My Back Pages

Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn, Tom Petty, Neil Young, Eric Clapton & George Harrison

Bob Dylan 30th Anniv of 1st album, 1992

Crimson flames tied through my ears

Rollin' high and mighty traps

Pounced with fire on flaming roads

Using ideas as my maps


"We'll meet on edges, soon", said I

Proud 'neath heated brow

But I was so much older then

I'm younger than that now


Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth

"Rip down all hate", I screamed

Lies that life is black and white

Spoke from my skull, I dreamed


Romantic facts of musketeers

Foundationed deep, somehow

But I was so much older then

I'm younger than that now


Girls faces formed the forward path

From phony jealousy

To memorizing politics

Of ancient history


Flung down by corpse evangelists

Unthought of though, somehow

But I was so much older then

I'm younger than that now


A self-ordained professors tongue

Too serious to fool

Spouted out that liberty

Is just equality in school


"Equality", I spoke the word

As if a wedding vow

But I was so much older then

I'm younger than that now


In a soldiers stance, I aimed my hand

At the mongrel dogs who teach

Fearing not I'd become my enemy

In the instant that I preach


My existence led by confusion boats

Mutiny from stern to bow

But I was so much older then

I'm younger than that now


Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats

Too noble to neglect

Deceived me into thinking

I had something to protect


Good and bad, I define these terms

Quite clear no doubt, somehow

But I was so much older then

I'm younger than that now