We Are Young is a hit by the American band Fun, which features vocals by singer and songwriter Janelle Monáe. The song is about appreciating youth’s vitality, desire, and buoyancy. Nate Ruess, the lead vocalist of Fun, has stated that the song is autobiographical and is based on a personal experience.
According to an interview Ruess gave to Rolling Stone, the lyrical inspiration for the song came from a night of binge drinking. After getting so drunk that night that he threw up in a taxi, he was forced to leave the vehicle. He says the song was about a night out with friends while talking with Jon Chattman.
After a night of heavy drinking, Ruess claims it took him an entire day to recover to “functional adult” status. His “worst drinking night of all time,” as he put it, was that night.
Verse 1
At the outset of the first stanza, he seems to be in New York City, with the Empire State Building and all being mentioned. But, the metaphor that underlies this allusion is what matters here. And that more clearly shows that the vocalist and his pals are, in fact, high (“..friends in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State”)
By the end of the verse, the language becomes more obscure. There’s no denying it was penned by someone nursing a serious hangover. Yet, one thing we can determine right away is that the location is a bar.
In an interview with Nate Ruess and Andrew Dost (part 3), Jack Antonoff says that everyone can connect to the song since it’s about real friendship and the kind of music you want to hear on night out having a good time with your best friends.
Chorus
The chorus reinforces the latter idea; however, the lyrics that could be interpreted as implying intoxication are just symbolic in this case. Alternatively stated, Nate argues that he and the recipient should seize the day because they “are young” and not waste it.
Given the preceding, it seems safe to assume that he, if not they both, consider heavy alcohol use an essential part of expressing their political beliefs.
Verse 2
The song makes extensive use of poetic language, but just in case. Consequently, considering the language used in the second verse, we must go even further out on a limb. And Nate may be implying that the recipient, i.e., this romantic interest, is seeing someone else; he may be accusing the addressee of cheating.
So, it’s suggested that their connection is strained, and he’s trying to fix it. However, they would be fighting under normal conditions if they were alone. This night, though, everything is OK because their “friends are back.”
It’s now clearer that the singer’s “apologies” would result from the singer’s having offended the addressee in some way during their feud. Let’s say for the record that, as far as this relationship is concerned, he seems to be making amends.
A Break and a Wrap-Up
If we extrapolate from the above, we might conclude that the presumed someone is a romantic partner; however, the conclusion isn’t supported by the bridge’s latter half. Instead, it sounds like Nate could use the help of a sympathetic friend or even an “angel.”
It’s clear from the outset that his dangerous inebriation inspired this story. Therefore it’s reasonable to assume that in the second stanza when he talks about someone helping him go home (“carried home”), he means needing being too intoxicated to drive.
More Context
The music video that accompanies the song was directed by Marc Klasfeld shot on location at the David Sukonick Concert Hall in Los Angeles, California.
Lyrics
Give me a second I
I need to get my story straight
My friends are in the bathroom getting higher than the Empire State
My lover she’s waiting for me just across the bar
My seat’s been taken by some sunglasses asking ’bout a scar, and
I know I gave it to you months ago
I know you’re trying to forget
But between the drinks and subtle things
The holes in my apologies, you know
I’m trying hard to take it back
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I’ll carry you home
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Now I know that I’m not
All that you got
I guess that I, I just thought
Maybe we could find new ways to fall apart
But our friends are back
So let’s raise a cup
‘Cause I found someone to carry me home
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Carry me home tonight (na na na na na na)
Just carry me home tonight (na na na na na na)
Carry me home tonight (na na na na na na)
Just carry me home tonight (na na na na na na)
The moon is on my side (na na na na na na)
I have no reason to run (na na na na na na)
So will someone come and carry me home tonight (na na na na na na)
The angels never arrived (na na na na na na)
But I can hear the choir (na na na na na na)
So will someone come and carry me home (na na na na na na)
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
Tonight
We are young
So let’s set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun
So if by the time the bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I’ll carry you home tonight
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Andrew Dost / Jack Antonoff / Jeff Bhasker / Nate Ruess
We Are Young lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Peermusic Publishing, Songtrust Ave, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc
Listeners of Pop Rock music, might also appreciate the song How to save a life by The Fray.
