Sixteen

You’ve been a juvenile
With a dolphin smile
With no elbow room
With your body in bloom
You’ve had your little backyard
Protected by big walls
You didn’t dare look over
Cause you’ve been too small
Now you’re finally sixteen
And you’re feeling old
But they won’t believe
That you’ve got a soul
No whoa oh no
Cause you’re only sixteen
And you’re feeling real
But you can’t seem to cop a feel
No whoa oh no
Why do they have to force us
Through this metamorphosis?
Little butterfly
No matter how you try
You’ll be segregated
You’re gonna be closed off
You’re callow and you’re green
Cause you’re caught between
You’re only sixteen
Try to cross the line
But your little wings are intertwined
No whoa oh no
You’re only sixteen
And you’re such a tease
And there’s nothing you do
That can really please
No whoa oh no
(these children, they’re not really bad, most of them
Just products of rough neighborhoods and bad housing situations)
You know you can forsake it
So sit back and take it
You see you’re not just ripe
So don’t try and fight
That you’re only sixteen
You wanna catch a peek
But they look at you
Like you’re such a freak
No whoa oh no
Well, you’re only sixteen
With a lot to say
But they, they won’t give you
The time of day
Whoa oh no
You’re only sixteen (you're only sixteen)
You’re only sixteen (you're only sixteen)
Hey you’re just sixteen (you're only sixteen)
You’re just sixteen (you're only sixteen)
You poor little thing