At Seventeen

by Janis Ian

Loading song
Fetching song
1
—
Play in Full ModesMore Songs for Kids
Lyrics

I (C)learned the (C)truth at (Cmaj7)sev en (C6)teen, that (Dm11)love (Dm7)was meant for (A)beau ty (Dm7)queens

and (G7)high school girls with clear skinned smiles

who (C)mar ried young and (Cmaj7)then re (C6)tired.

It The (C)val en (C)tines I (Cmaj7)nev er (C6)knew,

the (Dm11)Fri (Dm7)day night (A)cha rades of (Dm7)youth

were (G7)spent on one more beau ti ful,

at (C)sev en (C)teen, I (Cmaj7)learned the (C)truth.

We And (Eb)those of us with rav aged fac es,

lack ing in the so cial grac es, in (Cm7)des p’rate ly re mained at home in (Cm7)vent ing lov ers on the phone who (Ab)called to say, “Come dance with me,” and (Cm7)mur mured vague ob scen i ties.

It is n’t all it seems

at (G7)sev en teen.

A (C)brown eyed (C)girl in (Cmaj7)hand me (C6)downs whose (Dm11)name (Dm7)I nev er (A)could pro (Dm7)nounce said, (G7)“Pit y, please, the ones who serve.

They (C)on ly get what (Cmaj7)they de (C6)serve.

It The (C)rich re (C)la tioned (Cmaj7)home town (C6)queen The (Dm11)mar (Dm7)ries in (A)to what she (Dm7)needs, a (G7)guar an tee of com pa ny and (C)ha ven (C)for the (Cmaj7)el der (C)ly.”

We Re (Eb)mem ber those who win the game, to

lose the love they sought to gain es, in (Cm7)de ben tures of qual i ty and (Cm7)du bi ous in teg ri ty.

Their (Ab)small town eyes will gape at you in (Cm7)dull sur prise ob when ment due

ex ceeds ac counts re ceived

at (G7)sev en teen.

To

At Seventeen by Janis Ian — Easy Piano for Kids

This page shows “At Seventeen” by Janis Ian in our color-coded kid songbook view — every note is colored by pitch (red C, orange D, yellow E, green F, blue G, purple A, pink B) and the lyrics sit directly under each note, so children can sing along while they play. The song is in the key of C at 100 BPM, a comfortable easy-level arrangement perfect for first-time learners.

Tips for parents & teachers

  • Start at 50% tempo using the BPM control. Speed up only when your child can play through without stopping.
  • Turn on the metronome from the top bar to build steady rhythm.
  • Use the segmented OFF / C / 1 button to toggle note labels on the staff and keys — kids learn note names faster with letters showing.
  • Tap a measure number on the timeline to jump to a specific section for repeat practice.

Frequently asked questions

Is "At Seventeen" good for a child learning piano?
Yes — this color-coded arrangement is designed for ages 4-12. Each note is colored by pitch so kids match colors to keys, no music reading required. Lyrics sit under every note for sing-along play.
What age can start with "At Seventeen"?
Children as young as 4 can follow the color-coded notes. By age 6-7 most kids can play through the song themselves with light guidance. Parent help is recommended for the first few sessions.
Do we need a piano teacher to use this?
No — the color-coded format is designed to be self-explanatory. Parents with no music background can supervise. Teachers can also use it as an introductory lesson tool.
Can we print the sheet music?
Yes — tap "Download Sheet Music" above for a free printable PDF with the same color-coded notes that appear on screen.
How many chords does "At Seventeen" use?
Just 11 chords: A, Ab, C, C6, Cm7, Cmaj7, Dm7, Dmin, +3 more. Take it one section at a time.
What other Janis Ian songs work for kids?
Try "JESSE". All play with color-coded notes; pick a familiar tune to keep kids engaged.