1974 (We Were Young)

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“1974 (We Were Young)”
Single by Amy Grant
from the album Lead Me On
Released 1988
Format 7" single, Cassette single
Genre CCM, Adult Contemporary, Pop
Length 4:22
Label A&M Records
Writer(s) Amy Grant, Gary Chapman, Jerry McPherson
Producer Brown Bannister
Amy Grant singles chronology
The Next Time I Fall
(1986)
1974 (We Were Young)
(1988)
Saved by Love
(1988)

"1974 (We Were Young)" is a 1988 single by Christian music singer Amy Grant. It was released as the first single from the Lead Me On album.

[edit] The song

The song is about Grant's discovery of faith at the young age of thirteen or fourteen (Grant was born on November 25, 1960), the first verse saying, "We were young...Down upon our knees/we tasted holy wine." In the chorus, Grant tells of God's love at the founding of Him, saying, "Purer than the sky behind the rain...Love had lit a fire we were the flame." The final verses talk about how the discovery of God changes people: "No one had to say we were changed/Nothing else we lived through would ever be the same" and how those who experience God's love never want it to go away: "Stay with me/Make it ever new."

[edit] Chart success

Unlike Grant's previous few singles, "1974" was not a crossover success in the mainstream. Although a Top Ten Christian single, "1974" only managed to reach #34 on the Adult Contemporary chart, to date Grant's worst performance on that chart. The song wasn't even able to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Clearly, "1974" was too much faith-based to be a crossover success similar to 1985's "Find a Way" and 1986's "The Next Time I Fall" and "Stay For Awhile."

[edit] Charts

Year Single Chart Position
1988 "1974 (We Were Young)" Adult Contemporary 34