Very Good Advice
Camarata Chorus and Orchestra Lyrics

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When I was seventeen, it was a very good year
It was a very good year for small town girls
And soft summer nights
We'd hide from the lights
On the village green
When I was seventeen

When I was twenty-one, it was a very good year

It was a very good year for city girls
Who lived up the stairs
With all that perfumed hair
And it came undone
When I was twenty-one

When I was thirty-five, it was a very good year
It was a very good year for blue-blooded girls
Of independent means
We'd ride in limousines
Their chauffeurs would drive
When I was thirty-five

But now the days are short, I'm in the autumn of my years
And I think of my life as vintage wine
From fine old kegs
From the brim to the dregs

It poured sweet and clear
It was a very good year

Overall Meaning

The song "Very Good Advice" by Camarata Chorus and Orchestra, which is also famously known for being featured in the Disney movie "Alice in Wonderland," is a nostalgic tune that reflects on different stages of life of the singer. The song begins with the singer reminiscing about their adolescence at the age of seventeen, with fond memories of small town girls and the peacefulness of soft summer nights. The singer also recalls the youthful desire to hide away from the world, and their innocence during this time in their life.

As the song moves forward, the singer reflects on their life at the age of twenty-one, a time that brought new experiences in the city and with new types of women. The feeling of youthfulness continues to be present, but now with a sense of adventure and exploration. The lyrics indicate that the singer is now living in the moment and enjoying life to the fullest.

When the song reaches the age of thirty-five, the singer is now more established and of "blue-blooded" means. The lyrics suggest a life of luxury as they "ride in limousines" and the chauffeurs drive them. The themes of nostalgia and reminiscing are still present, but there is a sense of satisfaction and success in the singer's life.

The song's closing stanza reflects on the singer's current stage of life, in the autumn of their years. The lyrics compare life to vintage wine that has aged well and been poured "sweet and clear." This final stanza suggests a sense of contentment with the life that the singer has lived, and the song ends on a reflective and peaceful note.

Line by Line Meaning

When I was seventeen, it was a very good year
At the age of seventeen, life was really good

It was a very good year for small town girls
Small town girls had it good during that time

And soft summer nights
The summer nights were warm and gentle

We'd hide from the lights
We'd stay away from the city lights

On the village green
We would gather on the green fields outside our village

When I was seventeen
This all happened when I was seventeen

When I was twenty-one, it was a very good year
At the age of twenty-one, I had a great year

It was a very good year for city girls
Girls who lived in cities would have had a great year

Who lived up the stairs
Girls who had their own apartments up high

With all that perfumed hair
They had very nice smelling hair

And it came undone
However, eventually things started to become chaotic