Terry Scott Taylor
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My Back Pages (Bob Dylan Cover)
🕑 Added 2023-06-14 16:01:08 +0000 UTCMy Back Pages
words and music: Bob Dylan
Crimson flames tied through my ears
Rollin’ high and mighty traps
Countless fire on flaming roads
Using ideas as my maps
“We’ll meet on edges, soon,” said I
Proud ‘neath heated brow
Chorus
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
Chorus
In a soldiers stance, I aimed my hand
At the mongrel dogs who teach
Fearing not that I’d become my enemy
At the instant that I preach
My pathway led by confusion boats,
Mutiny from stern to bow
Chorus
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
Chorus
guitars and vocals: T.S. Taylor
percussion: Andrew Taylor
note:
Yeah, I know. I posted on Patreon recently that I was going to get back to recording some of your requests. I still intend to do so. I promise. The problem is that I committed to the request thing before I realized that I had already promised my wife and kids (my big kids!) that I would record “My Back Pages” as soon as I was done recording the “Short, Sweet, and Stupid” collection. You see, a couple of months back my son Andrew was listening to various songs on his iPhone and when “My Back Pages” came up. Andrew, along with me, my wife, and my daughter, got all enthusiastic about how much we all love this classic tune. This isn’t the first time this has happened. In the past, all four of us have made it known that this is arguably our favorite Byrds cover of a Bob Dylan song, (If you’ve lived under a rock and don’t know who “The Byrds” are, please do a Google search). The Byrds have covered over a dozen Dylan songs, (if you include live versions not found on their albums). Among the band’s most popular album cuts are “Mr. Tamborine Man,” “The Times They Are a-Changin,’” and “All I Really Want To Do.”
Another reason I wanted to record “My Back Pages” is that Dylan and I share a birthday; May 24th. Invariably, every year on Facebook, a few people make mention of this and some of them make favorable comparisons between the two of us, which is sweet and humbling, but a little embarrassing too. Even if this could be proven to be objectively true (which, being an opinion and therefore subjective, is impossible), I could never believe it myself. Then again, maybe I’m just saying this to appear humble in your eyes and the reality is that I think I’m every bit as good as Dylan, maybe even better. Or maybe, in reality, I think that he’s written some songs that are better than mine, and vice-versa, I’ve written some that are better than his. Lastly, maybe I never make the comparison at all. I figure people will always make such comparisons like this about all kinds of artists, which is fine, but in the end, who really cares? OR, it’s possible I really am better than Bob Dylan. Then again, maybe I’m better than Bob Dylan. And yet again, it could be that I’m better than Bob Dylan.
Dinner's on, so I don’t have time to fully go into the history of “My Back Pages.” If you want to know more, there’s this thing called the….uh….the…..the inner….THE INTERNET! Ask somebody, someone younger, about it and maybe they can show you how to go on there. I think it has all kinds of stuff you want to know about, like stuff about The Byrds, Bob Dylan, "My Back Pages," how to make a sandwich, where to go to get your pus-filled gum boil lanced, who died today, what state has more pants, and so forth. It’s pretty cool. Anyway, what I do want to talk about are the lyrics to “My Back Pages,” which, in a way, kind of goes to what I was talking about earlier; is Dylan a brilliant songwriter, or is he overrated and maybe just average, or is it possible, at times, that he’s a bad, self-indulgent, lazy, and incredibly pretentious songwriter (like me at times). Well, here are two lines from “My Back Pages” for your consideration. Then you tell me if he’s brilliant, good, mediocre, or bad; one of these, two of these, or all of these? The first line for your consideration is this: “Fearing not that I’d become my enemy, at the instant that I preached.” Now let’s compare this to another line in the same song. It goes like this: “Romantic facts of musketeers.” Okay, what do you think? Are you unsure as to which line is good/brilliant and which line is…well…. stink-o? Do I need to give you a hint? What I can tell you is this: the song was written by an older and wiser Bob Dylan who is lamenting his realization at this point in his life just how arrogant and overly “preachy” he was in his earlier music. Strangely, this is exactly the same regret I have in regard to some of my non-musical interactions with unbelievers early in the days following my conversion. I chalk this “boldness” up to youthful excitement, earnestness, and zeal which, though absolutely understandable, could have been tempered by a good deal more humility, nuance, sensitivity, and empathy toward those who I wished, in all sincerity, to “bring to Christ.”
Anyway, thanks Bob for all the great music, even though I’m better than you. Oh, and a “happy birthday” to one of my favorite songwriters of all time….me!
Comments
Terry, I recently had a conversation about growing old with an 'old' friend of mine from college, who was lamenting the fact that he was aging, we're not that much younger than yourself, and I felt led to tell him we are the lucky ones, we get to see what we accomplished, and learned, and that wisdom from God is our arrow pointing to where we need to go. To accept that wisdom even with sorrow, and be blessed, for he has a voice "my friend" and can use it. He is not a believer to the best of my knowledge, but he knows I am. He was so grateful for those words I myself can't believe I wrote them. As to am I a better song writer than Dylan?, here's one of mine. "Somebody please tell me why, why am I stupid?" I think that puts everything into perspective.
So much could be said here Terry. One (of several) points you made is one I too have thought often about: "The song was written by an older and wiser Bob Dylan who is lamenting his realization at this point in his life just how arrogant and overly “preachy” he was in his earlier music." That certainly fits my early days (early '70s) when I was Mr. Black & White concerning my faith. e.g. I had a one-on-one conversation with my Detachment Commander (while serving in the USAF @ Reese AFB in Lubbock, TX). I opened my pocket New testament to Philippians 2:10ff. where Paul writes about the day when every knee will bow/every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. As I was reading (to him) I noticed his face was turning deep red - and suddenly he slammed his huge hand down onto the table we were sitting at then said "Mac, you can take that Bible and you can stick it..." From that day on he took occassion at times to mock me in front of the other guys in our detachment...Was I too zealous? Was I disrespectful, as a young enlisted guy to have such a confrontational dialogue with an officer (Major)? I think not; nor do I (personally) feel ANY of your songs EVER went to the point of being obnoxious or a "turn-off". In fact, I saw (heard!) lot's of gentleness and concern for lost souls (e.g. Walls Of Doubt). I suppose the early DA song about waving good-bye to those who will "fry" was a line crosser! Oh well, we do our best (hopefully!) in our efforts to reach folks for Jesus. Thanks for your wonderful contribution to those who need Christ; I am so thankful for you and DA (the Dogs and Eddies too!) for your impact on me. Can't wait to meet-up in Glory one day!!
