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 its 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 grue ways and cads
Will offer you fruit 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 18
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 18
I'll depend on you

Copyright: CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Writer(s): OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II, RICHARD RODGERS