Happy Birthday
Neil Sedaka Lyrics

Tra la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The singer is excited and happy, so much so that he is singing out loud, making sounds like 'tra la-la-la-la.'

Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
The singer is wishing a happy birthday to his loved one who has just turned sixteen years old.

Tonight's the night I've waited for
The singer has been eagerly waiting for this night, which is his loved one's sixteenth birthday.

Because you're not a baby anymore
The singer is acknowledging that his loved one is not a child anymore, but has grown up to be a teenage girl.

You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen
The singer is admiring his loved one's beauty, and thinks that she has become the prettiest girl he has ever seen.

Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
The singer is once again wishing a happy birthday to his loved one who has turned sixteen.

What happened to that funny face
The singer is reminiscing about his loved one's funny and innocent face when she was younger.

My little tomboy now wears satins and lace
The singer is noting the transformation of his loved one from a tomboy to a teenage girl who wears dresses made of satin and lace.

I can't believe my eyes you're just a teenage dream
The singer is pleasantly surprised and amazed by the fact that his loved one has turned into a teenage dream and looks so beautiful.

When you were only six, I was your big brother
The singer is reminiscing about the time when his loved one was just six years old and he acted as her protective older brother.

Then when you were ten, we didn't like each other
The singer is recalling a time when his relationship with his loved one deteriorated when she was ten years old.

When you were thirteen, you were my funny valentine
The singer is remembering how his loved one used to act like a funny valentine when she was thirteen years old.

But since you've grown up, your future is sewn up
The singer feels that his loved one has a bright future ahead, now that she has grown up and become a young adult.

From now on you're gonna be mine, so
The singer is expressing his desire to have a romantic relationship with his loved one, now that she has grown up.

If I should smile with sweet surprise
The singer is saying that if he looks surprised and happy, it's because he can't believe how beautiful his loved one has become.

It's just that you've grown up before my very eyes
The singer is marveling at how quickly time has passed, and how his loved one has grown up right in front of him.

You've turned into the prettiest girl I've ever seen
The singer once again expresses his admiration for his loved one's beauty.

Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
The singer ends the song on a celebratory note, wishing his loved one a happy sixteenth birthday once again.

Tra la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la
The singer is still singing out loud with joy, making sounds like 'tra la-la-la-la.'

Happy birthday, sweet sixteen
The singer repeats his happy birthday wish for his loved one one last time, bringing the song to a close.