This may be complete tripe, but I'm posting it anyway.
"We Are Young" has a dual nature that is difficult to pick-up for most people. It’s very catchy chorus is the part most people are familiar with and can follow. And for many people, it’s the part that taglines the meaning of the song. In that respect, the song is a modern piece of carpe diem poetry. While this interpretation is not inaccurate, it fails to realize that the song encapsulates a dual nature. And the story presented goes far beyond the words. Let’s pretend for a moment that the chorus isn’t part of the song… yet.
The first verse lyrics give the song its complex scene. Our character has been left to fend for himself by his friends. His ex is at the bar. Perhaps he planned to be in the same place, perhaps it’s a coincidence. But right then, some other guy has approached her with interest. Feeling jealousy and regret, he wants to approach her. Composing his thoughts, and likely approaching her when the opportunity presents itself, he tries to deal with and apologize for the breakdown of the relationship. Even he recognizes his apology isn’t really good enough for what happened. But right then, at the moment, he wants to fix it. To start out, he offers to make sure she gets home.
The second verse plays like a conversation, and it adds to the realism of the moment. Maybe she has scoffed at his offer–rolling her eyes or going back to her drink. He knows she doesn’t need him. He stumbles trying to explain how they could try to be together again. They’re interrupted by the return of their group of mutual friends, but he senses he must have gotten through just a bit. He’s willing to throw it all into the group party, because he’s found someone to make sure HE gets home.
The third verse comes off of Janelle’s contribution to the song. I think it’s best to think of this portion as the unseen ex-lover, finally agreeing to be carried home. She’s accepted what he’s said, if not quite forgiven him. She has resigned herself to his help. Our main character reflects that he’s done his best, he’s quite drunk, but maybe things will be ok. It looks like things didn’t go perfectly (“the angels never arrived”), but what he HAS accomplished will do (“but I can hear the choir”). Liquored-up and emotionally tried; in the end he needs someone to carry HIM home.
Now put the chorus back into play. It’s an interjection of the “seize the day” spirit in the truest sense. It’s powerful, and punctuates the story almost as if it’s designed to interrupt things. And that’s exactly what it does. Our character approaches his ex, becomes insecure and feels the rejection coming. Then, quite suddenly, he rallies and is gripped by a different feeling. He says “screw it, what do I have to lose?” No matter how old or worn by experience he is, right now he’s young. Whatever mistakes are to come, no matter how things turn out later, right now he can do it all and it will be glorious. There’s also a note of desperation to the chorus as the night goes on. The chorus represents the one thing he’s holding onto in order to keep himself composed and to stay the course. He holds tightly to the spirit of the chorus: first as inspiration, then as a feeling in which to lose himself. As closing time approaches, the chorus level drops slightly, and he clings to it as the night ends and he must face the reality again.
This song is about living powerfully and brightly while you have a chance. Enjoying life, and taking the moment to feel young. Sometimes you just have to go and do it, and bask in the bright moment you create. But it’s also about accepting things. It’s about reconciliation, and having to face problems. It contains the distinct, bittersweet message that when the chorus dies down, you will still have many issues that you can’t put off and avoid forever.
That being said: by the time the bar closed, everyone burned-out by the youthful spirit of the bar party, both he and the ex were there to help eachother home that night.
This may be complete tripe, but I'm posting it anyway.
"We Are Young" has a dual nature that is difficult to pick-up for most people. It’s very catchy chorus is the part most people are familiar with and can follow. And for many people, it’s the part that taglines the meaning of the song. In that respect, the song is a modern piece of carpe diem poetry. While this interpretation is not inaccurate, it fails to realize that the song encapsulates a dual nature. And the story presented goes far beyond the words. Let’s pretend for a moment that the chorus isn’t part of the song… yet.
The first verse lyrics give the song its complex scene. Our character has been left to fend for himself by his friends. His ex is at the bar. Perhaps he planned to be in the same place, perhaps it’s a coincidence. But right then, some other guy has approached her with interest. Feeling jealousy and regret, he wants to approach her. Composing his thoughts, and likely approaching her when the opportunity presents itself, he tries to deal with and apologize for the breakdown of the relationship. Even he recognizes his apology isn’t really good enough for what happened. But right then, at the moment, he wants to fix it. To start out, he offers to make sure she gets home.
The second verse plays like a conversation, and it adds to the realism of the moment. Maybe she has scoffed at his offer–rolling her eyes or going back to her drink. He knows she doesn’t need him. He stumbles trying to explain how they could try to be together again. They’re interrupted by the return of their group of mutual friends, but he senses he must have gotten through just a bit. He’s willing to throw it all into the group party, because he’s found someone to make sure HE gets home.
The third verse comes off of Janelle’s contribution to the song. I think it’s best to think of this portion as the unseen ex-lover, finally agreeing to be carried home. She’s accepted what he’s said, if not quite forgiven him. She has resigned herself to his help. Our main character reflects that he’s done his best, he’s quite drunk, but maybe things will be ok. It looks like things didn’t go perfectly (“the angels never arrived”), but what he HAS accomplished will do (“but I can hear the choir”). Liquored-up and emotionally tried; in the end he needs someone to carry HIM home.
Now put the chorus back into play. It’s an interjection of the “seize the day” spirit in the truest sense. It’s powerful, and punctuates the story almost as if it’s designed to interrupt things. And that’s exactly what it does. Our character approaches his ex, becomes insecure and feels the rejection coming. Then, quite suddenly, he rallies and is gripped by a different feeling. He says “screw it, what do I have to lose?” No matter how old or worn by experience he is, right now he’s young. Whatever mistakes are to come, no matter how things turn out later, right now he can do it all and it will be glorious. There’s also a note of desperation to the chorus as the night goes on. The chorus represents the one thing he’s holding onto in order to keep himself composed and to stay the course. He holds tightly to the spirit of the chorus: first as inspiration, then as a feeling in which to lose himself. As closing time approaches, the chorus level drops slightly, and he clings to it as the night ends and he must face the reality again.
This song is about living powerfully and brightly while you have a chance. Enjoying life, and taking the moment to feel young. Sometimes you just have to go and do it, and bask in the bright moment you create. But it’s also about accepting things. It’s about reconciliation, and having to face problems. It contains the distinct, bittersweet message that when the chorus dies down, you will still have many issues that you can’t put off and avoid forever.
That being said: by the time the bar closed, everyone burned-out by the youthful spirit of the bar party, both he and the ex were there to help eachother home that night.