'd 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

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'd known how to save

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'd known how to save a life

How to save a life
How to save a life

––

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