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My Back Pages

Byrds

Text File

#----------------------------------PLEASE NOTE---------------------------------#
#This file is the author's own work and represents their interpretation of the #
#song. You may only use this file for private study, scholarship, or research. #
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From: moskowit@panix.com (Len Moskowitz)
Subject: CRD: My Back Pages (The Byrds/Dylan)

			     MY BACK PAGES
		     (Words and Music by Bob Dylan)
			 1964 Warner Bros. Inc
		    Renewed 1992 Special Rider Music

[This is The Byrds' arrangement.  Lyrics provided by Roger McGuinn in a
post from alt.music.byrds.  Comments in brackets by the cureent poster.]

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.

--
Len Moskowitz
moskowit@panix.com