I went to Della Mae's on Saturday night
To a party given just for me
Kids danced to the music of the jukebox
At the piano, sat Jerry Lee



Elvis was leading an all-girl band
Little Richard was humming a tune
They were celebrating my seventeenth
On that twenty-fourth day of June



All of the kids in the senior class
Were jitterbugging to Johnny B. Goode
Except for the ones collecting autographs
Over where Frank Sinatra stood



We had cheeseburgers, shakes and French fries
Served by The Platters and Brenda Lee
Pat Boone and Liberace were chowing down
The Everly Brothers sang Dream just for me



Lossie and James and Teenie and Jimmy
Walked through the door with Johnny Cash
With all these people at my birthday party
It was turning into quite a bash



Marvin and Pat and Roger and Yvonne
Boogie-woogied to beat the band
There I stood with my mouth hanging open
Till Luke spoke as he grabbed my hand



"Before this dance is over, you'll be my girl.
'Cause I'm tired of being just your friend."
We did the Jitterbug, the Boogie, and the Twist
With a bit of The Charleston thrown in



Through the dips and the twirls as we cut a rug
It wasn't long till the others cleared the floor
The shy Luke Eldridge gave me quite a shock
Since I'd never seen him dance before



We both had a hard time catching our breath
As Ella Fitzgerald sang Flat-Footed Floogie
But by the time our dance came to an end
They were all doing the Jitterboogie



The old home town hasn't been the same
Since the night I turned seventeen
We don't shake and rattle and roll much now
Except when we're full of caffeine



Kathleen McCoy Eldridge©
June 24, 2008
All Rights Reserved