My Back Pages

Steve Earle

(Bob Dylan)


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