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Song Info
Genre
Charts
Peak #21
Peak in subgenre #3
Author
Janis Ian
Uploaded
February 15, 2013
Track Files
MP3
MP3 4.2 MB • 128 kbps • 4:34
Story behind the song
I have had the most wonderful journey. I never thought that singing this song would introduce me to the most amazing lyric, melody and fascinating and talented lady. Learning about Janis Ian and taking time to know this song has been one of the most interesting things I've ever done and best learning experience I could have asked for. I am glad I jumped it, I wish I could sing it better, but seeing how long it took my wonderful friend Ben Willis to learn this guitar part and knowing the time he put into it just brought me to undertand the intricate beauty of this song. A special thank you to my friend Danny for lining up the vocal, so much work and I am sure I wasn't perfect in it, but the ride was worth taking!
Lyrics
"AT SEVENTEEN"
By Janis Ian
I learned the truth at seventeen
That love was meant for beauty queens
And high school girls with clear skinned smiles
Who married young and then retired
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen I learned the truth...
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lacking in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say "come dance with me"
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems at seventeen...
A brown eyed girl in hand me downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said: "Pity please the ones who serve
They only get what they deserve"
The rich relationed hometown queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly...
Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debentures of quality and dubious integrity
Their small-town eyes will gape at you
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received at seventeen...
Instrumental break
To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far away
the world was younger than today
when dreams were all they gave for free
to ugly duckling girls like me...
We all play the game, and when we dare
We cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventing lovers on the phone
Repenting other lives unknown
That call and say: "Come, dance with me"
And murmur vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me, at seventeen...
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