I learned the truth at 17That love was meant for beauty queensAnd high school girls with clear skinned smilesWho married young and then retired
The valentines I never knewThe Friday night charades of youthWere spent on one more beautifulAt 17 I learned the truth
And those of us with ravaged facesLacking in the social gracesDesperately remained at homeInventing lovers on the phone
Who called to say, "Come dance with me"And murmured vague obscenitiesIt isn't all it seemsAt 17
A brown eyed girl in hand-me-downsWhose name I never could pronounceSaid, "Pity please the ones who serveThey only get what they deserve"
And the rich relationed hometown queenMarries into what she needsWith a guarantee of companyAnd haven for the elderly
Remember those who win the gameLose the love they sought to gainIn debentures of qualityAnd dubious integrity
Their small-town eyes will gape at youIn dull surprise when payment dueExceeds accounts receivedAt 17
To those of us who knew the painOf valentines that never cameAnd those whose names were never calledWhen choosing sides for basketball
It was long ago and far awayThe world was younger than todayAnd dreams were all they gave for freeTo ugly duckling girls like me
We all play the game, and when we dareTo cheat ourselves at solitaireInventing lovers on the phoneRepenting other lives unknown
That call and say, "Come dance with me"And murmur vague obscenitiesAt ugly girls like meAt 17