At Seventeen (Janis Ian) live from her writing room

Originally filmed for a Dutch television program in the "writing room" of our old home in Nashville, straight to tape, one boom mic and no EQ.
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[@EricaConger]

My mom used to play this for me all the time as I grew up. She passed away almost 5 years ago and every time I listen to this song, which is often, I can feel her with me. It’s something I cherish. The lyrics are so incredible. I’m so blessed that my mom and I had such a strong bond and this song was part of that. This song will always remind me that she’s still with me.

[@cujola]

Janis, I was 17 when this song came out. I know the song is written from a girl's point of view. But this song resonates with the boys too. And I can also tell you, those popular kids who seemed to lead perfect lives at 17....they peaked in high school.

[@TheMiracleproducts]

What a great performance of a timeless song! The guitar playing is great, as per usual, but the vocal is the real treat here: nuanced yet powerful, sly yet naive, jaded yet marveling. Nothing ostentatious or bombastic, just delivering the goods. Wow....

[@zoekuul]

'Timeless', that's the word.

[@josephdefino5117]

Janis Ian just does it right

[@SwankyKittyDolls]

Janis, if I could just speak to you I’d want to tell you how much this song has meant to me all my life. I heard it at 8 years old after moving to a new school where all the pretty and popular girls convinced me I was ugly (but I was far from it, looking back) your song defined me. It gave me solace that I wasn’t alone. The words are so deep with such a long view of life from someone so young as you were when you wrote it. I find people like you (and myself) are old souls and/or we’ve seen the world from more than a quiet, perfect, protected space. A lot of my art comes from my pain. I felt the way you did in that song from 8 yrs old through 17 when I finally left the false world made of lies called school. It was only then that I started to really see myself. But I’m back to feeling ugly now. It never goes away. It’s a pain too deep to ever heal - not just the words, but the way they treat you. It still goes on today even though schools don’t want to admit it. As a woman we feel as valuable as we look because we live in a society that forces that mentality even if they outwardly play nice and pretend they don’t judge you. But Janis, the last thing I want to say is you ARE a beauty queen. You deserve to love and be loved. And I pray you’ve found much happiness in your life. Thank you for inspiring mine.

[@petercsigo3314]

I'm sorry for your pain but even love is to a certain extent is pain.I'm sure through your art you find some kind of relief or an escape from your pain. Anyway I wish you well.😃

[@kennethbarnes8545]

How very moving. Thank you

[@yodaarthur]

Legend..that voice..that song...

[@etal843]

She is still beautiful with a fabulous voice and this song can still make me tear up after all these years.... sniff.

[@hello21596]

Dang, you've still got it! You sound better than ever. :)

[@claudyjansenvanhetlaar3285]

Ohh, she still got the same voice. Thank you Janis, I love you. Stay healthy you two.

[@matiasjack6842]

Hello how are you Hope you are having a wonderful time?

[@fls360]

Released over 45 years ago and so true today as when it was released. A timeless masterpiece!

[@frankg3rd1]

"Between the Lines " ......find a quite place and just enjoy the healing and peace ! Thank you Ms.Ian !

[@aliciaa.williamsed.d.9436]

You will always be in my head and heart, my friend. 🎶🎸🎶

[@oneseeker2]

Good to see you here, on Facebook years back, I always told you how beautiful you are.

[@erinmoriarity4775]

Holy Canoli! You still sing this song so perfectly! Blah blah blah "You're an inspiration" yadda yadda... all the rest goes without saying. But the sheer level of skill you've maintained over -what? 50+ years?!- Brava! 🤯😍🤩

[@robinengland5799]

I think you are a Beauty Queen! Beautiful song, great performance!

[@jan2mblik]

Nice to have a look into her writing room!

[@badgrandma6973]

God how I relate to this song....I was an awkward child. You still sing so beautifully.

[@shawnclayton1804]

Although I lived through the 70's, I only discovered her about 10 years ago. She's the most under-rated musician of the time. I am moved every time she performs this song. I'm sure she has others, but this is my favorite.

[@jagster59]

A timeless, enduring and beautiful light that shines brightly in her soul, expressed through her artistry and touches everyone with love and grace. Thank you Janis!! 🌹❤️🌹

[@ailishadoyle4660]

A stunningly beautiful performance! Love your music, gets to the soul every time , looking well Janis , stay safe xx

[@triguychicago]

How lovely. It’s marvelous that your voice still has that intense clarity!

[@zappagorewaikato1009]

That voice just crushes me every single time...& has for over 40 years. Beauty personified in sound. Kia kaha \m/

[@suparonamira]

I can’t wait to cover this song with my simple acoustic version! I wish I can play like Janis Ian:) Still sounds so phenomenal, unbelievable!!!! I love this one so much, I can play this forever!❤️

[@folkfritz1409]

What a great song, what a great voice! Thank you Janis for sharing this!

[@butterpecan5814]

I love this song and for some reason I always wanted to be seventeen. I love your voice Ms. Ian.

[@handylau97]

angelic, iconic...yet so highly underrated

[@angelamaxwell911]

I first heard this when I was 14, still so very beautiful

[@matiasjack6842]

Hello how are you Hope you are having a wonderful?

[@Ma_Ba]

In beautiful voice with a beauty of a guitar! (What is that guitar? 3 cases!) AND, come to think of it, the lyrics take on a new meaning for the retrospect being long. She was so young when she wrote and performed that. Oh, there's footage on you tube of her performing it back then.

[@zoekuul]

Still beautiful. Thanks for all these things. How I love 'Between the Lines'.

[@Templar451]

Thank you so much for writing this song Miss Ian. You spoke to a young teenage boy so long ago with this song. My hair is white now but I remember long ago and far away....

[@stargazer1359]

Thank you for sharing this, Janis.....Very special. 🎼🌠

[@yiuqwfj]

Your voice and your songs will be remembered forever!

[@YTC518]

God bless you Jannis that song brings tears to my eyes 🙏🙏 thank you for the memories love it. Love your work and spirit🙏🙏🙏b safe.

[@oneseeker2]

Her voice "melt"...

[@surferphilipiansG3745]

I could cry amidst the beauty of this song ! Her voice with the melody is just so heart wrenching that goes with the smooth bossa nova tempo if I'm correct . Childhood nostalgia overload 😘😚💕😍💐

[@thechumpsbeendumped.7797]

This hauntingly beautiful song gives me the goosebumps every time I listen to it. If there was any justice it would have millions of views.

[@osocool1too]

To listen to you singing this timeless song 45 years after recording it, is amazing to say the least. Love it. 🤗👍

[@elizabethk6658]

Thank you, Janis, from Texas! What a blessing you are to both ear and heart. Loved you then and love you now. Blessed be. 💜💜💜

[@PhoebeFayRuthLouise]

Absolutely lovely voice and that trademark honesty still bringing a tear to my eye! Thank you for four decades of beautiful music!

[@icandream9]

Beautiful. This song is what “did it” to me when I was 17. Thank you, Janis. (Janis what make/model guitar is that - sounds amazing).

[@matiasjack6842]

Hello how are you Hope you are having a wonderful time?

[@markjohnsonphotography]

Perfection.

[@Shadow7444]

This still gives me goosebumps whenever I hear you sing this. Absolutely brilliant!

[@jefffriedman580]

The relevance will never cease. Most grateful you keep the message alive.

[@Dellis803]

A masterpiece of genius and talent. Thank you.

[@ayosilva]

This song still moves me to tears whenever I hear it. It has the same impact on me as when I first heard you sing it in the 70s because the words are immortal and can stir up long forgotten memories. I watched your speech at Berkley and again, I learned a few things about life, talent and myself just by listening to you. Thank you for sharing. May your light shine on forever.

[@Ma_Ba]

Fantasy acoustic guitar duo: Janis Ian and Mary Chapin Carpenter

[@bobsmoot8454]

Holy cow, your voice has held up unbelievably, it almost sounds like on the 70s album. My GF at the time bought it and I couldn’t stop listening to it because of your voice, songwriting, arrangement, and production. It was a lean mean sound that depicted a vulnerability and innocence

[@wc6220]

Always loved You music Janis, hope You got that stolen guitar back.! 🎸🎸🎶🎶♥♥Will

[@michaelodwyer3]

We met briefly behind stage one at the Cambridge folk festival in the 90s I was having a Lee I was desperate. You just laughed. The most magical experience of my life. Adore your music.if you come to the UK I will take you for a curry. XX I can but dream XXX

[@jamescampbell2]

Thanks you Janis keep singing

[@OlaviKnaapilaMane]

Greetings From Finland 🐾🌷🎶🙏☕ I'm Fun 👍😺💞

[@andrespereydaresearch]

I want to say this respectfully, but you've always had the cutest mouth. Of course, your talent, and how you make us all cry, and all that stuff...

[@oneseeker2]

A tender, soft, unspoken sensuality.

[@artisancans3954]

Beautiful!!!...

[@letmetalkabout....1275]

When i first heard the song, I liked it so much. Janis Ian is incredible. She is more incredible as she ages. Love you so much !

[@nancyflynn8090]

Thank you for this song. Means so much to me

[@M23K1]

What a lovely song indeed 😍

[@oceansams5886]

Beautiful song sung by a beautiful lady! Love you Janis, I'm a big fan

[@linprice1242]

Always have liked this song!

[@pegbutwin7189]

Legend!!

[@lindakonieczny9211]

Beautiful, thank you, tugs at my heart every time I hear it.🤗

[@wwall57]

Thank you

[@charliefarlie2884]

So poignant and beautiful and always will be. What a voice. Love from the UK Janis x

[@kennethbarnes8545]

How utterly beautiful. It reminds me of shy girls I knew in school - but that was about 80 years ago.

[@jonathandeanyoung4804]

Thank you Janis! This is exactly what I needed today. Wish you could come to New Zealand.

[@howardcohen6817]

Hear, touch, love, always.

[@rebeccachan3405]

Thank you for this beautiful song.

[@markcavanaugh9920]

You're no ugly duckling, Janis. You are beautiful - and a genius.

[@oldsteempunk6728]

Awesomely excellent

[@ianyoung6330]

Beautiful and timeless. Thank you Janis, best wishes from Scotland.

[@steveschmitz2839]

Lovely, thank you.

[@Morgenstond1876]

I can listen to this song all day long (and I often do), love it!!! ❤️ Thank you Janis Ian, this is forever my all time favorite song.

[@mark01970]

Just as great as it was in '75!

[@carriekent4464]

Listening to you sing brings back some Very Bittersweet Memories of my youth. Thank you, because of your music, I will hold very fond memories of my Eldest Sister forever in my heart. I’ve been very aware or more concerned for not only my mortality but for those of my siblings, we aren’t getting any younger but with music such as yours Helps me remember All the Good and a Few Bad Times. Thank you.

[@lyonheart84]

So much raw emotion still flowing through this haunting song, thank you Janis ❤

[@sopwith1]

Timeless endearing song, beautiful voice. Gets me every time. Thank you Janis.

[@ravenartsandgraphics4456]

Thank you Ms Janis. I've loved this song since I was a kid. Your voice, your beauty, and your song still touch me. It's love to hear that song live.

[@linprice1242]

Love this song!

[@seagecko]

Janis Ian. I love you. since I found out you existed. And I love that you are such a beautiful soul and still make the world better.

[@stevescontriano860]

I could listen to you and Richard Bona play that continuously

[@ianskelton453]

Excellent and beautiful

[@YLGuitar]

Janis forever! Greetings from the Netherlands!

[@jnish7583]

I love this song. You still sound magnificent.

[@danusekalusova3446]

Děkuji , hrajete a zpíváte překrásně.

[@indifilm]

beautiful, then and now

[@lyndaframe1986]

❤Janis you are a marvel and ageless❤🎶

[@hervegoube9160]

Je découvrais hier, enfin...votre chanson. La profondeur de vos paroles et votre voix sont déchirantes. Elles me bouleversent. Merci !

[@kevinator41]

oooo Janis ! This song haunts my soul.

[@MrChelsidy]

I was born April 7 1951 also.

[@aellams4920]

Wow!

[@user-jn9dl9px6r]

Beautiful lyrics, beautiful melody. Beautiful vocal. Sublime. Under 10k views is a crime.

[@fool4homeschool250]

She's still gots it!

[@gok7656]

Great. it's the best.♥️

[@Melody-ww7gs]

You just get better and better.

[@oneseeker2]

I can not remember in her Bio how she explained exactly how she came up with the lyrics of this song. I assume, she is a Mensa musically. I loved this song, her voice, the strings, not so much that I felt such at 17, well, I was always the last to be called from grade 1-12 on the "play ground", being 4'11" did not exactly make me a basketball player! And I was never the girlie girl full of anxiety with "choose me, choose me, somewhat manic, as if being chosen was so important. I simply did not care if I was chosen or not, I viewed it all, starting in second grade, that the frantic " choose me" was feeling desperate. Although in High School I did enjoy Archery, it wasn't a "team" requirement, Solo was wonderful, I was not subject to the desperate calls of "choose me, choose me".

[@ankoutechnica8211]

Excellent, as always!

[@cala65]

Oh my dear Janis, how you always moved me with your beautiful, fragile and timeless songs. Thank you for sharing your precious musical talent with the world, for those who have ears to hear!

[@stevenlittlejohn3112]

Perfect and still magical.

[@KEVIN-sx1ed]

I'm school bus driver of 13 years so far and still going. I am now 52. I was geeky guy that was obsessed with beauty. I had no girlfriends. Luckily I decided to learn how to ballroom dance. Dance brought me friends and partners.

[@secretstreamsandfeverdreams]

You never cease to give me goosebumps darling 😘

[@peterchavez620]

You are sooo beautiful ❤️. Sending all my love to you and so grateful to be able to enjoy such a beautiful everlasting song.

[@katieblackwater2233]

You are amazing and your voice sublime ❤ Such a precious gift ❤

[@hudsonvalleyrailandriverandair]

A few years ago I had the honor to meet you buying a sabrett in upstate ny