When We Were Young

by Adele
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Looking to play this yourself? Try the standard piano arrangement of “When We Were Young
Two-handed piano arrangement — color-coded notes, lead sheet, sheet music. Learn it yourself.

Other arrangements of When We Were Young

Pick a learning view or switch to the backing-track version.

Also available as a standard piano arrangement
Lyrics

Ev ’ry bod y (Eb)loves the things you do,

from the way you talk

to the way you move.

Ev ’ry bod y (Eb)here is watch ing you.

’cause you feel like home,

you’re like a dream come true.

But if by (Eb)chance you’re here a (Ab)lone,

can I have a mo ment

be fore I (Eb)go?

’Cause I’ve been by (Eb)my self all night long,

hop ing you’re (Fm7)some one

I used to (Fm7)know.

You look like a mo vie,

you sound like a song,

my god, this re minds me

of when we were young.

Let me pho to graph you in this light, in case it is the last time that we might be ex act ly like we were be fore we re (Bb7)al ized we were sad of get ting old, it made us rest less.

It was just like a mo vie,

it was just like a (Fm7)song.

I was so (Eb)scared to face my (Ab)fears

’cause no bod y told me

that you’d be (Eb)here.

And I swear (Eb)you moved o ver seas,

that’s what you said,

when you left me.

You still look like a mo vie,

you still sound like a

my god, this re me

of when we were

Let me pho to graph you in this light, in case it is the last time that we might be ex act ly like we were be fore we re (Bb7)al ized we were sad of get ting old, it made us rest less.

It was just like a mo vie,

it was just like a (Fm7)song.

vie,

it was just like a (Fm7)song.

(When we were young,

when we were young,

when we were young,

when we were young.)

It’s hard

to (Eb)ad mit that ev ’ry thing just takes me back to when you were there,

to when (Fm7)you were there.

And a part of me keeps hold ing on, just in case it has n’t gone, I guess I still care.

Do (Fm7)you still care?

It was just like a mo vie,

it was just like a song,

my god, this re minds me

of when we were young.

(When we

were young.

When we were young,

when we were young.)

Let me pho less.

Oh, I’m so (Cm7)mad, I’m get ting old, it makes me (Ab6)reck less.

It was just like a mo vie,

it was just like a (Fm7)song

when we were (Eb)young.

When We Were Young — Accompaniment Sheet Music (Classic Notation)

2 people have learned this song

Classic piano notation for "When We Were Young" by Adele as an accompaniment / backing track. Both hands engraved at publisher quality in F — sing or play melody on top while the score follows along at 72 BPM. Click any note to jump there.

Tip: Press play and sing the melody on top of the piano. If the original key (F) sits too high or low for your voice, use the transpose control to shift the accompaniment into a comfortable range — the backing moves with you. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the vocal melody in.

Try other practice modes:

About “When We Were Young

Is the engraved accompaniment score for "When We Were Young" suitable for a pianist?
Yes — both hands are notated in classic piano notation (treble + bass clefs, key F, real chord symbols), engraved server-side from the publisher MusicXML. A staff pianist or accompanist can read this directly from the screen or printed PDF and play the backing while you sing the melody.
What key is the piano accompaniment for "When We Were Young" by Adele in?
The backing track is in F at 72 BPM. If that doesn't sit in your vocal range, use the live transpose control to shift up or down semitones — the accompaniment moves with the new key automatically.
Can I sing over "When We Were Young" with this accompaniment?
Yes — that's exactly what it's built for. The vocal melody is muted by default so you can sing freely. Need a pitch reference? Tap the mic icon to bring the melody back in at a lower volume.
Is this a karaoke version of "When We Were Young"?
Effectively yes — it's the piano-only backing for "When We Were Young", with no vocals. You can also slow it down to practice tricky verses, then bring it back to full tempo.
Can I use "When We Were Young" as a backing track for my instrument?
Absolutely. Singers, guitarists, violinists, wind players, and instrumental practice in general all work — the piano holds the harmony so you can carry the melody on whatever instrument you play.
Can I download the accompaniment for "When We Were Young"?
Yes — registered users can download MIDI + MusicXML (open in any notation software). PDF sheet music is also available for the full arrangement.
Who wrote "When We Were Young"?
"When We Were Young" was originally performed by Adele. This piano accompaniment is an arrangement of that song, designed for sing-along and play-along use.
What other backing tracks by Adele are available?
Other accompaniments by Adele: "Chasing Pavements", "Don't You Remember", "Hello". Same toggle-the-melody, change-the-key setup.
What is this accompaniment Sheet Music view?
Same engraver-grade rendering as the standard Sheet Music mode — both hands, classic piano notation, key of F, real chord symbols — but the audio is the karaoke / backing-track arrangement of "When We Were Young" with the lead melody removed. Perfect for singers, lead instruments, and ensemble practice.
Can I sing or play melody while the score follows along?
Yes. The backing track removes the melody so you can sing or play it on top while the chord changes and rhythm guide you. The engraved score scrolls in time with the audio so you never lose your place.
Is this the same notation a piano book would show?
Yes — treble + bass clefs, key signature, time signature, beams, dynamics, and chord symbols above the staff, all rendered from the original publisher MusicXML. Identical reading experience to a printed piano accompaniment book.

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