My Back Pages Lyrics - Roger Mcguinn

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 

Ah, 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 

Ah, 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 

Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now 

A self-ordained professor's tongue too serious to fool 

Spouted out that liberty is just equality in school 

"Equality," I spoke the word as if a wedding vow 

Ah, but I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now 

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand at the mongrel dogs who teach 

Fearing not that I'd become my enemy in the instant that I preach 

My existence led by confusion boats, mutiny from stern to bow 

Ah, 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 

Ah, but I was so much older then I'm younger than that now