You've been a juvenile
With a dolphin smile
With no elbow room
With your body in bloom
You've had in your little backyard
Protected by big walls
You didn't dare look over
'Cause you've been too small

Now you're finally sixteen
And you're feelin' old
But they won't believe
That you got a soul
'Cause you're only sixteen
And you're feeling real
But you can't seem to cop a feel

Why do they have to force us
Through this metamorphose
Little butterfly
No matter how you try
You'll be segregated
You're gonna be closed off
You're callow and you're green
'Cause you're caught between

You're only sixteen
Try to cross the line
But your little wings are interwined
You're only sixteen
And you're such a tease
And there's nothing you can do
That can really please

These children
They're not really bad most of them
They're just products
Of rotten neighborhoods
And bad family situations

You know you can't forsake it
So sit back and take it
You see you're just not ripe
So don't try and fight that

You're only sixteen
You wanna catch a peek
But they look at you
Like you're such a freak
Well you're only sixteen
With a lot to say
But they won't give you
The time of day

You're only sixteen!
You're only sixteen!!
You're just sixteen!!!
You poor little thing