17 and 21
George Gershwin * Track #5 On Strike Up the Band (Original)
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17 and 21 by George Gershwin
Release Date
Performed by
George GershwinAbout
This song was composed for the original 1927 performance of the Broadway musical Strike Up the Band, though it was cut when the show was revised and relaunched three years later. In it, Tommy and Ann lament that it took them so long to find love, despite their youth.
17 and 21 Lyrics
(Verse)
[TOMMY]
Age was creeping on me
I had just turned 21
You then dawned upon me
And a new day was begun
[ANN]
I was getting wrinkled
I had just turned 17
Then my bright star twinkled
As it brought you on the scene
[TOMMY]
All the day and nighttime
It was true love that I craved
You came at the right time
And a lonely soul was saved
[ANN]
Oh, love was late in reaching me
I never had been kissed
And from what you've been teaching me
Oh dear, how much I've missed!
(Chorus 1)
[ANN]
I had to wait till I was 17
[TOMMY]
And I, in turn, till I was 21
When we met I asked myself quizzically
"Do you only love this girl physically?"
But bigger, better, finer your appeal
My heart soon told me that my love was real
Oh why, oh why, oh why did
I have to wait as I did
And mope along till I was 21?
(Chorus 2)
[ANN]
I had to wait till I was 17
[TOMMY]
And I, in turn, till I was 21
[ANN]
Years and years I moped and sat tragically
You appeared. I changed like that, magically
It's you who caused my sleeping heart to wake
When you came round I really got a break
You've made life gay and fresher
You gave me high-blood pressure
Why did I have to wait till 17?
Hi-ho, hi-ho
[TOMMY]
Oh, what a blow!
[BOTH]
I/you had to wait till 17
17 and 21 Q&A
Who wrote 17 and 21's ?
17 and 21 was written by Ira Gershwin & George Gershwin.
When did George Gershwin release 17 and 21?
George Gershwin released 17 and 21 on Sat Jan 01 1927.