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[Intro]
E Esus4     E Esus4
E Esus4     E Esus4
 
[Verse 1]
E       C#m         G#m
Crimson flames tied through my ears
        A        B      E
Rollin' high and mighty traps
E            C#m     G#m
Pounced with fire on flaming roads
      A           B
Using ideas as my maps
       C#m            G#m
"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     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Verse 2]
E            C#m       G#m
Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth
     A        B        E
"Rip down all hate," I screamed
E         C#m     G#m
Lies that life is black and white
A                      B
Spoke from my skull. I dreamed
C#m                G#m
Romantic flanks of musketeers
    A                  B
Foundationed deep, somehow.
        E             A     E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
    A       B         E     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Verse 3]
(The next two verses were left out by The Byrds)
E            C#m        G#m
Girls' faces formed the forward path
     A     B     E
From phony jealousy
   C#m        G#m
To memorizing politics
   A         B
Of ancient history
Cm                   G#m
Flung down by corpse evangelists
  A                       B
Unthought of, though, somehow.
        E             A     E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
    A       B         E     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Verse 4]
  E    C#m                  G#m
A self-ordained professor's tongue
    A       B  E
Too serious to fool
        C#m           G#m
Spouted out that liberty
        A           B
Is just equality in school
C#m           G#m
"Equality," I spoke the word
   A            B
As if a wedding vow.
        E             A     E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
    A       B         E     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Verse 5]
(The Byrds pick it up here)
     E         C#m       G#m
In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand
       A       B        E
At the mongrel dogs who teach
                 C#m           G#m
Fearing not that I'd become my enemy
       A              B
In the instant that I preach
   C#m               G#m
My existence led  by confusion boats
A                    B
Mutiny from stern to bow.
        E             A     E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
    A       B         E     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Interlude:]
E  C#m     G#m
A  B       E
C#m        G#m
A          B
C#m        G#m
A          B
        E             A     E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
    A       B         E     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Verse 6]
        E           C#m       G#m
Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
    A     B    E
Too noble to neglect
            C#m  G#m
Deceived me into thinking
      A            B
I had something to protect
C#m             G#m
Good and bad, I define these terms
      A                    B
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow.
        E             A     E
Ah, but I was so much older then,
    A       B         E     E
I'm younger than that now.
 
[Outro]
E       E  A    E    E  A
E  A    E
X