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The Byrds

Words and Music by Bob Dylan



Intro: E Esus4 (repeat 4 times)





E C#m Abm

Crimson flames tied through my ears

A B E

Rollin' high and mighty traps

E C#m Abm

Pounced with fire on flaming roads

A B

Using ideas as my maps

C#m Abm

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

A B

Proud 'neath heated brow.

E A E

Ah, but I was so much older then,

A B E (intro riff twice)

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 [flanks] of musketeers

Foundationed deep, somehow.

Ah, but I was so much older then,

bI'm younger than that now.

[The next two verses were left out by The Byrds]

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.

[The Byrds pick it up here]

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 [Sisters fled] by confusion boats

Mutiny from stern to bow.

Ah, but I was so much older then,

I'm younger than that now.

[12-string guitar solo followed by the refrain]

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