When You Were Young (3:40)

“When You Were Young” is a song written and performed by Las Vegas-based rock band, The Killers, and is the third track on their second album Sam’s Town, released in October 2006. The song was released as the lead single from that album in September 2006. It has proven to be one of their most successful singles, peaking at #14 on the U.S. Hot 100 (only “Mr. Brightside” peaked higher on this chart at #10), as well as their only number 1 to date on the U.S. Modern Rock Tracks. It is also their highest charting single to date in the United Kingdom and Australia, peaking at numbers 2 and 10 respectively.

The song, that is in the key of B major and written in common time, displays the band’s move towards a more “American” musical style, as it is part of an album that was supposedly heavily influenced by the music of Bruce Springsteen. The song itself was reportedly influenced by Springsteen’s “Born to Run”. The song was nominated for the 2007 Grammy Award for “Best Rock Song”, and the single’s video, directed by Anthony Mandler, received a nomination in the category of “Best Short Form Music Video”. The single was ranked #69 on iTunes Top 100 Best Sellers: Songs of 2006. The song also made #4 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006.

The song has been covered by Coldplay live at an unplanned appearance for MENCAP, as well as by Finnish singer Astrid Swan, and Taking Back Sunday. It was also covered by Simon Webbe, a former member of British boy band Blue on Jo Whiley’s Show on Radio 1 in the Live Lounge. On the 25th of March 2009, the song was once again covered, this time by The Noisettes.