Janis Ian — At Seventeen
Album: Between The LinesAvg rating:
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Total ratings: 931
Length: 3:54
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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
To those of us who know 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
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me
We all play the game and when we dare
To 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
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
To those of us who know 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
And dreams were all they gave for free
To ugly duckling girls like me
We all play the game and when we dare
To 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
Comments (31)add comment
looking back and appreciating how horribly painful those early high school days actually were - easier now reminiscing
When I was seventeen I felt, that she felt my pain. Really I did.
I don't recall EVER hearing this on RP!! LOVE IT 
Such a classic song gave it a 10
I was not a plain girl at seventeen. But I have watched as some people are excluded from the table. Janis captures disenfrachisement and teenage angst. Well done.
Just found a excellent vinyl copy of this album at a local thrift store for $2...the whole recording is so good, top to bottom...think I'll give it a spin today. Thanks for the reminder William....
EdEastridge wrote:
Same here from the first time it appeared on the airwaves. I could relate.
Have always loved this song. So heartbreakingly beautiful.
Same here from the first time it appeared on the airwaves. I could relate.
Part of RP's genius juxtapositions is allowing for hearing something so familiar with fresh ears, as if for the first time. And the stellar sound engineering: today I hear her voice as if I've never heard it before.
Thank the gods for Radio Paradise!
Thank the gods for Radio Paradise!
Gorgeous, still. And 1975?!!! Man, I'm withering away.
It's okay Bill...my only sibling was 12yrs older than me. I can remember riding around in her 65 Nova. I was so amazed that she sang along with EVERY song that came on the radio...how did she do that? 
I've acted out my love on stagesWith ten thousand people watching
"Song for You"
Leon Russell
I always think of Leon's lyric when I hear songs like this.
"Song for You"
Leon Russell
I always think of Leon's lyric when I hear songs like this.
Gets me every goddamn time. Superb.
I remember when this song came out when I was a senior is high school. I like it then and could relate to the isolation descripted in this song. It's still a strong 9.
Some how I have like 3 vinyl copies of this and maybe a CD.
Some how I have like 3 vinyl copies of this and maybe a CD.
exquisite song
Was never fond of this song, for all its obvious reasons, but it wouldn't really be the 70s in 'Merica without it. So there's that.
bleeeeeeeeeeeeeech
bbqking wrote:
Yes, indeed.....
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acoustic bass – Richard Davis
Don't know who it is, but excellent bass throughout this sweet song.
Yes, indeed.....
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Acoustic bass – Richard Davis
Have always loved this song. So heartbreakingly beautiful.
I haven't heard this in forever!
Gorgeous voice.
Fabulous instruments.
Godlike for those willing to listen, the story so strong and moving
Fabulous instruments.
Godlike for those willing to listen, the story so strong and moving
The only time 17=10
Don't know who it is, but excellent bass throughout this sweet song.
What Leslie said, and to those who always fit in, I give the same response I did 28 years ago.
:p Pbbbbbbbbbbbth
What fisherking said.
Originally Posted by jpbergjr:
I can hear this song on any lite rock station, the reason I tune in here is to get away from the overplayed, and for all those who were lost when they were seventeen, when did you finally find yourself?
Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed today? Have some mercy on those who will never find themselves. Wether or not a song is played on commercial stations has no bearing on the ultimate significance of a song. Lighten up!I think for all of us, those who thought they didn\'t fit in and those who thought they did, this song was an anthem. At 17, we all began to learn the truth, whether we admitted it at that time or later.
This song pretty much is the anthem for those who did not \"fit in\" during high school years. An incredibly evocative song that will span the generations (and indeed has, already) 
Lovely