Udio - Welcome To Thirteen

This is a song written on Udio.com for my other niece, who (on the calendar) was born exactly two years and four months after her older sister. While being thirteen doesn't exactly grant any meaningful privileges these days, it is something of a milestone in just about anyone's life, as thirteen is just about exactly halfway between childhood and adulthood mentally, physically, and socially speaking. In other words, kid, you've got some exciting times ahead of you as a teenager; bear in mind, however, that some kinds of "exciting" times are the very opposite of enjoyable (e.g. the "excitement" of getting in trouble with authorities or making a very public faux pas and being humiliated in front of just about everybody you know).

In short, buckle up and brace yourself for a wild ride, kid. While teenage boys tend to have somewhat different problems from teenage girls such as yourself, I can tell you that the year I turned thirteen (1992) was one of the most turbulent times of my entire life. I can also tell you, however, that I made some of my greatest gains that year as well; here's hoping you'll be able to do the same.

Lyrics:
[Verse 1]
Welcome to your childhood's wake;
Thirteen candles on the cake.
Words of wisdom, girl, to you:
From the old must come the new.

[Chorus]
Welcome to thirteen; you're a big girl now.
Seven years a teenager you must survive somehow.
Innocence is bliss, and understanding pain,
But girl, what you lose will be worth what you gain.

[Verse 2]
Your bust will grow, hips will spread;
Hormones' flow will cloud your head.
Your moods swing low, then swing high:
You'll want to laugh, then you'll cry.

[Chorus]
Welcome to thirteen; you're a big girl now.
Seven years a teenager you must survive somehow.
Innocence is bliss, and understanding pain,
But girl, what you lose will be worth what you gain.

[Verse 3]
Shark week comes to raise your ire;
Blood will flow, and tears, and fire!
These are times everyone dreads;
You'll snap at friends, bite off heads!

[Chorus]
Welcome to thirteen; you're a big girl now.
Seven years a teenager you must survive somehow.
Innocence is bliss, and understanding pain,
But girl, what you lose will be worth what you gain.

[Verse 4]
Dolls and baubles, childhood's toys
Soon give way to charming boys.
A boyfriend's fun, you will find,
But beware what's on his mind!

[Bridge]
Be grateful for the years your birth tarried;
In some times and places, you'd already be married!
Here and now, that can wait—for your advancement's sake—
So make a wish, blow the candles out, and cut your birthday cake.

[Instrumental]

[Chorus]
Welcome to thirteen; you're a big girl now.
Seven years a teenager you must survive somehow.
Innocence is bliss, and understanding pain,
But girl, what you lose will be worth what you gain.