My Back Pages/Goin' Back

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-racked prejudice is 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

I think I'm goin' back
To the places that I loved in my youth
I think I'm returning to
Those days when I was young enough to know the truth
Now there are no games
To help me pass the time
No more electric trains
No more hills to climb
A little bit of courage is all we lack
So catch me if you can, I'm goin' back

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 preached
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

A little bit of courage is all we lack
So catch me if you can, I'm goin' back