Cover art for The Way It Was by The Killers

The Way It Was

Sep. 17, 20121 viewer55.2K views

The Way It Was Lyrics

[Verse 1]
I drove through the desert last night
I carried the weight of our last fight
Elvis singing don't be cruel, and I wonder if you feel it too
It's like we're going under
Somewhere outside the lonely Esmeralda county line
The question of my heart came to my mind

[Chorus]
If I go on with you (by my side)
Can it be the way it was?
When we met, did you forget all about those golden nights?


[Verse 2]
Maybe a thief stole your heart
Or maybe we just drifted apart
I remember driving in my daddy's car to the airfield
Blanket on the hood, backs against the windshield

Back then this thing was running on momentum, love and trust
That paradise is buried in the dust

[Chorus]
If I go on with you (by my side)
Can it be the way it was?
When we met, did you forget all about those golden nights?
(The way it was, it was)
[Bridge]
All of our plans have fallen through
Sometimes a dream don't come true

[Chorus]
Darling! Darling!
If we go on
Can it be the way it was
When we met did you forget all about them golden nights?
If I go on with you by my side
Can it be the way it was
My heart is true, girl it's just you I'm thinking of
Can it be the way it was?

[Outro]
Maybe a thief stole your heart

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About

This song bio is unreviewed
Genius Annotation

“The Way It Was” is a song by American rock band The Killers from their fourth studio album, Battle Born. It was released in 2012 as the promotional single from the album by Island Records. The single didn’t chart as well in 2012.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

What did The Killers say about "The Way It Was"?
Genius Answer

With 20/20 hindsight, this song probably should’ve been a single. That’ll probably be what’s written on its headstone! When we play it live and Dave’s riff starts, it’s magic. We all love that song, so that’s why it’s on here.

Brandon Flowers writing for NME, November 8, 2013.

Credits
Mixed By
Recorded At
Battle Born Studios (Winchester, Nevada), Blackbird Studio (Nashville, Tennessee)
Release Date
September 17, 2012
The Way It Was Live Performances
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