Between Seventeen And Twenty
Elton John · Blue Moves [1976]
I wonder who's sleeping in your sheets tonight
Whose head rests upon the bed
Could it be a close friend I knew so well
Who seems to be so close to you instead
Close to you instead
I'm blue tonight, I'm red when I'm mad
I'm green when I'm jealous, yellow when I'm sad
I guess I cannot have everything
So much has flown between the years
When I was twenty and you were seventeen
So out of choice I chose rock and roll
But it pushed me to the limit everyday
It turned me into a gypsy, kept me away from home
From there on, there seemed no use for you
For you to stay
And if I shower around 3 a.m.
It's just to wash away
The trace of a love unwanted
Oh in the times I went astray
The times I went astray
So much has flown between the years
When I was twenty and you were seventeen
Whose head rests upon the bed
Could it be a close friend I knew so well
Who seems to be so close to you instead
Close to you instead
I'm blue tonight, I'm red when I'm mad
I'm green when I'm jealous, yellow when I'm sad
I guess I cannot have everything
So much has flown between the years
When I was twenty and you were seventeen
So out of choice I chose rock and roll
But it pushed me to the limit everyday
It turned me into a gypsy, kept me away from home
From there on, there seemed no use for you
For you to stay
And if I shower around 3 a.m.
It's just to wash away
The trace of a love unwanted
Oh in the times I went astray
The times I went astray
So much has flown between the years
When I was twenty and you were seventeen
Between Seventeen And Twenty
Released on the 1976 album Blue Moves, "Between Seventeen And Twenty" is a quintessential Elton John ballad that exemplifies his signature blend of piano-driven melodies and emotive lyrics. The track explores themes of growing up and the fleeting nature of youth, capturing the bittersweet transition from adolescence to adulthood with characteristic poetic depth. As a staple of his mid-career discography, the song showcases John's ability to craft intimate, narrative-driven compositions that resonate across generations. Its enduring popularity highlights its place within his broader catalog of romantic and reflective works, cementing its status as a timeless piece of his musical legacy.