心はいつでも17才
竹内まりや Lyrics

The lyrics of 竹内まりや's song 心はいつでも17才 (Kokoro wa Itsudemo Juushichisai) paint a picture of a woman reflecting on her past and present self. The first verse describes her looking out of a crowded bus window, feeling tired and realizing that she used to experience nervous teenage love. She clarifies that she doesn't long for the past or feel sad in the present, but there is something missing in her life. The repetition of daily routines makes her question and struggle with her feelings. She mentions that on nights when she feels like she's losing, she watches old videos, feeling cold towards her past self. This indicates a sense of detachment and dissatisfaction with her younger self. However, she acknowledges that she is a troubled twenty-five-year-old who hasn't lost her ability to worry and dream.

In the second verse, the woman is standing in front of a sink filled with dishes, sighing and reflecting on how the day is coming to an end. She mentions that in her past, she used to burn with dreams and hopes, always shining brightly as a teenage girl. But she clarifies that she hasn't discarded her womanhood or seeks thrills. However, there is a sense of uneasiness and dissatisfaction with something. Lost in the fog of her confusion, she reveals that there is only one path to choose, even if she is lost and standing still. Time keeps passing, making the present moment even more precious as a thirty-five-year-old.

The chorus expresses that she loves and is loved, implying that there is no problem with that. She emphasizes that her youth is just beginning, and whenever she thinks of the happiness of meeting her significant other, she feels relieved. Lastly, she admits that she is not able to fully become an adult, and her heart forever dreams of being seventeen. She acknowledges that sometimes she is gentle to her significant other as a twenty-five-year-old, and she is skilled at longing for what she doesn't have as a thirty-five-year-old. However, the truth is she is truly forty-five!