In 1964, at 22-years-old, Bob Dylan wrote and recorded a song with the following refrain: “I was so much older then, I’m younger than that now.”
Younger than what? Younger than twenty-two? No. Younger than the older person that he had already become. It was as if he caught himself just in time. At twenty-two, he was already headed over the hill.
Being twenty-two and regretting his age obviously tells us that this song has nothing to do with age, but with a version of himself he wanted to shed. It has to do with attitude and perspective. It was a version of himself that was dogmatic, prejudiced, sentimentally romantic, full of himself, simple-minded, and quick to point a finger at what was wrong with the world (and what was wrong with you and me).
Dylan’s early songs were heavy on protest and social criticism. Perhaps he saw where this was going. “I’d become my enemy in the instant that I preach,” he sang. One critic of Dylan’s music wrote of this facet of his self-discovery, “Moral righteousness divorced from self-awareness, humility, and empathy can lead to the same fanaticism that tore France apart in 1789 and China in the 1960s.” Sounds like a page out of an Os Guinness book. This kind of fanaticism was not healthy in 1964 and even more so today. As always Dylan was way ahead of his time.
Even though Dylan wrote and recorded this song in 1964, he didn’t perform it in concert until 1988. Twenty-four years. That’s a long time to sit on a song. As a songwriter myself, I know something about why that might have happened, especially to a prophetic writer like Dylan. As a prophet, you write ahead of yourself. Sometimes you write what you know you must write, but it scares you because you don’t fully know what it means, and you have to literally grow into the song until you have confidence that it is right. That twenty-four years tells me Dylan was digging deep when he wrote this and that means we need to pay attention and dig deeper to understand it. There is much here that we can glean from.
For that reason, we are going to spend the next few weeks figuring out how we can discard what makes us old, and embrace what makes us young. It has nothing to do with how old or how young you are. Whatever your age, we are excited to be able to show you that you can be younger than you were.
John Fischer The Catch 
Dylan may have not performed this till ‘88, but the Byrds sure made a hit out it!
Yes they did!
Brilliant analysis, John! I’m really excited about the next couple weeks as we unpack this song. It’ll be fun!
I believe what makes us old is being set in our ways and not trying to open our selves up to new ideas. Following Jesus each day should always be fresh and try not to get stuck in the same path over and over looking at each day with a fresh and open attitude in our lives. Bob Dylan really pointed out some important ways to be younger than we are now. Take care, God Bless, and thanks for a great message each day that is always fresh and open.
Amen, Toni loved your comments!
Dear Mr Fischer I went to the Catch thru Search and usually will find a message where it says Grace Turned Outward but, did not see a message. Saw the ones about podcast and images. I hope to see a message tomorrow in the section of Grace Turned outward. Take care, God Bless, and thanks for all the great messages. Sincerely Toni Petrella
This is a topic I am looking forward to, hopefully I will learn to discard some old habits and begin some new ones. God always says look I am doing something new and usually it isn’t new it just appears new because we have forgotten about what God wants and have adopted our own ways.
Moses began his life work at 80 years of age. Maybe there is hope for me yet.
Amen brother Peter: “Moses began his life work at 80 years of age. Maybe there is hope for me yet.”