Main Point: It’s totally fine for us to have fun, especially when we’re young. But we can’t allow our youthful fun to become irresponsible or sinful.
The Song: Live While We’re Young
Currently, the boy band causing the biggest worldwide craze is One Direction. Their latest song is Live While We’re Young which comes from their highly anticipated second album entitled Take Me Home. The song is high energy, upbeat, and includes just about every element that’s specific to the pop genre. Furthermore, the music video shows lots of footage of the guys having loads of fun hanging out with each other and their fans.
As of this writing, the song’s music video has been viewed more than 96 million times on YouTube. In fact, when it was released, the song made history as the highest-ever Hot 100 debut by a UK band in the chart’s existence. Yeah, the song’s hugely popular with the younger generation, especially the girls.
That said, there appears to be a distinction between what the music video is about (having fun with your friends) and what the song’s lyrics are about (possibly hooking up with a girl). This distinction serves as the focus of this resource.
Introducing the Music Video:
Neither the song nor the band needs much of an introduction. One Direction’s latest hit “Live While We’re Young” is sweeping across the globe impacting millions of fans on a daily basis. At first glance, it appears as though the tune is about a bunch of guys desiring a good time and seeking fun. But there may be more to this song and music video than meets the eye. Let’s take a really close look at the song’s lyrics as we watch the music video to see what kind of message the boys from Europe are imparting with their latest single.
The Video: It can be found online at http://www.vevo.com/watch/one-direction/Live-While-Were-Young/GB1101200812
Song Lyrics:
Hey girl, I’m waitin’ on ya, I’m waitin’ on ya
Come on and let me sneak you out
And have a celebration, a celebration
The music up, the window’s down
Yeah, we’ll be doing what we do
Just pretending that we’re cool
And we know it too
Yeah, we’ll keep doing what we do
Just pretending that we’re cool
So tonight
Let’s go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
Woahhh oh oh oh
Woahhhh oh oh oh
And live while we’re young
Woahhh oh oh oh
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
Hey girl, it’s now or never, it’s now or never
Don’t over-think, just let it go
And if we get together, yeah, get together
Don’t let the pictures leave your phone, ohhhh
Yeah, we’ll be doing what we do
Just pretending that we’re cool
So tonight
Let’s go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
Woahhh oh oh oh
Woahhhh oh oh oh
And live while we’re young
Woahhh oh oh oh
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
And girl, you and I,
We’re ’bout to make some memories tonight
I wanna live while we’re young
We wanna live while we’re young
Let’s go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
Crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let’s pretend it’s love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
Wanna live, wanna live, wanna live
Come on, young
Wanna live, wanna live, wanna live
While we’re young
Wanna live, wanna live, wanna live
Tonight let’s get some
And live while we’re young
Transitional Statement:
Engaging. Exciting. Young. Fun. All of those words could describe what we saw in the song’s music video. The boys from 1D were having a blast with each other and their fans. That’s always great to see. I mean, who doesn’t like to have fun with their friends??? But the lyrics seem to suggest a different meaning; they seem to be describing the guys’ intentions when they’re alone with their girlfriends. I want us to spend the next few minutes talking about fun and some responsible ways to have it. The truth is, it’s totally fine for us to have fun, especially while we’re young, but we can’t allow our youthful fun to become sinful.
Divide into Small Groups:
Let’s go ahead and split up into our discussion groups, and then afterward we’ll come back together for a final word.
CLICK HERE for a quick training article on how to maximize your small groups using our small group format—a great resource to equip your small group leaders.
Discussion Questions:
- AROUND THE CIRCLE: As we get started, let’s all take a second to share our names and our favorite One Direction song.
- ASK A FEW: Of all the things in the video that the guys were doing for fun, which would you most like to do? Why?
- ASK A FEW: We all like to have fun, which seems to be the focus of this music video. What are some ways you and your friends have fun together?
- ASK A FEW: Do you think some people have fun in irresponsible ways? Can you give a few examples of what that looks like without naming names?
- ASK A FEW: This may sound like a weird question at first, but I’m gonna ask it anyway. Do you think the song’s LYRICS and the song’s VIDEO are about the same thing? How do you know? (Leaders – This is a key question! The music video seems to be about the guys doing fun stuff like swimming, riding an ATV, playing soccer, etc. But the song’s lyrics seem to be about the guys going out with a girl for a night. Make sure the students understand this point.)
- ASK A FEW: What evidence do we have from the song’s lyrics that the tune is about more than just having fun with our friends? Are there lines that talk about the guys’ intentions with their girlfriends? (Leaders – Yes, there are several lines that lead listeners to think they’re singing about a physical relationship, for instance, “Let me sneak you out,” “Let’s go crazy till we see the sun,” “Don’t let the pictures leave your phone,” “Let’s pretend it’s love,” and “Tonight let’s get some.”)
- ASK A FEW: Take a few moments to look back over the lyrics. On a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being very irresponsible and 10 being totally responsible, how high do you rank the message in the song’s lyrics?
- ASK A FEW: Does God have expectations for our fun? If so, what are they?
- ASK A FEW: If you had to sum up this passage in two sentences or less, how would you do it?
- ASK A FEW: Do you think the man and the woman in this passage were having fun with each other? How do you know? (Leaders – The passage talks about “let’s drink our fill” and “enjoy each other’s caresses.” It sounds like the fun many young people have these days, even though there would be consequences.)
- ASK A FEW: Do you see any similarity between this passage and One Direction’s song? If so, what are they?
- ASK A FEW: In what ways did the man and woman in the passage allow their fun to become sinful and irresponsible?
- ASK A FEW: What were the consequences of this man and woman’s sin?
- ASK A FEW: When we allow our fun to become sinful and irresponsible, what are some of the consequences we could face?
- ASK A FEW: What are some ways we can keep our fun from becoming sinful and irresponsible?
- AROUND THE CIRCLE: In what ways do you need to change the fun you have to make sure you don’t become sinful or irresponsible?
Read the following passage:
Proverbs 7:6-27 (NLT)
I was looking out the window of my house one day 7 and saw a simpleminded young man who lacked common sense. 8 He was crossing the street near the house of an immoral woman. He was strolling down the path by her house 9 at twilight, as the day was fading, as the dark of night set in. 10 The woman approached him, dressed seductively and sly of heart. 11 She was the brash, rebellious type who never stays at home. 12 She is often seen in the streets and markets, soliciting at every corner. 13 She threw her arms around him and kissed him, and with a brazen look she said, 14 “I’ve offered my sacrifices and just finished my vows. 15 It’s you I was looking for! I came out to find you, and here you are! 16 My bed is spread with colored sheets of finest linen imported from Egypt. 17 I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. 18 Come, let’s drink our fill of love until morning. Let’s enjoy each other’s caresses, 19 for my husband is not home. He’s away on a long trip. 20 He has taken a wallet full of money with him, and he won’t return until later in the month.” 21 So she seduced him with her pretty speech. With her flattery she enticed him. 22 He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter or like a trapped stag, 23 awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. 24 Listen to me, my sons, and pay attention to my words. 25 Don’t let your hearts stray away toward her. Don’t wander down her wayward path. 26 For she has been the ruin of many; numerous men have been her victims. 27 Her house is the road to the grave. Her bedroom is the den of death.
Wrap Up:
It may sound like we’re hating on One Direction during our time together. That’s not exactly the case; let me explain. I think it could be said that many of us think this song is catchy and fun. Further, I think we can see how many talents this particular musical group has. Finally, they seem to really understand what it’s like to be young, and they sing about that in real ways, mainly because they are young themselves.
But at the same time, there may be some liabilities in that. Their song talks about “sneaking out” and “going crazy” whatever that means, and “getting some” and taking pictures that need to remain private. It’s not hard to imagine what the guys have on their minds in this song. They seem focused on having fun with their girlfriends, even if that fun is of a sexual nature and irresponsible.
But the passage we read from the Bible really gave us a clearer picture of what happens if we seek that kind of fun. It ends in death; the Bible actually depicted it as an animal headed to its own slaughter. If we’re honest with ourselves, we never think that the fun we seek is going to lead to our harm or the harm of others, but that’s exactly what can happen when we allow our fun to become sinful and irresponsible.
Sadly, many take this biblical teaching and turn it upside down and make it mean things about God that simply are not true. For instance, many read the Bible and walk away thinking God is some cosmic Killjoy who wants to ban any inkling of fun from our lives. But nothing could be further from the truth! God wants us to have loads of fun, He just wants us to avoid sin and irresponsibility while doing so.
If we think about it for a moment, that’s not being unfair. In fact, God’s expectations and concerns stem directly from His love for us. He wants us to have fun because He loves us, and He wants us to steer clear of sin and irresponsibility because He loves us.
As we close in prayer, think about the ways in which you need to change the kind of fun you have. If you have a habit that you consider fun but is also dangerous or sinful or irresponsible, you might want to talk with one of us before you leave. Just grab one of our adult leaders; they’ll be delighted to help you learn to have fun that won’t backfire on you.
Close in Prayer
Written by David R Smith
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.