May 24, 2012

Something Wonderful: Bob Dylan Turns 71 Today "I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now."

This gets my vote as the anthem for all those from those past, gone years who had the vision and the guts to uncolonize their colonized minds.


Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Roger McGuinn, Neil Young, Tom Petty-My Back Pages
My Back Pages

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.

Posted by Vanderleun at May 24, 2012 3:35 PM
Bookmark and Share

Comments:

HOME

"It is impossible to speak in such a way that you cannot be misunderstood." -- Karl Popper N.B.: Comments are moderated and may not appear immediately. Comments that exceed the obscenity or stupidity limits will be either edited or expunged.

Bob was 23 when he wrote that.

Twenty. Three.

Posted by: rickl at February 8, 2010 4:42 PM

Most excellent.

You rock, sir.

Posted by: WWWebb at February 8, 2010 8:55 PM

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

What a line from a kid in his 20s. Can you imagine the resonance that will have when we're 80?

Let's be sure and talk it over.

Posted by: Rob De Witt at February 8, 2010 9:14 PM

Great song, indeed. Not a huge Dylan fan but you should check out his early '80's album, Infidels, especially the song Neighborhood Bully.

Posted by: TONY C at May 24, 2012 11:15 AM

Hats off to Good Sir Robert.

That old man still has a few tunes in him yet. I shall carry the colors for him as long as I am able.

Posted by: random coolzip at May 24, 2012 1:22 PM

Happy birthday, Bob!

Posted by: rickl at May 24, 2012 3:46 PM

This never gets old! Thanks Gerard!

Posted by: pink lady at May 24, 2012 3:59 PM

Do your commenters understand what you are trying to reveal ? When we were young; we thought we were wise. Now we realize ?

Posted by: Grace at May 24, 2012 4:11 PM

My God, Gerard....

Next year I will have been playing guitar for 50 years. It's been a helluva ride, ain't?

Posted by: Rob De Witt at May 24, 2012 5:13 PM

It's absolutely outstanding. I've had this saved three different times from three different sources,unfortunately the copyright nazis got to all three sites.Hopefully this site won't knuckle under to Orrin Hatch and his and his anti-music pals at the RIAA. Napster could have saved the music industry. But why wait for the golden egg when you can eat the goose.

Posted by: ck at May 24, 2012 5:16 PM

Chills. Still.

Posted by: robinstarfish at May 25, 2012 11:34 AM

And Bob's still touring, and playing, every night. You see, Bob was never about what the media said he was about, he was always a musician, and he was always about the music. Rock on, dude.

Posted by: Fat Man at May 25, 2012 2:16 PM

That video is from the 30th Aniversary Celebration Album which was recorded in 1993. Bob can do a 50th next year, and I am sure he will.

Posted by: Fat Man at May 25, 2012 2:18 PM

He was only 23? I was still celebrating being of legal drinking age when I was that age in the late 80s. What a burden it must have been for his generation. My spolied generation resorted to hugging trees, listening to Rusted Root and feigning outrage that women were ever banned from killing their unborn babies. Pathetic. I am FAR younger now.

Posted by: RedCarolina at May 28, 2012 6:39 AM