Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Janis Ian
Acoustic Guitar
Barry Lazarowitz
Drums
Burt Collins
Flugelhorn
Al Gorgoni
Acoustic Guitar
Alan Raph
Trombone
Richard Davis
Acoustic Bass Guitar
David Snider
Acoustic Guitar
Sal DiTroia
Nylon-String Guitar
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
Janis Ian
Songwriter
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Brooks Arthur
Producer
Larry Alexander
Engineer
Russ Payne
Engineer
Lyrics
[Verse 1]
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
[Verse 2]
The valentines I never knew
The Friday night charades of youth
Were spent on one more beautiful
At seventeen, I learned the truth
[Chorus]
And those of us with ravaged faces
Lackin' in the social graces
Desperately remained at home
Inventin' lovers on the phone
[Chorus]
Who called to say come dance with me
And murmured vague obscenities
It isn't all it seems
At seventeen
[Verse 3]
A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downs
Whose name I never could pronounce
Said, "Pity please, the ones who serve
The only get what they deserve"
[Verse 4]
And the rich-relationed hometown queen
Marries into what she needs
With a guarantee of company
And haven for the elderly
[Chorus]
Remember those who win the game
Lose the love they sought to gain
In debentures of quality
And dubious integrity
[Chorus]
Their small town eyes will gape at you
In dull surprise when payment due
Exceeds accounts received
At seventeen
[Verse 5]
To those of us who knew the pain
Of valentines that never came
And those whose names were never called
When choosin' sides for basketball
[Verse 6]
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
[Chorus]
We all play the game and when we dare
To cheat ourselves at solitaire
Inventin' lovers on the phone
Repentin' other lives unknown
[Chorus]
They call and say, "Come dance with me"
And murmured vague obscenities
At ugly girls like me
At seventeen
Written by: Janis Ian