When We Were Young
Adele (25) Lyrics

Everybody loves the things you do
The singer acknowledges that the subject of the song is well-loved by everybody for their distinct and unique traits.

From the way you talk
The audience loves the way the subject talks and communicates with others.

To the way you move
The audience also admires the physical gestures and movements of the subject of the song.

Everybody here is watching you
The artist notes that all present are keenly observing the subject of the song with appreciation and admiration.

'Cause you feel like home
The artist feels a sense of familiarity and comfort when they are around the subject of the song.

You're like a dream come true
The singer feels that the presence of the subject of the song is a dream come true.

But if by chance you're here alone
The singer upholds the possibility that the subject of the song may be present in solitude.

Can I have a moment
The artist seeks to seize a moment of interaction with the subject of the song.

Before I go?
The artist is uncertain about the fate of their interaction with the subject of the song and humbly seeks one last opportunity.

'Cause I've been by myself all night long
The artist has been spending their time without company, possibly leading them to feel lonely and empty.

Hoping you're someone I used to know
The singer desperately desires that the subject of the song was someone they once knew.

You look like a movie
The artist compares the subject of the song's appearance to the grandeur of a movie portrayal.

You sound like a song
The singer also likens the subject of the song's voice and sound to that of a song.

My God, this reminds me
The singer expresses a strong emotional connection to the memories elicited by the subject of the song's presence.

Of when we were young
The singer recalls a time in the past when they and the subject of the song were younger.

Let me photograph you in this light
The artist seeks to capture the subject of the song's momentary presence and existence through a photograph.

In case it is the last time
The artist is aware that the interaction with the subject of the song could possibly be the final time they meet and hopes to hold onto a tangible item to remember them by.

That we might be exactly like we were
The singer wishes to recreate a moment in time when they and the subject of the song were once exactly as they are now.

Before we realized
The singer reminisces about a time before they became self-aware and focused on the challenges of growing old.

We were sad of getting old
The artist laments the inevitability of aging and the associated sadness and regrets that come with it.

It made us restless
The artist implies that the fear of aging has caused them great anxiety and unease.

I was so scared to face my fears
The artist is afraid of confronting their deep-seated fears and is possibly using the subject of the song's presence as a form of escapism.

Nobody told me that you'd be here
The singer was not aware that the subject of the song would be present and is possibly caught off guard by their arrival.

And I swore you moved overseas
The artist believed that the subject of the song had moved overseas and is now surprised to see them.

That's what you said, when you left me
The singer is holding onto memories of when the subject of the song left them and is now confronted with the reality of their return.

You still look like a movie
The singer confirms that the subject of the song continues to have an almost otherworldly quality about them.

You still sound like a song
The singer once again compares the subject of the song's voice and aura to that of a sonnet or ballad.

Just in case it hasn't gone
The artist is holding onto hope that the feelings they have for the subject of the song are still present and have not faded away.

I guess I still care
The artist reveals that they still feel a certain level of affection towards the subject of the song.

It makes me reckless
The singer's passionate feelings for the subject of the song are making them irrational and impulsive.

Oh, I'm so mad I'm getting old
The singer is upset and angered by the thought of aging and the regrets and missed opportunities that ensue.