We Are Young

We Are Young by fun. featuring Janelle Monáe is featured in Hold on to Sixteen, the eighth episode of Season Three. It is sung by The New Directions. Finn and Rachel sing lead, while Mercedes, Quinn, Sam and Santana all have solo lines.

This is sung after Sectionals as a victory number for the New Directions. Former members of The Troubletones, Santana, Mercedes, and Brittany are re-inducted back into New Directions with Sugar now becoming a member, after Quinn convinces them to return. It is said that Will and Rachel had agreed that the Troubletones can do one performance at a competition. Will walks in near the end of the song, surprised and happy with what he sees. The version of this song used in the episode included Quinn's and Santana's parts louder and clearer than the studio version.

Lyrics

Rachel:
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,
He's waiting for me
Just across the bar
My seat's been taken by some sunglasses
Asking 'bout a scar and

Finn:
I know I gave it to you months ago
I know you're tryin' to forget
But between the drinks and subtle things
The holes in my apologies
You know,
I'm trying hard to take it back

Sam:
So if by the time
The bar closes

Sam and Quinn:
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry
You home

Finn with New Directions:
Tonight,
We are young

Rachel and Finn with New Directions:
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter
Than the sun

Santana and Mercedes with Brittany and Sugar:
Tonight,
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter than the sun

Santana (with Brittany):
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

Rachel:
But our friends are back
So let's raise a cup
'Cause I found someone to carry me home

Finn with New Directions:
Tonight,

Rachel and Finn with New Directions:
We are young
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter
Than the sun

Mercedes:
Whoa!

Santana and Mercedes with Brittany and Sugar:
Tonight,
We are young (New Directions: We are young)
So let's set the world on fire (New Directions: Fire)
We can burn brighter (New Directions: Brighter)
Than the sun

Quinn (New Directions):
Carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na)
Just carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na)
Carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na)
Just carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na)
Carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na) (Finn: The world is on my side, I have no reason to run)
Just carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na) (Finn: So will someone come and carry me home tonight)
Carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na) (Santana: The angels never arrived but I can hear the choir)
Just carry me home tonight (Na na na na na na na na) (Santana: So will someone come and carry me home)

Rachel:
Tonight,
We are young

Rachel and Finn:
So let's set the world on fire
We can burn brighter
Than the sun

Mercedes:
We are young!

Santana with New Directions:
Tonight, (Mercedes: Yeah!)
We are young (New Directions: We are young)

Santana and Mercedes with New Directions:
So let's set the world on fire (New Directions: Fire)
We can burn brighter (New Directions: Brighter)
Than the sun

Rachel and Finn:
So if by the time
The bar closes
And you feel like falling down
I'll carry
You home
Tonight

Charts

Chart (2011)	Peak Position
Australian Chart (ARIA)	49
Canadian Hot 100	11
Irish Singles Chart	32
UK Singles Chart	56
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	12

Trivia

This song showcases Rachel's 100th solo in any performance in Glee.
This is the third time New Directions sung a celebratory song after a Sectionals competition, with My Life Would Suck Without You in Sectionals and Dog Days Are Over in Special Education. Interestingly, this last one was also performed in the auditorium, finalizing with a group hug.
The cloud backdrop is the same used in the performance of Dog Days Are Over, which was also sung after winning their Sectionals competition. Just like the Dog Days Are Over performance, this one is sung in the Auditorium.
First time New Directions breaks the 13-member barrier (and second time to break 12 after Kurt's return in Born This Way). As of the end of this song, they stand at 15 members.