The Fray is an alternative rock band from Denver, Colorado, formed in 2002. According to lead singer Isaac Slade, the song is about his experience working as a mentor at a camp for troubled teenagers: “One of the youngsters I was paired up with was a musician. Here I was, a protected suburbanite, and he was just 17 and had all these problems. And no one could write a manual on how to save him.” You can read more here.