At Seventeen

I (C)learned the truth at (Cmaj7)(C6)seventeen,

(C)that (Dm11)love (Dm7)was meant for (A)beauty (Dm7)queens and (G7)high school girls with clearskinned smiles who (C)married young and (Cmaj7)then (C6)retired.

(C6)It The (C)valentines I (Cmaj7)never (C6)(C)knew,

the (Dm11)(Dm7)Friday night (A)charades of (Dm7)youth were (G7)spent on one more beautiful,

at (C)seventeen, I (Cmaj7)learned the (C)truth.

(C)We And (Eb)those of us with ravaged faces,

(Dm7)lacking in the social graces, in (Cm7)desp'rately remained at home inventing lovers on the phone who (Ab)called to say,

"Come dance with me," and (Cm7)murmured vague obscenities.

(Dm7)It isn't all it seems at (G7)seventeen.

A (C)browneyed girl in (Cmaj7)(C6)handmedowns (C)whose (Dm11)name (Dm7)I never (A)could (Dm7)pronounce said,

(G7)"Pity, please, the ones who serve.

They (C)only get what (Cmaj7)they (C6)deserve.

(C6)It The (C)rich relationed (Cmaj7)hometown (C6)queen

(C)The (Dm11)(Dm7)marries (A)into what she (Dm7)needs,

a (G7)guarantee of company and (C)haven for the (Cmaj7)(C)elderly."

(C)We (Eb)Remember those who win the game,

to (Dm7)lose the love they sought to gain es,

in (Cm7)debentures of quality and dubious integrity.

Their (Ab)small town eyes will gape at you in (Cm7)dull surprise ob when ment due

(Dm7)exceeds accounts received at (G7)seventeen.

To