[Chorus]
(Rata-tang-rata-tang, ju-tang-ju-tang)
(Rata-tang-rata-tang)

[Verse 1]
The kids are singin' now (Rata-tang-ju-tang-ju-tang)
Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
And so, I smile and hope (Rata-tang-ju-tang-ju-tang)
My tears will not be seen
Because I'm much too old to cry (Too old to cry)
But still too young to find out why (To find out why)
Why I'm so lonely
It hurts to be sixteen

[Chorus]
(Rata-tang-rata-tang, ju-tang-ju-tang)
(Rata-tang-rata-tang)

[Verse 2]
Don't think that you're grown up (Rata-tang-ju-tang-ju-tang)
When you become sixteen
Because like me you'll see (Rata-tang-ju-tang-ju-tang)
You're only in-between
They say that you're too old for toys (Too old for toys)
But still you're much too young for boys (Too young for boys)
I hate to tell you
It hurts to be sixteen
[Bridge]
I found a wonderful guy (Wonderful guy)
I want to spend my life with him (Spend my life with him)
They say we're too young to start
They're driving us apart
We're finished before we begin

[Verse 3]
I can't keep smiling through (Rata-tang-ju-tang-ju-tang)
This bittersweet sixteen
This party's over now (Rata-tang-ju-tang-ju-tang)
If you know what I mean
To all of you who have shown up (Who have shown up)
Come back next year when I'm grown up (When I'm grown up)
But now please go
Because it hurts to be sixteen

[Outro]
(You know it hurts to be sixteen) Oh, it hurts
(They say it hurts to be sixteen) Yes, it hurts
(You know it hurts to be sixteen) You know it hurts, hurtin' me
(You know it hurts to be sixteen) Oh, it hurts
(You know it hurts)