When I Was Older

by Billie Eilish
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Lyrics

When I was old

er,

I was a sail

or

on an o pen sea.

But now I’m un der wa

ter

and my skin is pal

er

than it should ev er be.

Mm.

I’m on my back a gain,

dream ing of a time and place where you and I re main the best of friends.

E ven af ter all this ends,

can we pre tend?

I’m on my,

I’m on my back a gain.

It’s seem ing more and more like all we ev er do is see how far it bends be fore it breaks in half and then

we bend it back a gain.

(B)Guess I got caught in the mid dle of it.

Yes, I’ve been taught, got a lit tle of it in my blood,

in my blood.

(G)Mem o ries burn like a for est fire.

Heav y rain turns an y fu n’ral pyre to mud

in the flood.

When I was old

er,

I was a sail

or

on an o pen sea.

But now I’m un der wa

ter

and my skin is pal

er

than it should ev er be.

I’m watch ing mov ies back to back in black and white.

I nev er seen an y bod y do it like I do it an y bet ter.

Been go ing o ver you, I’m o ver due for new en deav ors.

No bod y lone ly like I’m lone ly and I don’t know wheth er you’d real ly like it in the lime light.

You’d sym pa thize with all the bad guys.

I’m still a vic tim in my own right,

but I’m the vil lain in my own eyes.

yeah.

When I was old

er,

I was a sail

or

on an o pen sea.

When I Was Older — Easy Piano Notes for Beginners

5 people have learned this song

Learn "When I Was Older" on piano with easy notes — perfect for absolute beginners. Large color-coded note names show exactly which keys to press. No music reading required. Key of B, 80 BPM.

Tip: Use the speed control to practice at 70% tempo first. Focus on tricky chord transitions before attempting the full arrangement.

About “When I Was Older”

Can I play "When I Was Older" without reading sheet music?
Yes — Easy Notes mode prints the letter name (C, D, E…) directly on each note in big color-coded labels, so you can match colors to your keyboard without any traditional notation. The whole arrangement of "When I Was Older" is playable in minutes, even for first-time players.
What key is "When I Was Older" by Billie Eilish played in?
When I Was Older is arranged in the key of B on Super Simple Piano. You can transpose to any other key live in the player.
What's the tempo (BPM) of "When I Was Older"?
The arrangement plays at 80 BPM. Use the speed control (10-200%) to practice slower or play faster.
Is "When I Was Older" easy to play on piano?
This is a medium-difficulty arrangement. Most players can learn it within a few practice sessions using the speed control.
Can I download sheet music for "When I Was Older"?
Yes — registered users can download PDF sheet music, plus MIDI and MusicXML files for use in other notation software.
Who composed "When I Was Older"?
"When I Was Older" was originally performed by Billie Eilish. The Super Simple Piano arrangement is simplified for beginner-to-intermediate players.
What other songs by Billie Eilish can I play here?
Try "COPYCAT", "OCEAN EYES", "WISH YOU WERE GAY". All are in our player with color-coded notes; pick the one matching your level.
Can a complete beginner play "When I Was Older"?
Absolutely! The Beginner mode shows large color-coded notes with letter names (C, D, E...). Just match the colors to your keyboard — no music reading needed. "When I Was Older" is simplified for beginners.
Do I need to read music to play "When I Was Older"?
No! Our Beginner mode replaces traditional notation with color-coded letter names. Each note shows exactly which key to press. You can start playing "When I Was Older" in minutes, even if you've never touched a piano before.