Sunday, October 22, 2006

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

Click on the headline above for the classic. For whatever reason, this song resonates after the day we had today.

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.

Dylan 1964

3 comments:

Unknown said...

That sure sounds better - I took the lyrics off BobDylan.com ... hmmmm .....

bb

Unknown said...

Good point - which is probably why we go to the concerts or pickup the bootlegs with such enthusiasm. Remember when he changed the words for Tangled Up in Blue - just changed them all around. I know its in his setlist recently, but I don't know which set of lyrics he's using for that particular song. I've heard several different versions of "Gotta Serve Somebody," as well - including in recent versions references to Bono and Sting! ;-)

bb

Anonymous said...

I guess if you wrote/own the song, you can take whatever liberties you want!

Bob Dylan Fan