When We Were Young

"When We Were Young" is a profound and emotional exploration of nostalgia, the passage of time, and the fear of aging. The song's narrative centers on a hypothetical future moment where the narrator, now older, attends a party and reunites with people from her past—friends, former lovers, and acquaintances. It captures the bittersweet feeling of seeing a significant person from one's youth and being instantly transported back to that time, while simultaneously being acutely aware of the years that have passed. The core message is a lament for lost youth and a desperate desire to freeze a perfect, fleeting moment of reconnection before it vanishes. The lyrics, "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," encapsulate this central theme of preserving a memory against the relentless march of time. Adele herself described the song's inspiration as a vision of being at a party at age 50, seeing everyone she's ever loved or fallen out with, and feeling like a teenager again. It speaks to the universal human experience of looking back, romanticizing the past, and mourning the loss of innocence that comes with growing older.

The song unfolds from the perspective of someone at a party, unexpectedly encountering a person from their deep past. This person is still magnetic, admired by everyone in the room, and their presence feels like a comforting dream, a piece of home. The narrator, who has felt alone all evening, musters the courage to approach them, hoping they are the person they used to know so intimately.

Seeing this individual is like watching a favorite movie or hearing a beloved song; it instantly triggers a flood of memories from their youth. This rush of nostalgia is so powerful it feels like time has collapsed. A desperate urge arises to capture this fleeting moment, to take a mental photograph of the person in this perfect light, because it might be the last time they ever appear exactly as they did in the past. This desire stems from a shared, unspoken sadness—the realization that they are getting older, which has made them restless and anxious about the passage of time.

The reunion was a complete shock. The narrator was terrified to confront their own fears and had no idea this person would be there. They recall being told that this person had moved overseas, a statement made at the time of their separation. This detail adds a layer of unresolved history and potential misunderstanding to their past. Yet, despite the time and distance, the idealized image of this person remains unchanged.

The chorus repeats with growing intensity, a poignant cry against the inevitability of aging. The feeling of being sad about getting old intensifies into a sense of anger and recklessness. This raw emotion underscores the desperation to hold onto the past, to freeze a moment of connection before it dissolves back into memory. The song is a powerful lament for lost time, a final, emotional snapshot taken before the lights change and the shared illusion of their youth fades away forever.

"When We Were Young" was written by Adele and Canadian musician Tobias Jesso Jr., and produced by Ariel Rechtshaid. The song was conceived during a period when Adele was struggling with writer's block for her third studio album, 25. After initial sessions for the album were deemed unfruitful by producer Rick Rubin, Adele flew to Los Angeles in early 2015 for a fresh start. She had become a fan of Jesso Jr. after hearing his song "Hollywood". Their managers arranged a collaboration, and they wrote the song over three days in a house in Los Angeles. The writing process was organic; they worked at a piano that had once belonged to the renowned composer Philip Glass, which Jesso had inherited. Jesso would play chords while Adele improvised melodies and lyrics, starting completely from scratch without a studio setup. Producer Ariel Rechtshaid later joined the project, initially creating a rhythm track to complement the ballad without making it overly dramatic, aiming for an "old soul vibe" with a modern touch. The song was recorded at Dean Street Studios in London and mixed in New York and Los Angeles.

The lyrics of "When We Were Young" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that deepen its nostalgic and melancholic themes.

• Photography as Memory Preservation: The most prominent metaphor is the plea, "Let me photograph you in this light." This isn't a literal request for a photo but a desperate desire to mentally capture and preserve the fleeting moment of reunion. The "light" symbolizes a moment of perfection and idealization, suggesting a desire to remember the person and the feeling in their most perfect form before time alters them further.
• Movies and Songs as Idealized Past: The simile, "You look like a movie, you sound like a song," is used to describe the person from the past. This comparison elevates the memory of the person to a work of art—something timeless, perfect, and universally adored. It romanticizes the past, framing it as a perfect narrative or a beautiful melody that stands in contrast to the complexities of the present.
• Home as Comfort and Familiarity: The line, "'Cause you feel like home, you're like a dream come true," uses the metaphor of "home" to represent the deep comfort, safety, and familiarity the person evokes. It signifies a return to a state of emotional security associated with youth.

The predominant emotional tone of "When We Were Young" is deeply nostalgic and bittersweet. It begins with a sense of quiet, somber reflection, creating an intimate and personal atmosphere. As the song progresses, this nostalgia is tinged with a palpable sense of longing and sadness over the passage of time and the loss of youth. The emotion builds from wistful reminiscence to a powerful, almost desperate yearning, culminating in an expression of anger and recklessness in the line, "I'm so mad I'm getting old, it makes me reckless." This emotional arc is masterfully crafted through the combination of Adele's dynamic vocal performance, which shifts from gentle and husky to a soaring, powerful belt, and the swelling musical arrangement led by the piano. The overall atmosphere is one of profound emotional release, capturing the complex mix of joy, pain, and regret that comes with looking back.

"When We Were Young" was released as the second single from Adele's monumental album 25 and received widespread critical acclaim, with many praising its emotional depth and Adele's vocal performance. Critics have often cited it as a standout track on the album and one of the best songs in her discography. The song achieved significant commercial success, reaching the top 10 in 11 countries, including the UK and Canada. It has been certified multi-platinum in several nations, including 6x Platinum in Canada and 3x Platinum in the UK. Adele performed the song at major events, including Saturday Night Live, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, and the 2016 Brit Awards, where her moving rendition created an intimate connection with the audience. Its themes of nostalgia and aging have resonated universally, making it a poignant anthem for reminiscing. The song solidified Adele's reputation as a masterful balladeer capable of capturing complex emotions with timeless appeal.

The song is structured as a powerful soul ballad with a deliberate and emotive rhythmic flow. The meter is a standard 4/4 common time, typical for ballads. Its tempo starts slow and steady (adagio, around 72 BPM) during the verses, creating a reflective and intimate atmosphere. As the song builds towards its emotional climax in the chorus and bridge, the tempo and intensity subtly increase, mirroring the swell of emotion in the lyrics and vocals. The rhythm is largely dictated by Adele's expressive vocal phrasing and the foundational piano chords. The interplay between the lyrical rhythm and the underlying music is seamless, allowing Adele's voice to stretch and linger on key emotional words. The rhyme scheme is not strictly rigid but follows a pattern that feels natural and conversational, primarily using couplets and near rhymes within its verse-chorus structure (e.g., do/move, you/true; go/know). This helps maintain the song's narrative focus without sounding overly poetic or forced, enhancing its raw, confessional quality.

"When We Were Young" employs a range of literary and musical techniques to create its powerful emotional impact.

• Vocal Delivery: Adele's vocal performance is a key stylistic element. She moves dynamically from a husky, lower register in the verses to a soaring, powerful belt in the chorus and climax, showcasing a wide emotional and technical range. This dynamic shift emphasizes the song's building emotion, from quiet reflection to a passionate outcry.
• Instrumentation: The song is a soul ballad primarily driven by piano, which places the focus squarely on Adele's vocals. Producer Ariel Rechtshaid added other instruments like bass, drums, organ, and a subtle synthesizer to give it a "70s singer-songwriter vibe" while maintaining a modern feel. These additional instruments are described as feeling "like other characters" in the vignettes of memory the song evokes.
• Literary Devices: The lyrics utilize similes ("You look like a movie, you sound like a song") and metaphors ("Let me photograph you in this light") to create vivid imagery. The use of apostrophe is noted, where the narrator addresses the past or a person representing the past as if they are present and can respond. Hyperbole is also present, amplifying the intense emotions of regret and longing.
• Narrative Voice: The song is told from a first-person perspective, creating an intimate and confessional tone that makes the universal theme of nostalgia feel deeply personal and relatable.