When I Was Young (song)

"When I Was Young" is a song 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) – and was the first release to feature this lineup. 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.

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)

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 Indian riff, played by an electric guitar and a violin. It is also distinctive for its introduction, which featured a heavily distorted guitar's whammy bar 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] Cash Box called the single a "strong, gutsy, reflective Blues effort with a particularly interesting instrumental backing."[2]

Charts
Chart (1967) Peak
position
Canada Top Singles (RPM)[3] 10
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[4] 9
US Billboard Hot 100[5] 15
West Germany (Official German Charts)[6] 31

References
  1. "Spotlight Singles" (PDF). Billboard. 25 March 1967. p. 16. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  2. "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. 25 March 1967. p. 14. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  3. "Top RPM Singles: Issue 10065." RPM. Library and Archives Canada.
  4. "Eric Burdon & the Animals – When I Was Young" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
  5. "Eric Burdon Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
  6. "Offiziellecharts.de – Eric Burdon & the Animals – When I Was Young" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. To see peak chart position, click "TITEL VON Eric Burdon & the Animals"
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