When grass begins to look a little greener   And Elvis makes you swoon 'cause he's the rage   And when you start to blush   At the things you once called mush   That's the tender age      When boys begin to act a little nicer   And your diary is filled on every page   As everybody knows, when you cry at movie shows   That's the tender age      And when you think your folks don't understand you   Sometimes you wonder how you have survived   When you believe the lines the boys all hand you   Baby you've arrived   When you begin to use exotic perfume   And dream of someday starring on the stage   When you start yearning for   A new face who lives next door   That's the tender age      When grass begins to look a little greener   And Elvis makes you swoon 'cause he's the rage   And when you start to blush   At the things you once called mush   That's the tender age   That's the tender age