The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by … Read Full Bio ↴The Fray is an American rock band from Denver, Colorado. Formed in 2002 by schoolmates Isaac Slade and Joe King, they achieved success with the release of their debut album, How to Save a Life in 2005, which was certified double platinum by the RIAA and platinum in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the UK. The Fray achieved national success with their first single, "Over My Head (Cable Car)", which became a top ten hit in the United States. The release of their second single, "How to Save a Life", brought the band worldwide fame. The song charted in the top three of the Billboard Hot 100 and was a top 5 single in Australia, Canada, Ireland, Italy, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom.

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.

Ungodly Hour
The Fray Lyrics

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Don't talk , don't say a thing, don't say a word
'Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words
Don't go, don't leave me now
Cause they say the best way out is through

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred
She begins to leave because of me

Her bag is now much heavier
I wish that I could carry her
But this is our ungodly hour

And I know you're leaving now
Cause I held on to my way tightly
And stay still until you know
Tomorrow finds the best way out, is through

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred
She begins to leave because of me

Her bag is now much heavier
I wish that I could carry her
But this is our ungodly hour

Ungodly hour
Ungodly hour

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred
And she begins to leave because of me

Her bag is now much heavier
I wish that I could carry her
But this is our ungodly hour
Ungodly hour
Ungodly hour

Her bag is now much heavier

I wish that I could carry her
But this is our ungodly hour.

Overall Meaning

The song "Ungodly Hour" by The Fray is a ballad about a couple going through a difficult time in their relationship. The lyrics suggest that the couple has reached a point of misunderstanding and silence. The first two lines of the song, "Don't talk, don't say a thing, don't say a word / 'Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words" implies that the couple has run out of words to say and are left with eye contact as a means of communication. The singer of the story knows that something is wrong, but is at a loss for words on how to fix it.

The song then progresses as the couple is on the verge of breaking up, and the singer realizes that he is the reason for it. He wants the other person to stay but understands that there is no easy way out of the situation. The line "Her bag is now much heavier, I wish that I could carry her" expresses the regret of the singer for the burden that the other person now has to carry on their own. The song title suggests that this is an ungodly hour, meaning a late night or early morning hour when one's emotions can become clouded and difficult to control.

Line by Line Meaning

Don't talk , don't say a thing, don't say a word
I can tell by your eyes what you need to say, there's no need to speak

Cause your eyes they tell me more than your words
Your nonverbal cues speak volumes, I understand what you're trying to say

Don't go, don't leave me now
Please don't abandon me in this difficult moment

Cause they say the best way out is through
We have to face this difficult situation and overcome it in order to move forward

And I am short on words knowing what's occurred
I don't know what to say, I understand the gravity of the situation

She begins to leave because of me
Her departure is a result of my actions

Her bag is now much heavier
She's burdened with the weight of the situation

I wish that I could carry her
I wish I could ease her suffering and help her through this

But this is our ungodly hour
This is a difficult and trying time for us both

And I know you're leaving now
I understand that you have to go

Cause I held on to my way tightly
I was stubborn and didn't listen to your needs