When You Were Young
The Killers Lyrics
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Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now, here he comes
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young
Can we climb this mountain?
I don't know
Higher now than ever before
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Let's take it easy
Easy now, watch it go
We're burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young
And sometimes you close your eyes
And see the place where you used to live
When you were young
They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while
You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now, here he comes
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young
(Talks like a gentlemen, like you imagined)
When you were young
I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But more than you'll ever know
When You Were Young, the hit song by The Killers, has been interpreted in various ways by fans and critics alike. The song touches on themes of nostalgia, desire for love and redemption, and the realization of the impermanence of youth. The opening lines of the song set the tone for the rest of the lyrics as the singer sits alone in her heartache, waiting for a beautiful boy to come and save her from her old ways. She seeks forgiveness from her past and hopes that this boy will be her savior.
The lyrics imbue the beautiful boy with an almost Christ-like quality despite him not looking like Jesus, but imitating the gentlemen she imagined when she was young. The imagery is potent, as the girl seeks redemption and a fresh start "when she was young." The song also explores the idea that life is like climbing a mountain, with its peaks and valleys, and the importance of taking it slow and enjoying the experience. It talks about the temptation of succumbing to the devil's water and dipping toes into it once in a while.
Line by Line Meaning
You sit there in your heartache
You're stuck in a painful emotional state
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
You're hoping that someone will come and save you
To save you from your old ways
You want someone to help you break free from your past behaviors
You play forgiveness
You pretend to be forgiving even when you're not
Watch it now, here he comes
Your potential savior is approaching
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
The person who might help you doesn't fit the religious idea of a savior
But he talks like a gentlemen
He speaks kindly and politely
Like you imagined when you were young
He matches the idea of the perfect gentleman you had when you were younger
Can we climb this mountain?
Can we overcome this challenge?
I don't know
I'm not sure
Higher now than ever before
The challenge is greater than ever
I know we can make it if we take it slow
We can succeed if we take our time and work steadily
Let's take it easy
Let's not rush things
Easy now, watch it go
Slow and steady progress is the key
We're burning down the highway skyline
We're moving forward quickly
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
We're propelled forward by powerful forces
When you were young
This intense forward momentum reminds you of your youth
And sometimes you close your eyes
You remember the past
And see the place where you used to live
You have vivid memories of your old home
They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
There are tempting but dangerous things in this world
You don't have to drink right now
You don't have to give in to temptation at this moment
But you can dip your feet
You can test the waters without going all the way
Every once in a little while
Occasionally, it's okay to indulge in small pleasures
I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
Again, the person who might help you doesn't fit the religious idea of a savior
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
Repeated to emphasize that the singer's idea of a savior has changed
But more than you'll ever know
The potential savior may have more to offer than expected
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Brandon Flowers, Dave Brent Keuning, Mark August Stoermer, Ronnie Jr. Vannucci
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@lisagarratt3631
Lyrics:
You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now, here he comes
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young
Can we climb this mountain?
I don't know
Higher now than ever before
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Let's take it easy
Easy now, watch it go
We're burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young
And sometimes you close your eyes
And see the place where you used to live
When you were young
They say the devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet
Every once in a little while
You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now, here he comes
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentlemen
Like you imagined when you were young
(Talks like a gentlemen, like you imagined)
When you were young
I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But more than you'll ever know
@hadriendu69
You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch him now, here he comes
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentleman
Like you imagined when you were young
Can we climb this mountain? I don't know
Higher now than ever before
I know we can make it if we take it slow
Let's take it easy, easy now, watch it go
We're burning down the highway skyline
On the back of a hurricane that started turning
When you were young
When you were young
And sometimes you close your eyes
And see the place where you used to live
When you were young
They say the Devil's water, it ain't so sweet
You don't have to drink right now
But you can dip your feet in
Every once and a little while
You sit there in your heartache
Waiting on some beautiful boy to
To save you from your old ways
You play forgiveness
Watch it now here he come
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But he talks like a gentleman
Like you imagined when you were young
(talks like a gentleman)
(like you imagined)
When you were young
I said he doesn't look a thing like Jesus
He doesn't look a thing like Jesus
But more than you'll ever know.
@jlovely8902
My boyfriend who passed away a few weeks ago sang this song when we were at a bar doing karaoke one night. Since he sang it that night, I had been trying to figure out the name of it; I finally came across it tonight. The song has so much meaning to me. We were together for five years and were both young when he sung this song. Now I just watch the video of him in my phone when he sang this song that night at the bar, wishing he was still alive, wishing that we could go back in time to when we were young. R.I.P. Chris, I'll always love you.
@highimmegan6242
Praying for your heart dear❤️
@alyssafoster4765
So sorry, you had to go through that
@jlovely8902
Thank you ❤️
@jasongary1609
Sorry for your loss rip
@Shadow-yh4dj
Im really sorry to hear that. May he rest in peace.
@unmasflojomidgewidge
You truly don’t appreciate the intensity of this song until you’ve come back to it a decade later, having lived some life and experienced some heartbreak.
@Retroyesi
True
@aurorawilson5301
Well damn..this hit me
@WafflesSong
spot on