Sixteen Going on Seventeen is a song from The Sound of Music.
Original Lyrics[]
Rolf:
You wait, little girl, on an empty stage
For fate to turn the light on
Your life, little girl, is an empty page
That men would want to write on
Liesl:
To write on
Rolf:
You are sixteen going on seventeen
Baby, it's time to think
Better beware, be canny and careful
Baby, you're on the brink
You are sixteen going on seventeen
Fellows will fall in line
Eager young lads and roués and cads
Will offer you food and wine
Totally unprepared are you
To face the world of men
Timid and shy and scared are you
Of things beyond your ken
You need someone older and wiser
Telling you what to do
I am seventeen going on eighteen
I'll take care of you
Liesl:
I am sixteen going on seventeen
I know that I'm naïve
Fellows I meet may tell me I'm sweet
And willingly I believe
I am sixteen going on seventeen
Innocent as a rose
Bachelor dandies, drinkers of brandies
What do I know of those
Totally unprepared am I
To face the world of men
Timid and shy and scared am I
Of things beyond my ken
I need someone older and wiser
Telling me what to do
You are seventeen going on eighteen
I'll depend on you
Reprise Lyrics[]
Maria:
A bell is no bell 'til you ring it
A song is no song 'til you sing it
And love in your heart wasn't put there to stay
Love isn't love 'til you give it away (Only on soundtrack version)
When you're sixteen going on seventeen
Waiting for life to start
Somebody kind who touches your mind
Will suddenly touch your heart
Liesl:
When that happens, after it happens
Nothing is quite the same
Somehow you know you'll jump up and go
If ever he calls your name
Maria:
Gone are your old ideas of life
The old ideas grow dim
Lo and behold you're someone's wife
And you belong to him
You may think this kind of adventure
Never may come to you
Darling sixteen going on seventeen
Wait a year
Or two
Liesl:
I'll wait a year
Both:
Just wait a year
Or two