Isaac Slade of The Fray appears to have experienced a period which made him question his faith in a higher power, leading him to interact with a divine figure on a street corner for support and advice. This song details that encounter.
Slade encounters an angry God who demands an explanation as to why everything in his life had come crashing down so suddenly and painfully. Additionally, God questions why he had to wait so long before seeing Slade again.
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Where were you when everything was falling apart?
People often struggle to maintain their faith during trying times. It can seem as though everything is against you and there’s no hope, but in truth things do improve over time; with hard work you can find your faith again despite even the toughest of challenges if you trust in yourself and remain strong.
This song’s opening verse describes an encounter between its vocalist and God on a street corner, suggesting it took place after experiencing difficulty. Although feeling disoriented and uncertain at this time in life, he knows God is there for him; yet it has been so long since he sought assistance from Him.
In this verse, the narrator laments about someone in their life who left when they needed them most, leaving behind all they had taken from him and taking everything he owned away from him. They feel abandoned “just a little late”, yet didn’t do anything to stop their suicide plan.
At this point in the song, the narrator addresses his disappointment with God and asks why He failed to answer prayers at a time when things seemed out of control. Furthermore, he attempts to gain understanding as to why things work the way they do in life. Ultimately, the narrator draws the conclusion that it is difficult to pinpoint why bad things occur in life. Sometimes there may be an explanation, while sometimes chaos reigns supreme. We are ultimately responsible for choosing how we wish to live our lives and which type of faith we hold onto. Though you may be suffering, this song’s message is about how God can still find you despite it all. Don’t wait until your deathbed to look for Him; He’s waiting for you; don’t give up on your dreams just yet; there’s still time.
All alone smoking his last cigarette?
The narrator expresses feelings of isolation and says no one understands his struggles. He hopes for someone to listen and offer support; thinking God should have been there but wasn’t, leading him to conclude that maybe He doesn’t care for people after all. Ultimately he decides he will end his own life alone smoking his last cigarette before calling it quits.
The last line of the song is particularly moving and can be read both as an allusion to suicide and as a reference to Job’s Book – which depicts a biblical account about an upright individual who experiences great tribulation despite remaining faithful – with an emotional appeal.
Slade was inspired to write this song by this story when writing his piece. He was searching for answers as to why bad things were happening to good people who didn’t deserve them; thus this song came into existence. Slade began this piece as an attempt at communing with God directly; thus this song came about.
I found this song to be extremely powerful. It deals with grief and loss as well as the feelings that accompany this experience, such as depression. The narrator struggles with depression while waiting by his phone for relief from God but nothing ever arrives – something every person must experience at some point in their lives. This experience is the ultimate of suffering.
Slade meets God on the corner of First and Amistad in Texas; although this location does not play into the lyrics of the song. Slade approaches God asking why He wasn’t there when he needed Him most; God responds by encouraging Slade to ask any question he likes.
Just a little late?
Slade directs his final questions not just at God but also towards those who failed to intervene on his behalf, specifically those he wishes had called or checked up on him before finding him lying dead “on the floor”.
This song tells a powerful tale about someone who suffers a devastating loss and finds comfort only from God, only to discover no help is coming his way despite their pleas. His faith falters, leading him to despair until finally hitting rock bottom and considering suicide – until on First and Amistad he meets up with Him again at last; asking why He came late but God replies it is better late than never; while in verse six He reminds Him “you just have to wait”. A wonderful way of reminding ourselves all to persevere; seek help when needed and keep going towards finding solutions despite setbacks.
You were there for me.
No genius required to understand this song is required to understand that its theme revolves around a man who experienced great sorrow due to losing someone close and ended up losing faith in himself, God, and society as a result – ultimately leading him down a path towards suicide. Before taking his final breaths he runs into God at First and Amistad and asks Him some pertinent questions before leaving this earthly realm behind forever.
Slade’s song contains many references to the Bible and the Book of Job, in particular Job’s long period of questioning why good people had to endure suffering. Slade’s lyrics could be seen as a modern-day version of Job’s struggle with his faith.
After experiencing the loss of someone important, the narrator seeks out God for help, only to never hear back from Him. This angers him greatly as well as for taking their loved one away from him – leading him to commit suicide at First and Amistad. Perhaps God was responding directly with those final lines as an answer: maybe asking “Where were you when I needed you?,” only for them to respond: “Just a bit late!”
Slade does not know who or what God is exactly, but knows he doesn’t recognize anyone he has known before in this life as being God. After meeting this mysterious being and meeting up with them anew, his faith in the narrator’s belief in God was restored – almost like having found someone special at last!
If you are struggling with their spirituality or faith in the universe, listening to this song is an invaluable way of reminding ourselves that even though we might not fully comprehend all that is going on around us, a higher power still oversees everything and can provide strength when suffering is at its greatest.
