When I was young
I'd go down by the river
Just about a mile from my home
A million miles from everyone
My eyes could see older
As my ears could hear your song
Oh, to be wise again
Get back to your lazy waters
Never needed anyone but you
Oh, little boys are strange
No one knows they have magic
I kept it in my pocket
Concealed from everyone
But I climbed the highest tree
To sing a bird my song
Oh, to be wise again
Get back to your lazy waters
And never needed anyone but you
Instrumental (Harmonica)
We moved to the city
I said I wouldn't minds
Thought you'd stay inside me
It's easy when you're young
But as we rode away
I knew you were gone
Oh, to be wise again
Get back to your lazy waters
Never needed anyone but you
Oh, to be wise again
Get back to your lazy waters
Never needed anyone but you
Oh, to be wise again
Get back to your lazy waters
Never needed anyone but you


Lyrics submitted by planetearth

Lazy Waters song meanings
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    General Comment

    I think the concept of this song is similar to the one of "going back"(the notorious byrd lp).The line "Oh, to be wise again"(related to the childhood) is strictly tied up with the line "going back to the things that I learned so well in my youth"(going back).Lazy waters means a phisical/spiritual place to be in a real contact with the magic of life,maybe limited to the childhood;this period of life is seen by the Byrds as centerpiece in a person existance,the real,spontaneous approach to the things that happen around you,not filtered by the social convention,hypocrisy,routine.The singer says with languid regret that when he moved to the city he concealed in his "pocket" that magic,sure that he would preserve that in the adult period.So in Younger then yesterday's "going back" (a cover song)the Byrds feeling is less pessimistic since oneself is able to retrieve the lost feeling of beeing a young girl or boy and....going back with the spirit,make of everyday a magic carpet ride;finally the message,at least for this song is: thinking young and growing older is no sin (younger then yesterday ..in fact).

    I think I�m going back to the things that I learned so well in my youth I think I�m returning to those days when I was young enough to know the truth Now there are no games to only pass the time No more electric trains, no more trees to climb But thinking young and growing older is no sin And I can play the game of life to win I can recall the time when I wasn�t ashamed to reach out to a friend Now I think I�ve got a lot more than just my toys to lend Now there�s more to do than watch my sailboat glide And every day can be a magic carpet ride A little bit of courage is all we lack So catch me if you can, I�m goin� back Now there�s more to do than watch my sailboat glide But every day can be a magic carpet ride A little bit of courage is all we lack So catch me if you can, I�m goin� back

    GAGAUMPAon October 14, 2011   Link

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