Scars and Stories

1 - Absolute - The Fray

Absolute is an amazing, upbeat and emotive song that shows how powerful and creative The Fray are at using their music to express ideas and themes to their millions of fans. The song is about a boy and girl with feelings for each other, but are too afraid to tell each other due to their differences in opinions, values, and most importantly, dreams. Missed opportunities for love and happiness is a prominent theme in the song, and the waiting hurts both of them so they move on and find other people. The guitar riff at the beginning sets the feel for the song, and the continual build up throughout the track drives it to a powerful peak. The use of the two vocals (Isaac and Joe) shows the song’s integrity and highlights the emotion and feeling that the band have for the songs they write.

It’s a kiss sits upon on her lips that waits for planes and battle ships
She wants to be a dancer and he has got a picture
On his wall and it’s a sailor in a new port every night
Yet man was born to trouble like sparks fly upwards innocent

2 - Happiness - The Fray

Happiness is the outro to the band’s second album. Isaac Slade wrote it while away from his wife, family, and friends. Being away for so long on tour makes it hard to be happy with something that should be happy (having people to love and cherish). It is also about the cost of achieving what you want to achieve. In the band’s case, they became extremely successful but it costs them their time with the people they love. Happiness is a beautiful song and finishes the album with raw emotion and captures what people love about The Fray into five minutes of brilliance.

Happiness feels a lot like sorrow
Let it be, you can’t make it come or go
But you are gone- not for good but for now
Gone for now feels a lot like gone for good

3 - Dead Wrong - How To Save A Life

This song is the peak of the band’s first studio album, How To Save A Life. According to Isaac Slade, he wrote Dead Wrong about the contemplation he had to make when he started the band. He had to decide whether to play in the band, which at that stage was very small, or become an engineer. While everyone was telling him to be realistic and do an engineering course, he followed his dream, and the rest is history. The moral of the song is follow your dream and do what you want to do, no matter what anyone else says.

I’m doing the best that I could.
Trying my best to be understood
Maybe I’m changing slowly
I get out, turn around…..

4 - Syndicate - The Fray

Syndicate is the fourth single and the first track off the band’s sophomore album. It has many interpretations, one being about a difficult long distance relationship that both people are working on to ensure it’s continuation. They want to be together, and they value the time they have together, but it’s hard to make it work. Other interpretations include, the struggle to be in touch with God, and a war seperating two lovers. The melodic piano line throughout the song makes for a very positive start to the album.

Halfway around the world
Lies the one thing that you want
Buried in the ground, hundreds of miles down
First thing that arises in your mind while you awake
Bending you til you break
Let me hold you now

5 - Heartbeat - Scars and Stories

Heartbeat is the lead single off the band’s third album, Scars and Stories. Isaac Slade mentioned it was inspired by his experiences traveling abroad, inparticular Rwanda. It is essentially about “a woman escaping a horrible situation in the middle of the night and coming back to life.” The chorus of the song reflects a particular moment when a woman was sharing a deeply moving story about the genocides in Rwanda, and held Isaac’s hand. Although a fairly up beat song, the meaning involves tragedy, yet also the theme of revival.

I’m tryin’ to put it all back together.
I’ve got a story and I’m tryin’ to tell it right.
I’ve got the kerosene and the desire.
I’m trying to start a flame in the heart of the night

6 - Over My Head (Cable Car)- How To Save A Life

Over My Head was written by lead singer Isaac Slade about the relationship he had with his younger brother, Caleb, who was nicknamed “Cable Car.” He wrote it because they were apparently not speaking, and were at odds with each other. The song was the lead single of the band’s first album, and, along with How To Save A Life, made the album prominent in the charts and around the world.

Let’s rearrange
I wish you were a stranger I could disengage
Just say that we agree and then never change
Soften a bit until we all just get along