Songfacts®:

• This anthemic ballad was released as the second single from Bruno Mars' sophomore album, Unorthodox Jukebox. Speaking with MTV News, Mars revealed that there was little planning involved in releasing the tune. "I felt 'Young Girls' was good," he said. "'Locked Out of Heaven' was something brand new I tried in the studio and it felt like the right thing to do. None of these things are planned, which one goes first, which one goes second. One day I wake up and I say, 'You know what? I want the world to hear this song that I wrote called 'Young Girls,' and I put it out."
• The song finds Mars singing about how he can't help indulging in the dubious charms of young girls, even though he recognizes what he is doing is wrong. Mars explained to MTV News' Sway Calloway why he decided to open Unorthodox Jukebox with this track. "That's the first song on the album [because] I think it really shows you what this album is going to be, and just where I was when I started this album," he said. "Everything's been so new to me, man, I feel like the world's been watching it. Watching me go on tour, watching me perform on TV ... but I [also] feel this is something everyone can relate to: There's a moment in your life where you start going out every night, and it's so fun, but then you start to lose yourself; you get lost in the sauce.
  "So, this song is the same sentiment as 'Lookin' For Love In All The Wrong Places,'" he continued. "It's another confession."