When I Was Young (song)

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For other songs with this title, see When I Was Young (disambiguation).

"When I Was Young"
Single by Eric Burdon and The Animals
B-side"A Girl Named Sandoz"
Released8 April 1967
GenrePsychedelic rock, raga rock
Length3:00
LabelMGM
Songwriter(s)Eric Burdon, Vic Briggs, John Weider, Barry Jenkins, Danny McCulloch
Producer(s)Tom Wilson
Eric Burdon and The Animals singles chronology
"Help Me Girl"
(1966) 		"When I Was Young"
(1967) 		"San Franciscan Nights"
(1967)

"When I Was Young" is a song with a countercultural theme released in early 1967 by Eric Burdon and The Animals; it was written by five of the band members: Eric Burdon (vocals), Barry Jenkins (drums), John Weider (guitar/violin), Vic Briggs (guitar), and Danny McCulloch (bass). It charted in Australia, peaking at No. 2 and staying 4 weeks there. Later, it hit No. 10 on the Canadian RPM chart, No. 15 in the United States, and No. 9 in the Netherlands. The song has been covered by many punk rock and heavy metal bands.

Background[]

This somewhat autobiographical song tells about Burdon's father, who was a soldier during tough times, as well as young Eric's adventures - including his first cigarette at 10, to his meeting his first love at 13. The final verse shows his disillusionment with society:

"My faith was so much stronger then,
I believed in fellow men,
And I was so much older then.

When I was Young".

This song is noted for its , played by an electric guitar and a violin. It is also distinctive for its introduction, which featured a heavily distorted guitar's tremolo descent from E to D. This song begins in E Minor, and ends in G Minor. The B-Side "A Girl Named Sandoz" is named after the drug company that invented LSD.

In time, it was utilized in a German TV commercial. In the early 1980s Burdon began to mention, at the end of the song, many stars who had died.

Reception[]

Billboard described the single as containing "blockbuster biting material" and an "intriguing dance arrangement."[1]

Cover versions[]

Charts[]

Chart (1967) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[2] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[3] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 15
West Germany (Official German Charts)[5] 31

References[]

  1. ^ "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 25 March 1967. p. 16. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. ^ "Top RPM Singles: Issue 10065." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  3. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Eric Burdon & the Animals – When I Was Young" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  4. ^ "Eric Burdon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  5. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Burdon & the Animals – When I Was Young". GfK Entertainment Charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Eric Burdon & the Animals"

External links[]

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