Seventeen by Sharon Van Etten Lyrics Meaning – A Haunting Ode to Growth and Reflection

You can view the lyrics, alternate interprations and sheet music for Sharon Van Etten's Seventeen at Lyrics.org.

Lyrics

I know what you wanna say
I think that you’re all the same
Constantly being led astray
You think you know somethin’ you don’t

Downtown hot spots
Halfway up the street
I used to be free
I used to be seventeen
Follow my shadow
Around your corner
I used to be seventeen
Now you’re just like me

Down beneath the ashes and the stone
Sure of what I’ve lived and have known
I see you so uncomfortably alone
I wish I could show you how much you’ve grown

Downtown hot spots
I used to be on this street
I used to be seventeen
I used to be seventeen
Now you’re half shy
Hanging on my block
Sun coming up
Who is my shadow?

La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la
La la la la la la la

I know what you’re gonna be
I know that you’re gonna be
You’re crumbling up just to see
Afraid that you’ll be just like me

Downtown hot spots
Halfway through this life
I used to feel free
Was it just a dream?
Now you’re half shy
Think you’re so carefree
But you’re just seventeen
So much like me
You’re just seventeen
You’re just seventeen
Seventeen

In the pantheon of evocative storytellers, Sharon Van Etten holds a revered place with her unflinching ability to weave narratives that resonate with the core of human experience. ‘Seventeen’ stands out as a testament to this skill, offering layers of introspection through a lens tinted with nostalgia and bittersweet realizations.

At its surface, ‘Seventeen’ appears to be a paean to youth and the inevitable march of time. However, a closer listen unveils a complex tapestry of emotions and memories, inviting listeners to explore the tensions between past and present selves. Let’s delve into the delicate intricacies of this poignant anthem.

Echoes of Youth: The Inescapable Pull of Nostalgia

The refrain ‘I used to be seventeen’ recurs like a haunting mantra throughout the song, anchoring Van Etten’s reflection on her past self. Nostalgia isn’t just a sentimental longing; it’s a confrontation with who we were and the paths we’ve since traveled.

The song’s lament of lost freedom and the simplicity of youth contrasts sharply with the present perception of being ‘constantly led astray.’ These lyrics don’t just mourn the loss of youth; they serve as a mirror reflecting the convoluted journey from innocence to the burdens of knowledge and experience.

Shadows of Our Former Selves: The Hidden Meanings of Introspection

The imagery of following one’s shadow around the corner is a powerful metaphor for Van Etten’s exploration of personal history. The shadow represents the parts of ourselves that we’ve left behind, or perhaps wish we could reconnect with.

The song does not just reminisce but challenges the listener to consider the growth that has occurred since those formational years. It’s an invitation to acknowledge that the comfort that comes with familiarity might be a disguise for the angst and restlessness that linger beneath the surface.

A Melancholic Anthem for the Modern Age: The Resonance of ‘Seventeen’

If any song can be earmarked as a generational touchstone, ‘Seventeen’ vies for that title. It captures the essence of a particular youthful zeitgeist while maintaining the universality of its appeal. The track is not just a song—it’s a moment in time crystallized, speaking to any soul who’s felt the passage of time.

The escalating urgency in the song’s production mirrors the swelling emotions that accompany Van Etten’s narrative. The distant echo of ‘la la la’s serves as a refrain that is both soothing and saddening, a musical embodiment of reminiscence that is undeniably human.

Lyrical Landmarks: Memorable Lines from ‘Seventeen’

‘Down beneath the ashes and the stone / Sure of what I’ve lived and have known,’ speaks to a foundational assuredness that comes with age. Yet, it’s not without its weight—the ashes and stone imply remnants of a fire, of something that once burned bright but has since been reduced to memory.

‘You think you’re so carefree / But you’re just seventeen / So much like me’ confronts the irony of youth—the belief in unrestrained freedom paired with the naivety of limited life experiences. It’s a profound commentary on the cyclical nature of coming-of-age.

The Duality of Growth: Nostalgia Meets Reality in ‘Seventeen’

‘Seventeen’ masterfully marries the dualities of past and present, freedom and constraint, naive hopefulness and experienced resignation. Van Etten’s song is a testament to the universal journey of human growth, marking the passage from who we ‘used to be’ to who we are now.

The song is powerful not just for the individual story it tells, but for the collective memory it evokes. Through the lens of Sharon Van Etten’s ‘Seventeen,’ we are compelled to confront the reflection in the mirror—both familiar and estranged—beckoning us with the question, ‘Who is my shadow?’