I woke up today with tears in my eyes.

Walked down the hall, Mom asked what was wrong; I couldn't lie..

Mom held me close and whispered in my ear

Words that still ring, loud and clear:

 

Sweet darling you're beautiful, forget the rest.

You thought he was the one, he's just second best,

You'll find someone someday out in this big world,

But for now just be my sweet little girl.

 

And I know that I'm just seventeen,

And I know this is probably one of those things

I'll tell my my daughter one day as the tears fall,

I'll take her in my arms and we'll talk. I'll say:

 

Sweet darling you're beautiful, forget the rest,

You thought he was the one, well, he's just second best,

You'll find someone, someday, out in this big world,

But for now just be my little girl.

 

Momma was right, I learned to move on.

Went off in the world, forgot the boy and met a man,

Got married and had my own little, sweet baby girl,

Years went by and one day, someone made my sweet baby cry.

I took her in my arms, held her close while she cried. I sang: 

 

Sweet darling you're beautiful, forget the rest,

You thought he was the one, he's just second best,

You''ll find someone someday out in this big world,

But for now just be my little girl.

 

You're young and you're beautiful--just seventeen,

Dear, that boy don't know much of anything.

You're pretty and smart, so forget the rest,

You thought he was the one, he's just second best,

You''ll find someone out in this big world,

But for now just be my little girl, my little girl.