We Are Young

## Single by Fun. featuring Janelle Monáe

"**We Are Young**" is a song recorded by Fun featuring Janelle Monáe. It was released as the lead single and third track from the band's second studio album, *Some Nights*, on September 20, 2011. Lead vocalist Nate Ruess informed *Rolling Stone* that the chorus came to him while driving.

Along with achieving mainstream success, the song won a Grammy Award for Song of the Year in 2013 and was nominated in the Best Pop Duo/Group Performance category.

## Music video

The accompanying music video was directed by Marc Klasfeld and premiered on December 27, 2011. Guitarist Jack Antonoff recalled, "It was terrifying. There were a lot of moments in the video that I think should have ended a lot worse than they did. I watch the video and I think, 'Oh God, we really threw ourselves in some real danger there,' because it's a bunch of stunt people and then us. And it's not necessarily healthy to have cake rocketed at your face from an air cannon, but we did it. And we're in serious tuxedos that are very constricting, so if you want to get away from something quick, you want to be in a sweat suit or something." As of August 2022, the video has received 1 billion views on YouTube.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Verse 1: Nate Ruess]

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 it

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

[Chorus: Nate Ruess]

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

[Verse 2: Nate Ruess]

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 toast

'Cause I found someone to carry me home

[Chorus: Nate Ruess]

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

[Bridge: Janelle Monáe, *Nate Ruess*]

Carry me home tonight

Just carry me home tonight

Carry me home tonight

Just carry me home tonight

*The moon is on my side*

*I have no reason to run*

*So will someone come and carry me home tonight?*

*The angels never arrived*

*But I can hear the choir*

*So will someone come and carry me home?*

[Chorus: Nate Ruess]

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

[Outro: Nate Ruess]

So if by the time the bar closes

And you feel like falling down

I'll carry you home tonight

## References

1. ↑ "Fun. On 'We Are Young'". *Rolling Stone*. June 19, 2012.
2. ↑ Montgomery, James (January 20, 2012). "Fun. Say Making 'We Are Young' Video 'Was Terrifying'". *MTV*.
3. ↑ Aniftos, Rania (August 31, 2022). "Fun. & Janelle Monáe's 'We Are Young' Music Video Reaches 1 Billion YouTube Views". *Billboard*.