At Seventeen sing and play along

I learned the truth at seventeen,

that love was meant for beauty queens and high school girls with clearskinned smiles who married young and then retired.

It The valentines I never knew,

the Friday night charades of youth were spent on one more beautiful,

at seventeen, I learned the truth.

We And those of us with ravaged faces,

lacking in the social graces, in desp'rately 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 browneyed girl in handmedowns whose name I never could pronounce said,

"Pity, please, the ones who serve.

They only get what they deserve.

It The rich relationed hometown queen

The marries into what she needs,

a guarantee of company and haven for the elderly."

We Remember those who win the game,

to lose the love they sought to gain es,

in debentures of quality and dubious integrity.

Their small town eyes will gape at you in dull surprise ob when ment due

exceeds accounts received at seventeen.

To