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.

Viënna
The Fray Lyrics

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The day's last one-way ticket train pulls in
We smile for the casual closure capturing
There goes the downpour
There goes my fare thee well

There's really no way to reach me
There's really no way to reach me
There's really no way to reach me

'Cause I'm already gone

There's so many words that we can say
Spoken upon long-distance melody
This is my hello
This is my goodness

There's really no way to reach me
There's really no way to reach me
There's really no way to reach me
'Cause I'm already gone

Maybe in five or ten
Yours and mine will meet again
Straighten this whole thing out
Maybe then honesty need not be feared as a friend or an enemy
But this is the distance
And this is my game face

There's really no way to reach me
There's really no way to reach me
Is there really no way to reach me?
Am I already gone?

So this is your maverick
And this is Vienna

Overall Meaning

The Fray's song Vienna is a bittersweet reflection on the complexities of human relationships and the pain that comes with the distance that can arise between loved ones. It begins with the arrival of a train, representing the closing of a chapter in the singer's life, and the conscious decision to let go of someone or something. As the downpour begins, the singer's farewell is captured, and the sense of finality and closure is reinforced.

Throughout the song, the singer laments the difficulty of staying connected over long distances, particularly in the age of digital communication. They express a sense of resignation, acknowledging that there is really no way to reach them because they are already gone. However, they hold out hope for a future reunion, expressing the desire to "straighten this whole thing out" and to be honest with each other without fear.

The song ultimately conveys a sense of melancholy, with the singer accepting the inevitability of separation but longing for connection and honesty. The use of Vienna as a metaphor for this emotional journey highlights the beauty and fragility of life and the relationships that sustain us.

Line by Line Meaning

The day's last one-way ticket train pulls in
The final train of the day has arrived with a one-way ticket

We smile for the casual closure capturing
We put on a happy face to signal the end of something casual

There goes the downpour
The rain has stopped

There goes my fare thee well
I'm saying goodbye

There's really no way to reach me
I'm difficult to communicate with

There's so many words that we can say
There are many things we could express

Spoken upon long-distance melody
Said through a song over a long distance

This is my hello
I'm greeting you

This is my goodness
I'm expressing a positive sentiment

Maybe in five or ten
Perhaps in the near future

Yours and mine will meet again
We will see each other again

Straighten this whole thing out
Resolve this situation

Maybe then honesty need not be feared as a friend or an enemy
Perhaps then we won't be afraid of being truthful

But this is the distance
The current separation is a factor

And this is my game face
I'm putting on a facade

Is there really no way to reach me?
Is it truly impossible to contact me?

Am I already gone?
Have I already left?

So this is your maverick
You're a risk taker

And this is Vienna
This is a symbolic city

Lyrics © Wixen Music Publishing, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Daniel P. Battenhouse, Isaac Slade, Joseph King

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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