Troubled Teens Resources

Powerful music is a catalyst and a trigger. A drug abusing or at-risk teenager’s volatile emotional state lends itself perfectly to the combined power of music and lyrics to persuade; to coax anger, or to suggest joy, to depict a future or keep banging on doom. Music summons a troubled teenager to one place or another.

The Fray’s ‘How to Save a Life” summons the teenager to life.

“The title track, “How To Save A Life,” was inspired by Slade’s experience as a mentor to a crack addicted teen. “I was a sheltered suburban kid when I met this guy. He was a recovering addict, coming out of a really tough teenage life. Thankfully, he was on his way out of that life, so he was able to really look back with some objectivity. The song is more of a memoir about his slow motion descent and all the relationships he lost along the way…. I constantly get emails from people who relate to it.”
(The Fray)

A powerful story most cogently expressed in these particular lyrics”

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 pray to God he hears you

A parent of an at-risk teen needs to trust the power of their words. The power of simple truth clearly spoken. “Keep saying the things you’ve told him all along”. No matter how angry your teenager may become. It’s like a fog horn, patiently sounding through the fog until the troubled teen turns back towards home.

This song apparently resonates to powerful affect. The impressive “Save a Life Campaign” was inspired - in part - by this song, suggesting that troubled teenagers are hungry for a clear and candid word, that your teenager is listening. Keep talking.

Lyrics for “How to Save a Life ” can be found here and a USA Today piece on Fray.