You wait, little girl, on an empty stage For fate to turn the light on Your life, little girl, is an empty page That men will want to write on To write on You are sixteen, going on seventeen Baby, it's time to think Better beware, be canny and careful Baby, you're on the brink You are sixteen, going on seventeen Fellows will fall in line Eager young lads and rueys and cads Will offer you food and wine Totally unprepared are you To face a world of men Timid and shy and scared are you Of things beyond your ken You need someone older and wiser Telling you what to do I am seventeen, going on eighteen I'll take care of you I am sixteen, going on seventeen I know that I'm naive Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet And willingly I'll believe I am sixteen, going on seventeen In oaths and as a rose Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies What do I know of those? Totally unprepared am I To face a world of men Timid and shy and scared am I Of things beyond my ken I need someone older and wiser Telling me what to do You are seventeen, going on eighteen I'll depend on you