Ah, but I was so much older then/
I’m younger than that now.

That has to be one of the better lyrics in Rock n Roll history. In “My Back Pages” Dylan writes that the more he experiences the less he understands. For some of us it is because we are indoctrinated with school and religion when we are young and then when we begin to experience life…it comes at you fast and in unexpected ways, and it is humbling. The certainty of my beliefs that I felt as a young man might conflict with experience and that leaves me feeling like I know less than I knew before. This is one of Dylan’s deeper song meanings. Genius.

Every Dylan song has been covered, and some of the covers are better than Dylan’s original. In this case I think the Byrds version is slightly better than Dylan’s version, but they are both great. Even without the Byrds version it would still be a top 500 song. We will see other covers of Dylan songs that are so good that the cover is the only one worth listening to. For most of Dylan’s songs, his own versions are the best. This one could go either way.

The Byrds made Dylan more accessible for many people. David Crosby from CSNY and Roger McGuinn from The Band were first in The Byrds and give them that distinct sound: the harmonies and the rich electric guitars. Dylan’s voice can be an acquired taste, but his songs are universally beloved.

My Back Pages Lyrics

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 existence 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

Songwriters: Bob Dylan

It’s life’s illusions I recall/
I really don’t know life at all.

Mitchell’s original recording of “Both Sides Now” and Judy Collins cover both amazing songs. “Both Sides Now” is about how two things can feel very differently to you at different times. Mitchell remembers as a young girl seeing clouds and imagining all sorts of pretty pictures inside of them and really enjoying that experience.

More recently, she looked at the clouds and it reminded her how they were blocking the sun, bringing rain, and keeping her inside when she wanted to go out. So are clouds the happy things that stir the imagination or the downer that brings the rain? Both, really. She calls this dual nature an ‘illusion’. She really doesn’t know clouds at all.

Similarly, circuses and love also seem to be this way–perhaps she doesn’t know life at all. The ability for each thing to bring us happiness or sadness causes her to believe she is not really knowing the essential nature of these things.

I prefer the vocal on the Judy Collins version but the electric piano or organ overwhelms the mix. I feel like the definitive version of this song has not been done yet. If I was a contestant in a singing show like The Voice I think this would make a good candidate for a reinterpretation.

Both Sides Now Lyrics

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons every where
Looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s cloud’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and ferries wheels
The dizzy dancing way that you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way

But now it’s just another show
And you leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know love
Really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say, “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way

Oh, but now old friends they’re acting strange
And they shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

It’s life’s illusions that I recall
I really don’t know life
I really don’t know life at all

Songwriters: Joni Mitchell

When “happily ever after” fails/
And we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales.

Listen to the piano. Can you hear that is Bruce Hornsby? He cowrote this song with Henley. This song is about three examples in the narrator’s life about times when he realizes the that the fairy-tales he’s been told his whole life won’t match reality. Henley calls this the “end of the innocence”. Each of us experience many of these throughout our lives.

Of specific importance to him (or at least the ones he discusses in this song) are the disillusionment related to the breakup of his parents, the corruption of the Reagan administration and saying goodbye to his first love. At what moments in your life did your innocence end? There is a moment when you realize, I am not going to be a professional baseball player, am I?

The song’s tone is nostalgic: Henley does that well. There are moments when the song sounds bright—as we remember happier days—and times the music sounds darker—like during the sax solo at the end. The song is well composed. The song hits home because this is a theme that everyone has wrestled with at some point in their life: you might refer to it as “the end of your innocence” or just “growing up”. This song conveys these emotions well. This sound is quite different from his work with The Eagles.

End of the Innocence Lyrics

Remember when the days were long
And rolled beneath a deep blue sky?
Didn’t have a care in the world,
With mommy and daddy standing by.
When “happily ever after” fails,
And we’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales.
The lawyers dwell on small details
Since daddy had to fly.

Oh, but I know a place where we can go,
Still untouched by man;
We’ll sit and watch the clouds roll by,
And the tall grass waves in the wind.
You can lay your head back on the ground,
And let your hair fall all around me.
Offer up your best defense,
But this is the end,
This is the end of the innocence.

O’ beautiful, for spacious skies,
But now those skies are threatening.
They’re beating plowshares into swords,
For this tired old man that we elected king.
Armchair warriors often fail,
And they’ve been poisoned by these fairy tales;
The lawyers clean up all details
Since daddy had to lie.

Oh, but I know a place where we can go,
And wash away this sin.
We’ll sit and watch the clouds roll by,
The tall grass waves in the wind.
Just lay your head back on the ground,
And let your hair spill all around me.
Offer up your best defense,
But this is the end,
This is the end of the innocence.

Who knows how long this will last?
Now we’ve come so far, so fast.
But somewhere back there in the dust,
That same small town in each of us.
I need to remember this
So baby, give me just one kiss.
And let me take a long last look,
Before we say good bye.

Just lay your head back on the ground,
And let your hair fall all around me.
Offer up your best defense,
But this is the end,
This is the end of the innocence.

Songwriters: Bruce Hornsby / Don Henley