Janis Ian - At seventeen

I ^Clearned the truth at seventeen That ^Dmlove was meant for beauty queens And ^G7high school girls with clear-skinned smiles Who ^Cmarried young and then retired

The ^CValentines I never knew The ^DmFriday night charades of youth Were ^G7spent on one more beautiful At ^Cseventeen I learned the truth

And ^Ebthose of us with ravaged faces ^Dm7Lacking in the s^G7ocial graces ^Cm7Desperately re^Fm7mained at home ^Cm7Inventing lovers o^Fm7n the phone

Who ^Abcalled to say, "Come d^G7ance with me!" And ^Cm7murmured vague ob^F7scenities ^Dm7It isn't all it seems at se^G7venteen

A ^Cbrown-eyed girl in hand-me-downs Who's ^Dmname I never could pronounce Said, "^G7Pity, please, the ones who serve They ^Conly get what they deserve."

The ^Crich relationed hometown queen ^DmMarries into what she needs Wi^G7th a guarantee of company And ^Chaven for the elderly

Re^Ebmember those who win the game ^Dm7Lose the love they s^G7ought to gain In ^Cm7debentures of ^Fm7quality And ^Cm7dubious in^Fm7tegrity

Their ^Absmall town eyes will ^G7gape at you In ^Cm7dull surprise when p^Fm7ayment due ^Dm7Exceeds accounts received at se^G7venteen

To ^Cthose of us who knew the pain Of ^Dmvalentines that never came And ^G7those whose names were never called When ^Cchoosing sides for basketball

It ^Cwas long ago and far away The ^Dmworld was younger than today And ^G7dreams were all they gave for free To ^Cugly duckling girls like me

We all ^Ebplay the game and when we dare To ^Dm7cheat ourselves at ^G7solitaire In^Cm7venting lovers ^Fm7on the phone Re^Cm7penting other ^Fm7lives unknown

That ^Abcall and say, "Come ^G7dance with me!" And ^Cm7murmur vague ob^Fm7scenities ^Dm7At ugly girls like me at se^G7venteen ^{C Cmaj7}