Album: Younger than Yesterday (1967)

Charted: 30

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• Crimson flames tied through my ears
  Rollin' high and mighty traps
  Countless 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
  
  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
  Sisters fled by confusion boats
  Mutiny from stern to bow
  Ah, but I was so much older then
  I'm younger than that now
  
  Ah, but I was so much older then
  I'm younger than that now
  
  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 Writer/s: Bob Dylan
  Publisher: Universal Music Publishing Group
  Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Comments: 17

• Samuel P Medina from CaliforniaAnother great song from the '60s that I don't understand the meaning of
• Marie N. from NyAmerica performs a beautiful version of My Back Pages
• Don G from NyThe Byrds version is slightly different from Dylan's (and Dylan's version had more verses). They've listed a few wrong words here for the Byrds version. Listen closely with headphones and see for yourself. 'Countless fire on flaming roads' (he does not say the word 'with' before the word 'fire'); 'Romantic flights of musketeers' (he does not say 'Romantic facts'); 'At the mongrels of (sounds like 'sub-teach' but 'sub' is not clearly distinguishable - however, he does not the words 'dogs' or 'who'); and 'Fearing not I'd become my enemy' (he does not say the word 'that' before the word 'I'd').
• Angi from Yonkers NyOlder, younger …. All the same
• T Welch from ArkansasThe more I listen to and learn about the Byrds, the more I like and respect them.
• Buddy Blackburn from Lafayette, IndianaI think The Bryds are one of the greatest bands that came out of the 60's. They can cover a song from any artist and make it sound good, it's very a band can do that.
• Miles from Vancouver, CanadaCyberpope...I think what Josep means is the cover that was performed by Dylan, Harrison, Petty, Young AND Clapton together, not as individuals. Roger McGuinn was part of that "supergroup" as well. Could it have been a Wilburys reboot? Who knows? But yes, it's a great song by Dylan himself, the Byrds...and the uber-Wilburys, if you will. Also, I think the keywords of the song are meant as a paradox. Think of the Simpsons episode where Frank Ormand says, "Ah, but that was the old me...which ironically was the young me!"
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 26th 1967, the Byrds' covered version of "My Back Pages" entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #86; five weeks later on April 30th, 1967 it would peak at #30 {for 1 week} and spent 7 weeks on the Top 100...
  Was track three of side two on the group's fourth studio album, 'Younger Than Yesterday', and the album peaked at #24 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart...
  Two other tracks from the album also made the Top 100 chart; "So You Want to Be a Rock 'n Roll Star" {peaked at #29} and "Have You Seen Her Face" {reached #74}...
  Between 1965 and 1970 the LA-formed quintet had sixteen Top 100 records; two made the Top 10 and both reached #1, "Mr. Tambourine Man" {for 1 week in 1965} and "Turn! Turn! Turn!" {For 3 weeks in 1965}.
• Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaDylan didn't cover this song; he WROTE(& performed) it!
• Cyberpope from Richmond, CanadaRather annoying that nobody credits Dylan for this song any more -- it's always "by the Byrds"
• John from Colorado Springs, Co"My Back Pages"...'Brilliantly conceived, flawlessly executed!' The Dylan cover mentioned above, including the musical stylings of Harrison, Petty, Young, Clapton, and, of course, Dylan...lets not forget Roger McGuinn, was from "Bob Dylan's 30th Anniversary Concert". Some brilliant arrangements from some of the most remarkable musicians in modern times!
• Daniela from Buenos Aires, ArgentinaI love this song, it's my favourite from the Byrds!
• Josep from Dubrovnik, CroatiaMy favorite version of this song was a cover by Bob Dylan, George Harrison, Tom Petty, Neil Young, and Eric Clapton.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyAnother great song that faced the 1960s 'AM' radio ax; album version was 3:08 but 'AM' radio version was 2:31 Bruce Springsteen sang this song during his sound check for a concert in Chapel Hill, NC on 3-4-1988 but didn't perform it in the actual concert???
• Niles from Belpre, OhI think I still have this album
• David from Youngstown, OhWhile the Byrds did many, many Dylan songs (including an entire album), this stands out as their best.
• Oldpink from New Castle, InYep, Dylan nails something so well lyrically, then The Byrds do it right musically.
  The recurring phrase used throughout is yet another in a long line of ironic, deliberately anachronistic phrases in the Dylan canon.
  "I was so much older then/I'm younger than that now."
  Fantastic wordplay, and I completely understood it when I first heard this on the radio.
  Universal, brilliant, and timeless.
  Anyone who has had a tough time growing up, emerging with happiness at a later time, will jerk his head back to the radio the first time he ever hears that!

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