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  1. Tracks
  2. Adele
  3. 25
  4. When We Were Young
When We Were Young by Adele

SINGLE

Adele

When We Were Young

Release date: 20th November 2015

From 25
Track 4
4:51
PopMusic
Spotify Apple Music More on Adele

About This Track

Adele worked with songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr. and producer Ariel Rechtshaid on 'When We Were Young', a slow-burning ballad built around shimmering production. The song addresses the passage of time and the ache of encountering a past love, the narrator hoping to preserve the moment before age and distance settle in. Adele sings of wanting to 'photograph you in this light', the image framed as a hedge against inevitable change.

The track became the second single from '25', its wistful tone and building intensity marking it as a fan favourite. Critics praised its emotional complexity and powerful climax, one noting it as an example of Adele at her strongest when all elements align. The production nods to a seventies aesthetic, the arrangement expanding gradually to meet the scale of the sentiment.

"When We Were Young" is a single by Adele, from the album 25, released 20th November 2015. The track is 4:51 long. It's filed under Pop. Full lyrics are available below. Dork has published 8 articles about Adele.

About the Artist

Adele

Adele

Lyrics

When We Were Young

Everybody loves the things you do
[00:22.07] From the way you talk
[00:25.44] To the way you move
[00:30.89] Everybody here is watching you
[00:35.59] 'Cause you feel like home
[00:38.83] You're like a dream come true
[00:44.40] But if by chance you're here alone
[00:49.37] Can I have a moment
[00:52.65] Before I go?
[00:57.77] 'Cause I've been by myself all night long
[01:02.98] Hoping you're someone I used to know
[00:00.00] 
[01:09.57] You look like a movie
[01:12.92] You sound like a song
[01:16.28] My God, this reminds me
[01:19.71] Of when we were young
[00:00.00] 
[01:23.40] Let me photograph you in this light
[01:26.85] In case it is the last time
[01:29.51] That we might be exactly like we were
[01:34.42] Before we realized
[01:36.38] We were sad of getting old
[01:39.22] It made us restless
[01:42.30] It was just like a movie
[01:45.54] It was just like a song
[00:00.00] 
[01:51.10] I was so scared to face my fears
[01:56.14] Nobody told me that you'd be here
[02:04.74] And I swear you moved overseas
[02:09.85] That's what you said, when you left me
[00:00.00] 
[02:15.92] You still look like a movie
[02:19.31] You still sound like a song
[02:22.84] My God, this reminds me
[02:26.38] Of when we were young
[00:00.00] 
[02:30.08] Let me photograph you in this light
[02:33.58] In case it is the last time
[02:36.23] That we might be exactly like we were
[02:41.08] Before we realized
[02:43.15] We were sad of getting old
[02:46.03] It made us restless
[02:49.03] It was just like a movie
[02:52.38] It was just like a song
[00:00.00] 
[02:56.33] When we were young
[02:59.65] When we were young
[03:03.05] When we were young
[03:06.40] When we were young
[00:00.00] 
[03:10.16] It's hard to admit that
[03:13.83] Everything just takes me back
[03:16.73] To when you were there
[03:20.23] To when you were there
[03:23.56] And a part of me keeps holding on
[03:27.32] Just in case it hasn't gone
[03:30.50] 'Cause I still care
[03:34.13] Do you still care?
[00:00.00] 
[03:36.40] It was just like a movie
[03:39.80] It was just like a song
[03:43.35] My God, this reminds me
[03:46.69] Of when we were young
[00:00.00] 
[03:50.30] When we were young
[03:53.50] When we were young
[03:56.75] When we were young
[04:00.00] When we were young
[00:00.00] 
[04:03.45] Let me photograph you in this light
[04:06.92] In case it is the last time
[04:10.00] That we might be exactly like we were
[04:14.45] Before we realized
[04:16.55] We were sad of getting old
[04:19.40] It made us restless
[04:22.60] Oh, I'm so mad I'm getting old
[04:25.90] It makes me reckless
[04:29.00] It was just like a movie
[04:32.35] It was just like a song
[04:36.05] When we were young

Lyrics provided by LRCLIB

View full lyrics page →

Track details

From 25

4:512015Single
Listen
Album
25
25
Adele
20th November 2015
Track number
4
Release year
2015
  1. 1Hello
    4:56
  2. 2Send My Love (To Your New Lover)
    3:43
  3. 3I Miss You
    5:49
  4. 4When We Were Young
    4:51

More from Adele

Albums & EPs

30
30
2021
When We Were Young
When We Were Young
2016
21
21
2011
Set Fire to the Rain (Remixes)
Set Fire to the Rain (Remixes)
2011
19 (Deluxe Edition)
19 (Deluxe Edition)
2008
19
19
2008

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Showing 10 of 20

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Sam Smith

Sam Smith

Beyoncé

Beyoncé

Whitney Houston

Whitney Houston

Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse

Sia

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Paloma Faith

Paloma Faith

5Remedy
4:05
  • 6Water Under the Bridge
    4:00
  • 7River Lea
    3:45
  • 8Love in the Dark
    4:46
  • 9Million Years Ago
    3:47
  • 10All I Ask
    4:32
  • 11Sweetest Devotion
    4:12
  • —All I Ask
    4:32
  • —Million Years Ago
    3:47
  • —Water Under The Bridge
    4:00
  • Credits

    Production & Engineering

    Writer
    Adele, Tobias Jesso Jr.
    Producer
    Ariel Rechtshaid
    Engineer
    Ariel Rechtshaid, Austen Jux-Chandler, Chris Kasych, Dave Schiffman
    Bass
    Gus Seyffert
    Drums
    Joey Waronker
    Guitar
    Benji Lysaght
    Additional Engineering
    Nick Rowe
    Assistant Engineer
    Aaron Ahmad - آرون أحمد, Christopher Cerullo, John DeBold, Michael Harris
    Assistant Mixing Engineer
    Joe Visciano
    Background Vocals
    Ariel Rechtshaid, Tobias Jesso Jr.
    Glockenspiel
    Ariel Rechtshaid
    Hammond B-3 Organ
    Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
    Harmonium
    Nico Muhly
    Mastering Engineer
    Randy Merrill, Tom Coyne
    Mixing Engineer
    Tom Elmhirst
    Organ
    Ariel Rechtshaid, Roger Joseph Manning Jr.
    Percussion
    Ariel Rechtshaid
    Piano
    Tobias Jesso Jr.
    Programmer
    Ariel Rechtshaid
    Synthesizer
    Ariel Rechtshaid
    READ MORE ABOUT ADELEREAD MORE ABOUT ADELEREAD MORE ABOUT ADELEREAD MORE ABOUT ADELE
    READ MORE ABOUT ADELEREAD MORE ABOUT ADELEREAD MORE ABOUT ADELEREAD MORE ABOUT ADELE
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