1) Two people are having a difficult conversation where one person is trying to help the other with problems in their life. 2) The conversation starts politely but tensions rise as difficult issues are brought up. 3) The person trying to help worries if their friend will understand and accept the help, or deny having problems and cut off the friendship.

1. Step one, you say we need to talk>3
He walks, you say sit down, it's just a talk>3
He smiles politely back at you>4
You stare politely right on through>4
Some sort of window to your right>5
As he goes left, and you stay right>5
Between the lines of fear and blame >6
You begin to wonder why you came >6
[Chorus] >7
Where did I go wrong?
I lost a friend
Somewhere along in the bitterness
And I would have stayed up with you all night
Had I known how to save a life
Let him know that you know best > 8
Cause after all, you do know best > 8
Try to slip past his defense>9
Without granting innocence>9
Lay down a list of what is wrong>10
The things you've told him all along>10
And pray to God he hears you>10
And I pray to God he hears you>10
[Chorus] >12
As he begins to raise his voice>11
You lower yours and grant him one last choice>11
Drive until you lose the road>12
Or break with the ones you've followed>12
He will do one of two things>13
He will admit to everything>13
Or he'll say he's just not the same>13
And you'll begin to wonder why you came>13
[Chorus: x2]>14
How to save a life>14
How to save a life>14
[Chorus: x2]>15
How to save a life>15
How to save a life>15