When You Were Young

Background

The song is in the key of B major and written in common time, reflecting the band's move toward a heartland rock style. The album Sam's Town was heavily influenced by Bruce Springsteen, and the song itself was reportedly influenced by Springsteen's "Born to Run" and "Thunder Road". It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Rock Song. The single ranked number 69 on iTunes Top 100 Best Sellers: Songs of 2006 and number 4 on the Triple J Hottest 100, 2006.

Music video

The music video was filmed in Tlayacapan, Mexico, with visual style inspired by the films Japón and Batalla en el Cielo directed by Carlos Reygadas. Anthony Mandler directed the video and portrayed a specific storyline intercut with scenes of the band playing. Brandon Flowers commented that his interpretation of the song differs from what Mandler depicts.

The video opens with a young woman mourning at a large white wooden cross on a rocky hill until a man who had been searching for her arrives and comforts her. Flashbacks show the woman praying at a church, then kissing the man outside, establishing their romantic relationship. She later finds him in bed with another woman and leaves distraught; the video flashes back to their joyous wedding, then to a scene where the man watches her pour water on her legs. Another flashback shows the woman entering a bar the man owns, introducing herself and being given an apron, while the Killers play to a small crowd; the drums read "Los Dientes Del Perro" (Spanish for "The Dog's Teeth").

The final shot returns to the cross, with the woman on the ground and her husband beside her. The video stars Mexican actors Gustavo Sánchez Parra and Sonia Couoh. An alternate version shows the woman jumping off a cliff instead of reconciling.

Covers

A wide range of artists have put their own spin on the song. Coldplay's Chris Martin performed it during a surprise set for MENCAP. Amy Macdonald played it in her home country of Scotland and at the 2008 Lowlands Festival. Biffy Clyro did a version on Today FM's live radio.

The Infamous Stringdusters offered a live rendition for The A.V. Club. Simon Webbe, formerly of Blue, sang it on BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge and during his tour. Taking Back Sunday performed it at Taste of Chaos in London on November 18, 2006. Astrid Swan covered it on KCMP in April 2007.

The Noisettes did a Live Lounge cover on March 25, 2009, which later appeared on Radio 1's Live Lounge – Volume 4. Joy Electric included his take on the album Favorites at Play. Trio of Oz put it on their 2010 self-titled record.

Garrison Starr released an acoustic version for her 2012 EP Not For Nothing. SYMT recorded their cover at Stage Monks Studios. Vinyl Theatre played it live during their 2015 tour. Against the Current posted a cover on YouTube in 2016.

Patrick Kell added it to his 2017 album See the Light. Modern Baseball performed it at their farewell residency at Union Transfer in Philadelphia in October 2017. Echosmith included it in their 2018 Inside A Dream tour setlist. Midtown brought it back for their 2022 Resurrection tour.

Did You Know?

• The song appears in the video games Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock, SingStar Amped, Rock Band, and Guitar Hero Live.
• The single's B-side, "All the Pretty Faces", appears in Guitar Hero 5.
• The song was featured in the third section of the 2006 Victoria's Secret Fashion Show.