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My Back Pages

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F#minor

90BPM

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My Back Pages ver. 1 chords *
Capo II
[Intro]
 D     Dsus4x4
[Verse 1]
DCrimson Bmflames tied F#mthrough my ears,
rollin' Ghigh and Amighty DtrapsDsus4  D  
Countless Bmfire on F#mflaming roads,
using Gideas as my Amaps
"We'll Bmmeet on edges, F#msoon," said I,
Gproud 'neath heated Abrow.
[Chorus]
Ah, but DI was so much Golder Dthen,
I'm Gyounger Athan that Dnow.Dsus4  D  Dsus4  
[Verse 2]
DHalf-wracked Bmprejudice F#mleaped forth,
"rip Gdown all Ahate," I DscreamedDsus4  D  
Lies that Bmlife is F#mblack and white,
Gspoke from my skull, I Adreamed
BmRomantic facts of F#mmusketeers,
founGdationed deep, someAhow.
[Chorus]
Ah, but DI was so much Golder Dthen,
I'm Gyounger Athan that Dnow.Dsus4  D  Dsus4  
[Verse 3]
In a Dsoldier's Bmstance, I F#maimed my hand,
at the Gmongrel Adogs who DteachDsus4  D  
Fearing not that BmI'd become my F#menemy,
in the Ginstant that I Apreach
My Bmpathway led by conF#mfusion boats,
Gmutiny from stern to Abow.
[Chorus]
Ah, but DI was so much Golder Dthen,
I'm Gyounger Athan that DnowDsus4.D  Dsus4  D  
[Instrumental]
D  Bm  F#m   G  A  D  Dsus4
D  Bm  F#m   G  A
Bm  F#m   G  A
[Chorus]
Ah, but DI was so much Golder Dthen,
I'm Gyounger Athan that DnowDsus4.D  Dsus4  D  
[Verse 4]
Yes, my Dguard stood Bmhard when F#mabstract threats,
too Gnoble Ato neDglectDsus4  D  
Deceived me Bminto F#mthinking,
I had Gsomething to proAtect
[Verse 5]
DGood and Bmbad, I deF#mfine these terms,
quite Gclear, no doubt, someAhow?
[Chorus]
Ah, but DI was so much Golder Dthen,
I'm Gyounger Athan that Dnow.
 D     Dsus4x4
     D= E  
    Bm= C#m  
   F#m= Abm  
     G= A  
     A= B  
 Dsus4= Esus4  
Capo IV
     D= C  
    Bm= Am  
   F#m= Em  
     G= F  
     A= G  
 Dsus4= Csus4  
Open (These chords are not in the original key)
     D= A  
    Bm= F#m  
   F#m= C#m  
     G= D  
     A= E  
 Dsus4= Asus4  
My Back Pages ver. 2 chords
[Intro]
 E     Esus4x4
[Verse 1]
ECrimson C#mflames tied G#mthrough my ears,
rollin' Ahigh and Bmighty EtrapsEsus4  E  
Countless C#mfire on G#mflaming roads,
using Aideas as my Bmaps
"We'll C#mmeet on edges, G#msoon," said I,
Aproud 'neath heated Bbrow.
[Chorus]
Ah, but EI was so much Aolder Ethen,
I'm Ayounger Bthan that Enow.Esus4  E  Esus4  
[Verse 2]
EHalf-wracked C#mprejudice G#mleaped forth,
"rip Adown all Bhate," I EscreamedEsus4  E  
Lies that C#mlife is G#mblack and white,
Aspoke from my skull, I Bdreamed
C#mRomantic facts of G#mmusketeers,
founAdationed deep, someBhow.
[Chorus]
Ah, but EI was so much Aolder Ethen,
I'm Ayounger Bthan that Enow.Esus4  E  Esus4  
[Verse 3]
In a Esoldier's C#mstance, I G#maimed my hand,
at the Amongrel Bdogs who EteachEsus4  E  
Fearing not that C#mI'd become my G#menemy,
in the Ainstant that I Bpreach
My C#mpathway led by conG#mfusion boats,
Amutiny from stern to Bbow.
[Chorus]
Ah, but EI was so much Aolder Ethen,
I'm Ayounger Bthan that EnowEsus4.E  Esus4  E  
[Instrumental]
E C#m G#m A B E Esus4
E C#m G#m A B
C#m[ChoG#mrus]A  B  
Ah, but EI was so much Aolder Ethen,
I'm Ayounger Bthan that EnowEsus4.E  Esus4  E  
[Verse 4]
Yes, my Eguard stood C#mhard when G#mabstract threats,
too Anoble Bto neEglectEsus4  E  
Deceived me C#minto G#mthinking,
I had Asomething to proBtect
[Verse 5]
EGood and C#mbad, I deG#mfine these terms,
quite Aclear, no doubt, someBhow?
[Chorus]
Ah, but EI was so much Aolder Ethen,
I'm Ayounger Bthan that Enow.
 E     Esus4x4

All chords in this song (18)

The story behind the song

"My Back Pages" finds The Byrds, known for their folk-rock sound and "angelic harmonies," reflecting on a past self. The song speaks to a journey of growth, acknowledging how youthful certainty, once felt "foundationed deep," can be seen differently with the wisdom of time. It's a look back at ideas and beliefs that once burned like "crimson flames," realizing that what felt like maturity then now seems like an earlier, perhaps less wise, version of oneself. It's a celebration of evolving, of understanding that "I was so much older then" in spirit, even if not in years.

AI-written from these sources:The Byrds — Wikipedia ↗MusicBrainz ↗

Story time

My Back Pages

My Back Pages

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My Back Pages

by The Byrds

Lyrics & chords · Original key · Capo on fret 2 (as written in this song)

Chords in this song · guitar

Dsus4

F#m

C#m

Abm

Esus4

Csus4

Asus4

G#m

My Back Pages ver. 1 chords *

Capo II

[Intro]

D Dsus4

[Verse 1]

D Bm F#m

Crimson flames tied through my ears,

G A D Dsus4 D

rollin' high and mighty traps

Bm F#m

Countless fire on flaming roads,

G A

using ideas as my maps

Bm F#m

"We'll meet on edges, soon," said I,

G A

proud 'neath heated brow.

[Chorus]

D G D

Ah, but I was so much older then,

G A D Dsus4 D Dsus4

I'm younger than that now.

[Verse 2]

D Bm F#m

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth,

G A D Dsus4 D

"rip down all hate," I screamed

Bm F#m

Lies that life is black and white,

G A

spoke from my skull, I dreamed

Bm F#m

Romantic facts of musketeers,

G A

foundationed deep, somehow.

[Chorus]

D G D

Ah, but I was so much older then,

G A D Dsus4 D Dsus4

I'm younger than that now.

[Verse 3]

D Bm F#m

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand,

G A D Dsus4 D

at the mongrel dogs who teach

Bm F#m

Fearing not that I'd become my enemy,

G A

in the instant that I preach

Bm F#m

My pathway led by confusion boats,

G A

mutiny from stern to bow.

[Chorus]

D G D

Ah, but I was so much older then,

G A D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D

I'm younger than that now.

[Instrumental]

D Bm F#m G A D Dsus4

D Bm F#m G A

Bm F#m G A

[Chorus]

D G D

Ah, but I was so much older then,

G A D Dsus4 D Dsus4 D

I'm younger than that now.

[Verse 4]

D Bm F#m

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats,

G A D Dsus4 D

too noble to neglect

Bm F#m

Deceived me into thinking,

G A

I had something to protect

[Verse 5]

D Bm F#m

Good and bad, I define these terms,

G A

quite clear, no doubt, somehow?

[Chorus]

D G D

Ah, but I was so much older then,

G A D

I'm younger than that now.

D Dsus4

D E

Bm C#m

F#m Abm

G A

A B

Dsus4 Esus4

Capo IV

D C

Bm Am

F#m Em

G F

A G

Dsus4 Csus4

Open (These chords are not in the original key)

D A

Bm F#m

F#m C#m

G D

A E

Dsus4 Asus4

My Back Pages ver. 2 chords

[Intro]

E Esus4

[Verse 1]

E C#m G#m

Crimson flames tied through my ears,

A B E Esus4 E

rollin' high and mighty traps

C#m G#m

Countless 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.

[Chorus]

E A E

Ah, but I was so much older then,

A B E Esus4 E Esus4

I'm younger than that now.

[Verse 2]

E C#m G#m

Half-wracked prejudice leaped forth,

A B E Esus4 E

"rip down all hate," I screamed

C#m G#m

Lies that life is black and white,

A B

spoke from my skull, I dreamed

C#m G#m

Romantic facts of musketeers,

A B

foundationed deep, somehow.

[Chorus]

E A E

Ah, but I was so much older then,

A B E Esus4 E Esus4

I'm younger than that now.

[Verse 3]

E C#m G#m

In a soldier's stance, I aimed my hand,

A B E Esus4 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 pathway led by confusion boats,

A B

mutiny from stern to bow.

[Chorus]

E A E

Ah, but I was so much older then,

A B E Esus4 E Esus4 E

I'm younger than that now.

[Instrumental]

E C#m G#m A B E Esus4

E C#m G#m A B

C#m G#m A B

[Chorus]

E A E

Ah, but I was so much older then,

A B E Esus4 E Esus4 E

I'm younger than that now.

[Verse 4]

E C#m G#m

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats,

A B E Esus4 E

too noble to neglect

C#m G#m

Deceived me into thinking,

A B

I had something to protect

[Verse 5]

E C#m G#m

Good and bad, I define these terms,

A B

quite clear, no doubt, somehow?

[Chorus]

E A E

Ah, but I was so much older then,

A B E

I'm younger than that now.

E Esus4

About My Back Pages Chords by The Byrds

Learn how to play My Back Pages by The Byrds with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “My Back Pages chords”, “My Back Pages guitar chords”, or “The Byrds My Back Pages chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy My Back Pages chords and for experienced players who want accurate My Back Pages lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include D, Dsus4, Bm, F#m, G, A.

FAQ — My Back Pages by The Byrds

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The chords for "My Back Pages" show the original chord names (including D, Dsus4, Bm, F#m, G, A). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.