But now that I got a little bit older and learned to appreciate the song not only for the beat it had, but for the lyrics too. This song is definitely MEANINGFUL. Truly heartfelt. It must be like a diary to Janis when she wrote it. You could obviously sense her outpouring honesty in this song.
It speaks so much of how teenage girls feel, and how society and reality mold girls. Girls may be one gender, but when you look at it, it's hard being a girl, especially when you're in the stage of puberty, where you get to open your minds to the world's reality. You can get shocked about how the world spins.
If you have time, please do read the lyrics I pasted here. If you're a girl, you'd really understand what Janis' singing about.
I learned the truth at seventeen,
That love was meant for beauty queens.
In high school, girls with clear-skin 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."
And 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.
The small-town eyes will gape at you,
In dull surprise, when payment due,
Exceeds accounts received.
At seventeen
To those of us who knew the pain,
Of valentines that never came.
And those whose names were never called,
When choosing sides for basketball.
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,
An' murmur vague obscenities,
At ugly girls like me,
At seventeen.
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,
An' murmur vague obscenities,
At ugly girls like me,
At seventeen.
It first talks about how those beautiful, rich girls get away with everything. Those who have beauty and money are usually in power in contrast to those who are equally talented but remain undiscovered because they are wallflowers. Beautiful girls get the Valentines, and great Friday nights.
This song is like a wallflower's diary to how they actually feel insecure about not having to experience the thrill other teenage girls have.
Is it human nature to feel insecure? I do not know really. But I admit that I do feel insecure too.
Society tries to give us the ideals of what is beautiful, and when we tend to agree with society, our own vision gets distort and we finally lose what the true idea of beauty is. True beauty doesn't have to deal with total physical perfection. Beauty can be found in so many ways more than just the body and face.
Of course, you can't just avoid society, but there's one big gift you can give to yourself: NEVER EVER GIVE IN TO WHATEVER MAKES YOU THINK LESS OF YOURSELF.
There will always be something or someone who'll get in the way all the time. But please please believe in yourself. DO NOT GIVE THAT SOMETHING OR SOMEONE POWER OVER YOU. Who do they think they are? I know how it feels like to feel so ugly and weak and totally imperfect. So many people have brought me down with their words. But I show them that no matter how much they've hurt me, I'll be strong. They're only viciously waiting for your weakening reaction. Don't give them that satisfaction. Instead of the hurt you'll build in yourself, give them the hurt they'll get because you never felt anything with that they tried hurt you with. YOU'LL BE STRONG. No one wants to mess with a strong person right? I know it's hard to be one. But with much emotional strength, you can do it. You are amazing and you know that.
Janis Ian may have gone through this teenage hardship, but look where she is now? A musical legend. I know you'll be a legend too. Always remember that there's someone who believes in you. :)
