My Back Pages/Goin' Back

Michael Stanley

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