My friends tell me they're excited for the spring
That they can't wait for life to return to the evergreens
As if it left them suddenly
But I hope the flowers die while they're young
And that the kids never turn 21
my grandparents say, oh, Johnny Boy,
We've a foot in the grave
But we promise,
Oh, we promise
To make it to your birthday
and my mother told me just yesterday
oh, Johnny Boy, I'm well on my way
The doctors tell me I have a foot in the grave
But I promise I'll make it to your birthday
And, who am I
Oh, who am I
To make her stay
In pain for my birthday
Another year
Around the sun
What have I to show for it?
Oh mama, this time, I'm turning 21
And when I was nine
She said I'd be an alcoholic
But mama, I'm 21
And I don't crave the bottle yet