At Seventeen

At Seventeen Lyrics

Song At Seventeen
Artist Janis Ian
Album The Old Grey Whistle Test The Anthems
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[00:08.93] I learned the truth at seventeen
[00:12.97] That love was meant for beauty queens
[00:17.23] And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
[00:22.09] Who married young and then retired
[00:28.65] The valentines I never knew
[00:32.90] The Friday night charades of youth
[00:37.39] Were spent on one more beautiful
[00:41.64] At seventeen I learned the truth
[00:43.06]
[00:48.45] And those of us with ravaged faces
[00:53.36] Lacking in the social graces
[00:56.90] Desperately remained at home
[01:00.43] Inventing lovers on the phone
[01:04.28] Who called to say, "come dance with me"
[01:09.04] And murmur vague obscenities
[01:13.10] It isn't all it seems at seventeen
[01:17.10]
[01:19.83] A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs
[01:24.46] Whose name I never could pronounce said
[01:28.30] Pity, please, the ones who serve
[01:32.44] They only get what they deserve
[01:38.98] The rich-relationed home-town queen
[01:43.43] Marries into what she needs
[01:46.86] With a guarantee of company and haven for the elderly
[01:53.88]
[01:58.12] Remember those who win the game
[02:02.65] Lose the love they sought to gain
[02:06.35] In debentures of quality
[02:10.29] And dubious integrity
[02:13.81] Their small town eyes will gape at you in
[02:17.64] Dull surprise when payment due
[02:22.48] Exceeds accounts received at seventeen
[02:26.67]
[03:22.10] To those of us who knew the pain
[03:26.06] Of valentines that never came
[03:30.62] And those whose names were never called
[03:34.66] When choosing sides for basketball
[03:41.39] It was long ago and far away
[03:45.92] The world was younger than today
[03:50.05] And dreams were all they gave for free
[03:54.22] To ugly duckling girls like me
[03:58.10]
[04:00.03] We all play the game and when we dare
[04:04.62] To cheat ourselves at solitaire
[04:08.57] Inventing lovers on the phone
[04:11.97] Repenting other lives unknown
[04:15.92] That call and say, "come dance with me"
[04:20.58] And murmur vague obscenities
[04:24.81] At ugly girls like me, at seventeen
At Seventeen Lyrics
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