The Dark Side of 17

I get why the kids are throwing up pills
And why my dad’s in bed by 6 p.m
17, so bittersweet
With my whole life ahead
And my final defeat

The girls are ODing on diet pills
And I stopped eating just so I could feel
Rather go down at 17
Than live my whole damn life without
Chasing this dream

One step closer
No end in sight
Sweet devotion
To my great demise

17
It ain’t what it seems
You find it’s not so sweet
When you don’t know what you need
To be 17
Oh, babe, it ain’t for me
To want it all
Or nothing
It’s all overcoming me
Oh, to be 17

And my mom doesn’t sleep
Can’t end up like her
You don’t know my name
So this won’t be heard
The prom queen is ruler of the suburbs
I know at 17
I can’t end up like her

One step closer
No end in sight
Sweet devotion
To my great demise

17
It ain’t what it seems
You find it’s not so sweet
When you don’t know what you need
To be 17
Oh, babe, it ain’t for me
To want it all
Or nothing
It’s all overcoming me
Oh, to be 17

And I don’t wanna live
But I don’t wanna die
I just wanna sing this song for life
And I just wanna laugh
But I’ve already cried
So I’m just gonna sing my song tonight

‘Cause I’m 17
And I don’t know what I mean
You find it’s not so sweet
When you know just what you need
‘Cause I’m 17
Oh, babe, it ain’t for me
To want it all or nothing
It’s all overcoming me
‘Cause I’m 17