I've watched you grow
For all these years
And shamefully admit,
I've loved to watch you blossom
And it's awful hard to quit
Feeling these feelings
Stirring up inside of me.
You nearly are a woman now
And in a couple years,
All the rules and boundaries
Will slowly disappear,
Wait now, my child
Until you get a little older,
Every new sunrise brings
Your heart a little closer to me

Chorus:
But I can't make love to you
Because you're fourteen
Just a peck on the cheek
As I'm counting the weeks go by
(Why? why?)

We can't make love together
Because you're fourteen years old
And the trust of your mom
That we're not doing wrong,
I just can't betray today.
Just an ounce of patience
We can still do things we like
Watch you eat an ice cream cone
And watch you ride your bike
Patiently longing
For that future day of truth
I want to hug and kiss you
Nearly every time I see you
But I don't want the neighborhood
To get the wrong idea
There'll come a day
When love like ours is not a crime
Just give it time

Chorus x2:

But I can't make love to you
Because you're fourteen
Just a hug and a sigh
From a law biding guy tonight
(why? why?)
We can't make love together
Because you're fourteen years old
And the trust of your mom
That we're not doing wrong,
I just can't betray today.


Lyrics submitted by black_cow_of_death

Fourteen Lyrics as written by

Lyrics © ATMR SONGS

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Fourteen song meanings
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17 Comments

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  • 0
    General Comment

    it reminds me of my friend david. he always sings it to me coz i'm 14 and he thinks it's funny. but every time i hear it i smile, coz it makes me think of him.

    punkchick182on April 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    I love love love this song, my 4th favourite song by the Vandals.

    antagoniston May 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    yeah i like this song it reminds me of my ex b/c im 14 and he broke up with me cuz he said that i was to young and it seemed "wrong"....what a great song

    EmoGurlyon May 27, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    doesnt it suck major ass being "too young" ??? damnit all guys are stupid

    JoleeBolion June 01, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    hey, all you 14 year olds! Free dick rides right here! Any takers, any takers at all? I got some tootsie rolls in my pants find 'em!

    Classic vandals witt.

    TheLocustReignon June 12, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song reminds me of my ex girl that she was 12 years old. the first time i heard this i thought it was about him and a fourteen year old girl. but later on i found it was for his son and his girl

    MxPxGuyon July 25, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    humm what do i have to say bout this song ohh yeah its wonderful and funny and i am 14 so it makes it even funnier hahahaah :D neway "thelocustreign" your funny

    badreligionpigeonon July 26, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    this song is so great! is it just me or does it remind anyone else of "the phantom of the opera"?

    ducktapeon August 28, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    awesome song, werks for me coz i'm 14 and the guy i'm "with" is 18. . . so yup

    holby178on September 29, 2002   Link
  • 0
    General Comment

    haha i gotcha. works for me as well because i'm 15 and the guy i was seeing was 20 and last night i 'saw' someone who was 21. shh.

    bittersweeton September 29, 2002   Link

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