[Verse 1]
In the ancient middle fifties
The closing sixties roar
I was caught up in your passion
I could only beg for more
And if I had a dollar bill
I'd give it to you then
So I could tell the whole wide world
One day I knew you when

[Verse 2]
With your dangerous charisma
Your thundering attack
You charged the very air I breathed
And kept me coming back
You helped me through my darkest hours
You always were my friend
You gave me hope to carry on
Because I knew you when

[Bridge]
I knew you when the mountain tops
Were right beneath your feet
When artistry and freedom were complete
Before you were an icon
Before they all tuned in
You could say I knew you when
[Verse 3]
We all sit here with our memories
Of a glorious long ago
When our heroes seemed immortal
Were they really so?
It's a question for a wiser man
I will not ask again
I will only say I'm grateful
For the time I knew you when
I knew you when (I knew you when)
Oh, I knew you when
I knew you when (I knew you when)
Yeah I knew you when

[Outro]
I knew you when (I knew you when)
I knew you when (I knew you when)
Yeah I knew you when