The group's self-titled, second album, released in 2009, debuted at number one on the Billboard charts and was certified gold in the United States, Australia, and Canada. It was also nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album in 2010. While both albums were commercially successful, critical reception was mixed. The Fray was ranked No. 84 on Billboard's "Artists of the Decade" list. Their third album Scars & Stories, released in 2012, achieved moderate commercial success; debuting and peaking at number four on the Billboard 200. The album again received mixed reviews from critics. The band's fourth album, Helios, was released in February 2014. The band's compilation album, Through the Years: The Best of the Fray, was released in November 2016.
The Fray's use of the piano as the lead instrument in their music has led critics to compare the band with English piano-driven bands such as Coldplay and Keane. However, the band lists its influences as the Wallflowers, Counting Crows, Better Than Ezra, and U2.
All At Once
The Fray Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
She is right in front of you
You begin to wonder, could you find a better one
Compared to her, now she's in question
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Looking for the right one, you line up the world to find
Where no questions cross your mind
Oh, but she won't keep on waiting for you without a doubt
Much longer for you to sort it out
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes (sometimes)
We'd never know what's wrong without the pain
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you've started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
Oh, it'll never come
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you had her, maybe you lost her to another
Oh, to another
The Fray's "All at Once" is a song about a man who is unsure about the woman he is with. He feels as though she is right in front of him and he keeps coming back to her, but he begins to wonder if he could find someone better. He goes back and forth with his thoughts about her and if she is truly the one for him.
The song's chorus is where the title of the song comes to play. It talks about how sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same. He knows that letting her go would be difficult, but it might be the right choice for both of them. He wonders if he wants her or needs her and starts to compare her to someone who might not even exist.
The song's second verse continues to talk about his search for the "right" one. He lines up the world to find someone who crosses no questions in his mind. However, the woman he is with won't keep waiting for him to sort it out much longer. The song concludes with the chorus again, stating that sometimes we don't know what's wrong without the pain and that perfection will never come.
Line by Line Meaning
There are certain people you just keep coming back to
There are some individuals that you feel drawn to, despite what's happened before.
She is right in front of you
The person in question is nearby; within your reach.
You begin to wonder, could you find a better one
You're considering if there's a person better than the one right in front of you.
Compared to her, now she's in question
After comparing the person to an ideal in your head, you're left unsure of your initial interest.
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
A moment of realization causes the people around you to become involved and sing along.
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Often times making the correct decision can be difficult.
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
You may be feeling a sense of desire or necessity towards the person in question.
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
You may be comparing the person to an image in your mind that doesn't exist.
Looking for the right one, you line up the world to find
You're searching for the perfect partner and are limiting your options due to your high expectations.
Where no questions cross your mind
You're reaching for perfection and not even questioning if it's possible.
But she won't keep on waiting for you without a doubt
The person won't continue to wait without hesitation and will move on if not given the attention she deserves.
Much longer for you to sort it out
Time is running out for you to make a decision.
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
The realization that time is running out causes those around you to sing in response.
We'd never know what's wrong without the pain
Without feeling pain, we wouldn't be able to identify what's going wrong in our lives.
Maybe you had her, maybe you lost her to another
You could've had the person in question in the past, but now they may be with someone else.
Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Isaac Slade, Joseph King, Aaron P. Johnson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@brucewilson7468
All at Once
The Fray
There are certain people you just keep coming back to
She is right in front of you
You begin to wonder, could you find a better one
Compared to her, now she's in question
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Looking for the right one, you line up the world to find
Where no questions cross your mind
But she won't keep on waiting for you without a doubt
Much longer for you to sort it out
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
And all at once the crowd begins to sing
Sometimes
We'd never know what's wrong without the pain
Sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you've started to compare to someone not there
Maybe you want it, maybe you need it
Maybe it's all you're running from
Perfection will not come
Maybe you want her, maybe you need her
Maybe you had her, maybe you lost her to another
To another
@silverh3art97
my favorite quote: "sometimes the hardest thing and the right thing are the same" the one thing that keeps me going thru life <3
@Tusani2696
Getting it inked on my right ribcage. I’ve wanted it since I was like 13
@tarratots
That was my high school quote 20 years ago
@rileyearl3059
This was written in my journal numerous times growing up
@carlafriberg9971
Yes great line
@figlemon
“You Begin To Wonder” - The Fray’s favorite lyric.
@heytherewhoeveryouareilove9462
I thought i was the only one who got that😅
@chloehudson2168
HAHAHA. I thought the same and then read your comment
@shubhamlodhi7641
What a masterpiece. Still listening in 2022. Such an underrated band :(
@jishnumshaji9618
True