When We Were Young – English Lyrics

• By: Adele
• Album: 25

Lyrics & Translation

“When We Were Young” is a powerful and emotional song that offers a deep dive into the English language through its heartfelt lyrics about memory, time, and human connection. Adele's masterful vocal control and emotive delivery make the song relatable and impactful, allowing listeners to connect with universal feelings of nostalgia and reflection.

[English]

Everybody loves the things you do

From the way you talk

To the way you move

Everybody here is watching you

'Cause you feel like home

You're like a dream come true

But if by chance you're here alone

Can I have a moment?

Before I go?

...

'Cause I've been by myself all night long

Hoping you're someone I used to know

You look like a movie

You sound like a song

My God this reminds me, of when we were young

Let me photograph you in this light

In case it is the last time

That we might be exactly like we were

Before we realized

We were scared of getting old

It made us restless

It was just like a movie

It was just like a song

I was so scared to face my fears

Nobody told me that you'd be here

And I'd swear you moved overseas

That's what you said, when you left me

You still look like a movie

You still sound like a song

My God, this reminds me, of when we were young

Let me photograph you in this light

In case it is the last time

That we might be exactly like we were

Before we realized

We were sad of getting old

It made us restless

It was just like a movie

It was just like a song

When we were young

(When we were young)

When we were young

(When we were young)

It's hard to win me back

Everything just takes me back

To when you were there

To when you were there

And a part of me keeps holding on

Just in case it hasn't gone

I guess I still care

Do you still care?

It was just like a movie

It was just like a song

My God, this reminds me

Of when we were young

When we were young

(When we were young)

When we were young

(When we were young)

Let me photograph you in this light

In case it is the last time

That we might be exactly like we were

Before we realized

We were sad of getting old

It made us restless

Oh I'm so mad I'm getting old

It makes me reckless

It was just like a movie

It was just like a song

When we were young

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
love /lʌv/ A2	verb - to feel deep affection for someone noun - a deep feeling of affection
dream /driːm/ B1	noun - a series of thoughts, images, or feelings while sleeping verb - to imagine or think of something pleasant or desirable
hold /hoʊld/ A2	verb - to grasp or carry with hands
remember /rɪˈmɛm.bər/ B1	verb - to retain in memory
realize /ˈriː.ə.laɪz/ B2	verb - to become aware of something
real /rɪəl/ B1	adjective - actually existing; not imaginary
old /oʊld/ A2	adjective - having lived for a long time; not new
young /jʌŋ/ A2	adjective - having lived for a short time; not old
change /tʃeɪndʒ/ B2	verb - to make or become different
face /feɪs/ B1	verb - to confront or deal with something
look /lʊk/ A2	verb - to direct one's eyes
sound /saʊnd/ A2	verb - to produce a noise or alert

Key Grammar Structures

• Everybody loves the things you do

  ➔ Simple Present Tense

  ➔ The phrase uses the simple present tense to express a general truth or habitual action.

• Can I have a moment?

  ➔ Modal Verbs

  ➔ The use of 'can' indicates ability or permission in a polite request.

• You look like a movie

  ➔ Similes

  ➔ The phrase uses a simile to compare someone's appearance to a movie, enhancing the imagery.

• It was just like a movie

  ➔ Past Simple Tense

  ➔ The past simple tense is used to describe actions or situations that occurred in the past.

• It made us restless

  ➔ Causative Form

  ➔ The phrase uses a causative form to indicate that something caused a change in state.

• Do you still care?

  ➔ Present Simple Tense in Questions

  ➔ The present simple tense is used to form questions about current states or actions.

• Let me photograph you in this light

  ➔ Imperative Mood

  ➔ The imperative mood is used to give commands or requests.