Sixteen Going on Seventeen - Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, Lauri Peters

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 rogues 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 an 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 believe

I am sixteen going on seventeen

Innocent 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