One, two, three, fourYou've been a juvenile
With a dolphin smile
With no elbow room
With your body in bloomYou've had your little backyard
Protected by big walls
You didn't dare look over
'Cause you've been too smallNow you're finally sixteen
And you're feeling old
But they, they won't believe
That you've got a soul, no, no, oh'Cause you're only sixteen
And you're keeping it real
But you, you can't seem to
Cop a feel, no, no, ohWhy do they have force us?
Through the metamorphose
Little butterfly
No matter how you tryYou'll be segregated
You're gonna be closed off
You're callow and you're green
'Cause you're caught betweenAnd you're only sixteen
Try to cross the line
But your, your little wings are
Intertwined, oh whoa, no, ohAnd you're only sixteen
And you're such a tease
And there's nothing you do
That can really please, whoa, oh noThese children
They're not really bad most of them
Just products of rotten neighborhoods
And bad family situationsYou know you can't forsake it
So sit back and take it
You see, you're not just ripe
So now don't try and fightThat you're only sixteen
Wanna catch a peek
But they, they look at you
Like you're such a freak, oh, whoa noWell you're only sixteen
With a lot to say
But they, they won't give you
The time of day, whoa, whoa noWell you're only sixteen
(You're only sixteen)
Well you're only sixteen
(You're only sixteen)
Well you're just sixteen
(You're only sixteen)
You poor little thing