Sweet Sixteen

Sweet Sixteen - Judy Garland

For fifteen years I've played a waiting game

I've suffered like they do in Russian plays

But if what's in store is really what they claim

I must admit that suffering really pays

For fifteen years I've been just like a prisoner in a cell

For fifteen years my life has been just - awful

From one to four was such a bore

I remember how I hated having all those people

Paw all over me and talk baby talk

They'd say goo-goo isn't she cunning

Poor dear she has her father's nose

Ah-tic-a-tic-a-tic-a-tic-a-tic-a

The years from five to eight I hate

I've grown into a very unattractive child

And consequently was utterly and completely ignored

But I didn't really mind

I had a book of Mother Goose

And Mother Goose is pretty

Hot stuff when you're five years old

At nine I had the measles so that didn't count

At ten I'd reached the performing stage

And at the drop of a hat mother would

Call me in and have me sing

The Rosary for her guests

I never will forget how papa used to squirm

When I hit that high note

From eleven to thirteen I'd rather not speak of

It was bad enough having Jimmy Doogan

Pull my hair in school

But it was positively humiliating to have my own mother

Refer to me as her dear little ugly duckling

At fourteen I had my first taste of romance

It was at a party at dancing school

And he was younger than I was shorter than I was

Oh but he had a wonderful name - Archibold

And he really like me too

Really he did but I had to go and spoil it all

I asked him right out if he'd be my best beau

That was the last I ever saw of him

By now I was fifteen and pretty miserable

Mother refused to let me wear any lipstick

Or rouge and I went around looking as pale as death

It was then that I decided to join the monastary

And I would have too if it hadn't been for Bing Crosby

I was afraid they wouldn't have any radios in manastaries

So I devoted my fifteenth year to Kraft cheese

But now it's a different story I can brush away the tears

And lau-augh at those awful fifteen years

For now I'm

Sweet Sixteen and I've got my first long dress

I can even have a date one night a week

I can paint my lips a little and rouge my cheeks

I'm sweet sixteen but I really must confess

Although this grown up life isn't simple

I wouldn't change places with Shirley Temple

Gee it's great to be just as free as the birds - above me

I'm a Juliet out to get a Romeo to love me

I ask you please forget that I was an in-between

I mean my flags unfurled I'm a woman of the world

I'm sweet sixteen