Sunday, February 1, 2009

My Back Pages

First - enjoy the YouTube video. Dylan is there. So are Neil Young, Tom Petty, Eric Clapton, George Harrison and Roger McGuinn.
The hook. "I was so much older then; I'm younger than that now."
When we're young, we're so damned smart. We know everything. No one can tell us anything. As we get older, we realize that our parents, teachers, professors and neighbors MAY have actually known something.
"High and mighty traps". Get too important in your own mind and you're setting yourself up for a big downfall.
Dylan is one of the original protest singers. Not the weak shit spouted by Bono and U2. They treat the audience like a bunch of idiots who can't think or understand. Dylan used lyrical metaphors. He painted pictures that you can actually see when you listen to his lyrics. But you have to pay attention. Listen more than once. You'll pick up something new every time you listen to one of his songs.
One thing. His voice sucks. Big time! It got worse after the debacle at the Newport Folk Festival in 1965 when he first went electric. It may have been the aging process or his incessant smoking. Not that I don't like his electric stuff; I do. His early 60's songs seemed to have more heart.
He was Mr. Tambourine Man. And we followed.

My Back Pages
Lyrics by Bob Dylan - 1964
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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