(Verse) [TOMMY] Age was creeping on me I had just turned 21 You then dawned upon me And a new day was begun [ANN] I was getting wrinkled I had just turned 17 Then my bright star twinkled As it brought you on the scene [TOMMY] All the day and nighttime It was true love that I craved You came at the right time And a lonely soul was saved [ANN] Oh, love was late in reaching me I never had been kissed And from what you've been teaching me Oh dear, how much I've missed! (Chorus 1) [ANN] I had to wait till I was 17 [TOMMY] And I, in turn, till I was 21 When we met I asked myself quizzically "Do you only love this girl physically?" But bigger, better, finer your appeal My heart soon told me that my love was real Oh why, oh why, oh why did I have to wait as I did And mope along till I was 21? (Chorus 2) [ANN] I had to wait till I was 17 [TOMMY] And I, in turn, till I was 21 [ANN] Years and years I moped and sat tragically You appeared. I changed like that, magically It's you who caused my sleeping heart to wake When you came round I really got a break You've made life gay and fresher You gave me high-blood pressure Why did I have to wait till 17? Hi-ho, hi-ho [TOMMY] Oh, what a blow! [BOTH] I/you had to wait till 17