Byrds – Mr. Tambourine Man lyrics

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The Byrds
Words and Music by Bob Dylan

Intro: E Esus4 (repeat 4 times)

E C#m Abm
Crimson flames tied through my ears
A B E
Rollin' high and mighty traps
E C#m Abm
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
A B
Using ideas as my maps
C#m Abm
"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I
A B
Proud 'neath heated brow.
E A E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
A B E (intro riff twice)
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 [flanks] of musketeers
Foundationed deep, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
bI'm younger than that now.
[The next two verses were left out by The Byrds]
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.
[The Byrds pick it up here]
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 pathway led [Sisters fled] by confusion boats
Mutiny from stern to bow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.
[12-string guitar solo followed by the refrain]
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.