Young – English Lyrics

• By: Kenny Chesney
• Album: Greatest Hits 2

Lyrics & Translation

Rediscover the spirit of youth with Kenny Chesney's iconic song "Young." This timeless country hit offers a glimpse into the universal experiences of growing up, from teenage rebellion to the bittersweet passage of time. Through vivid lyrics and Chesney's heartfelt delivery, learn how to embrace nostalgia while cherishing the present moment.

[English]

(bright music)

♪ Lookin' back now, well, it makes me laugh ♪

♪ We were growin' our hair, we were cuttin' class ♪

♪ Knew it all already, there was nothin' to learn ♪

♪ We were strikin' matches just to watch 'em burn ♪

♪ Listened to our music just a little too loud ♪

♪ We were hangin' in there with the outcast crowd ♪

♪ Headin' to the rapids with some discount beer ♪

♪ It was a long train tressel, but we had no fear ♪

♪ Man, I don't know ♪

♪ Where the time goes ♪

♪ But, it sure goes fast ♪

♪ Just like that ♪

♪ We were wannabe rebels that didn't have a clue ♪

♪ In our rock 'n roll tee shirts ♪

♪ An' our typically bad attitudes ♪

♪ Had no excuses for the things that we'd done ♪

♪ We were brave, we were crazy, we were mostly ♪

♪ Young ♪ ♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Young ♪ ♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Talked a good game, when we were out with the guys ♪

♪ But in the back-seat, we were awkward an' shy ♪

♪ Girls were a mystery that we couldn't explain ♪

♪ An' I guess there are some things ♪

♪ That are never gonna change ♪

♪ And man, I don't know ♪

♪ Where the time goes ♪

♪ But it sure goes fast ♪

♪ Just like that ♪

♪ We were wannabe rebels that didn't have a clue ♪

♪ In our rock 'n roll tee shirts ♪

♪ An' our typically bad attitudes ♪

♪ Had no excuses for the things that we'd done ♪

♪ We were brave, we were crazy, we were mostly ♪

♪ Young ♪ ♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Young ♪ ♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Young ♪

♪ Yeah, an' wishin' we were older ♪

♪ Young ♪

♪ Hey, I wish it wasn't over ♪

♪ Man, I don't know ♪

♪ Where the time goes ♪

♪ But it sure goes fast ♪

♪ Just like that ♪

♪ We were wannabe rebels that didn't have a clue ♪

♪ In our rock 'n roll tee shirts ♪

♪ An' our typically bad attitudes ♪

♪ Had no excuses for the things that we'd done ♪

♪ We were brave, we were crazy, we were mostly ♪

♪ Young ♪ ♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Young ♪ ♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Hey, and wishin' we were older ♪

♪ And I wish it wasn't over ♪

♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

♪ Woo-woo-ooh, woo-woo-ooh ♪

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
laugh /lɑːf/ A2	verb - to make sounds with the voice that show you are happy or think something is funny
grow /ɡroʊ/ A2	verb - to increase in size or amount
cut /kʌt/ A2	verb - to use a sharp object to divide something into parts
strike /straɪk/ B2	verb - to hit something forcefully verb - to make a deliberate attack
burn /bɜːrn/ A2	verb - to be on fire or to destroy with fire
listen /ˈlɪs.ən/ A1	verb - to pay attention to sound
hang /hæŋ/ B1	verb - to spend time relaxing or doing nothing verb - to attach something from above so it hangs down
head /hɛd/ B1	verb - to go in a particular direction noun - the top or front part of the body containing the brain and face
fear /fɪər/ B2	noun - an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that something is dangerous verb - to be afraid of something
know /noʊ/ A1	verb - to have information or understanding about something
go /ɡoʊ/ A1	verb - to move from one place to another
fast /fæst/ A2	adjective - moving or happening quickly
young /jʌŋ/ A1	adjective - having lived or existed for only a short time
rebel /ˈrɛb.əl/ B2	noun - a person who opposes the government or rules verb - to oppose or resist authority
attitude /ˈæt.ɪ.tuːd/ B2	noun - the way a person thinks and feels about something
brave /breɪv/ B1	adjective - showing courage and not afraid
crazy /ˈkreɪ.zi/ B1	adjective - acting in a silly or wild way
wish /wɪʃ/ A2	verb - to want something to happen or to be true noun - a desire for something

Key Grammar Structures

• ♪ Lookin' back now, well, it makes me laugh ♪

  ➔ Present participle used as an introductory phrase, direct object pronoun

  ➔ The phrase "**Lookin'** back now" functions as an introductory element, setting the context. The "me" is a direct object of the verb "makes".

• ♪ We were growin' our hair, we were cuttin' class ♪

  ➔ Past continuous tense

  ➔ The past continuous tense (**were growin', were cuttin'**) is used to describe actions that were in progress in the past.

• ♪ Knew it all already, there was nothin' to learn ♪

  ➔ Past simple tense, there + be structure, infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The past simple (**knew, was**) describes completed actions in the past. "There was nothing **to learn**" uses an infinitive of purpose.

• ♪ We were strikin' matches just to watch 'em burn ♪

  ➔ Past continuous tense, infinitive of purpose

  ➔ The past continuous tense describes an action in progress in the past. "To watch 'em burn" is an infinitive of purpose.

• ♪ Listened to our music just a little too loud ♪

  ➔ Past simple tense, adverb of degree

  ➔ The past simple (**Listened**) describes a completed action. "Too loud" uses the adverb "too" to indicate excessive degree.

• ♪ We were hangin' in there with the outcast crowd ♪

  ➔ Past continuous tense, prepositional phrase

  ➔ The past continuous tense describes an action in progress in the past. "With the outcast crowd" is a prepositional phrase modifying the verb.

• ♪ Had no excuses for the things that we'd done ♪

  ➔ Past perfect tense

  ➔ The past perfect tense (**had done**) refers to an action completed before another action in the past.

• ♪ We were brave, we were crazy, we were mostly ♪

  ➔ Series of adjectives, past continuous tense

  ➔ A list of adjectives describes the subject. The past continuous tense is used.

• ♪ Yeah, an' wishin' we were older ♪

  ➔ Gerund, conditional clause (implied)

  ➔ "Wishin'" is a gerund. The meaning implies a conditional situation - wishing they were older.