The World's Premier

Humanitarian Web Resource

Return to Main Poetry Page

“My existence led by confusion boats:
Mutiny from stern to bow.”

(Bob Dylan)

---

This is one of Bob Dylan's more elusive or abstract songs, so there are lines that may need to be heard or read several times to get the meaning, but at the same time the imagery and turns of phrase are vivid, memorable, full of emotional significance and sung with great passion - and this is a song, and lyrics, of such richness and depth that it is hard to imagine reaching a point where it is no longer possible to find something new in it each time you return to it. Indeed, the main theme of the song is life's elusive, paradoxical and confusing nature - the observation that nothing is really "black and white" as we would like it to be or as the "mongrel dog" teachers falsely declare, filling our heads with false certainties about the world! What a rare but fantastic theme for a poem and song. . . – Simon Rees, March 2007

---

My Back Pages

Bob Dylan, 1964

Crimson flames tied through my ears,
Growin' 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 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.

 

Copyright © 1964; renewed 1992 Special Rider Music

 

Previous page Poetry from Some Favourite Lyrics by Bob Dylan Next page

Index of Bob Dylan Songs by Title 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Index of Bob Dylan Lyrics by Extract

Back to top

Return to Main Poetry Page

---

Sister Sites Maintained as Educational Resources by the Same Authors:

Link to: FCT World - Resources on the Unique & Powerful System of Medicine called Field Control Therapy

Link to: Key Toxins - Exclusive Articles, Info & Interviews about Toxicity, the World's Most Pressing Issue

Link to: Tibetan Pulsing World - Resources on the Transformative System of Yoga & Meditation called Tibetan Pulsing

Link to: Deep Energy Healing - Resources on Different Therapies, the Nature of Healing and the Future of Medicine

---

© Copyright 2007 Simon Rees, Kevin Eakins and SYY Integrated Health Systems, Ltd.

Disclaimer: The information at this website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The content of this website comprises only the observations and opinions of the authors and contributors: it does not constitute medical advice to readers.