My Back Pages Lyrics - Steve Earle

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 pathway 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 

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