Goin' Back
The Byrds Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

I think I'm goin' back
To the things 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 a 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
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

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

Overall Meaning

The Byrds's song "Goin' Back" is a nostalgic song about looking back to one's youth and returning to the days of truth and purity. The singer expresses his desire to return to the things he learned well as a youth, the days when he was young enough to know the truth. He laments that there are no more games or coloring books to pass the time, no Christmas bells to chime, but he believes that thinking young and growing older is no sin, and he can play the game of life to win. He recalls a time when he wasn't afraid to reach out to a friend, and he now has more than just a skipping rope to lift. There is more to do now than just watch his sailboat glide or count his years. He wants to play hide and seek with his fears and live his life instead of counting his years. The singer concludes the song by stating that he would rather see the world the way it used to be with a little bit of freedom left.


Line by Line Meaning

I think I'm goin' back
Returning to a time and place that is familiar and comfortable


To the things I learned so well in my youth,
Revisiting knowledge and skills gained during younger years


I think I'm returning to
Being drawn back to a previous time and place


The days when I was young enough to know the truth
A time when knowledge and understanding of the world came easily


Now there are no games
Life is no longer a series of amusements and trivialities


To only pass the time
Life is more meaningful and purposeful


No more coloring books,
Childish pursuits have been replaced with more adult activities


No Christmas bells to chime
The simple pleasures of youth have been left behind


But thinking young and growing older is no sin
One can continue to maintain a youthful outlook while growing older


And I can play the game of life to win
Success in life is still achievable and worth striving for


I can recall a time,
Remembering a past moment or experience


When I wasn't afraid to reach out to a friend
A time when social connections were easier to make and maintain


And now I think I've got
Realizing that one has gained something valuable with age and experience


A lot more than a skipping rope to lift
More important responsibilities and opportunities


Now there's more to do
Life is more complex and challenging


Than watch my sailboat glide
Mere spectatorship is no longer satisfying


Then everyday can be my magic carpet ride
Finding joy in the everyday experiences of life


And I can play hide and seek with my fears,
Confronting and overcoming personal challenges and uncertainties


And live my life instead of counting my years
Focusing on living fully in the present rather than simply existing


Let everyone debate the true reality,
Ignoring the arguments and debates over what is truly real


I'd rather see the world the way it used to be
Preferring a simpler time and place in the past


A little bit of freedom, all we're left
Recognizing the importance of retaining some degree of personal freedom


So catch me if you can
Tempting fate and daring to follow one's own path in life


I'm goin' back
Moving forward by looking back at the past


I can recall,
Remembering once again


I can remember
Holding onto memories of a simpler and more carefree time




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Carole King, Gerry Goffin

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found
Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@epicalprototypeW98

I found this song when I was a jolly 18/19 year old not having that much of trouble in life. Now here I am a few years later living life in the sewers. This song takes me back to a good time, and I thank The Byrds for that.







Enjoy life everyone, every second of your life counts.



@eugenecotes4987

“I think I'm goin' back
To the things I learned so well in my youth,
I think I'm returning to
The days when I was young enough to know the truth
Now there are no games
To only pass the time
No more coloring books,
No Christmas bells to chime
But thinking young and growing older is no sin
And I can play the game of life to win
I can recall a time,
When I wasn't afraid to reach out to a friend
And now I think I've got
A lot more than a skipping rope to lift
Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
Then everyday can be my magic carpet ride
And I can play hide and seek with my fears,
And live my life instead of counting my years
Let everyone debate the true reality,
I'd rather see the world the way it used to be
A little bit of freedom, all we're left
So catch me if you can
I'm goin' back
I can recall,
I can remember
I can recall,
I can remember
I can recall,
I can remember”



@denaray3768

Not the right lyrics!! These are the lyrics...


I think I'm goin' back
To the things I learned so well in my youth,
I think I'm returning to
The 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 a time
When I wasn't ashamed to reach out to a friend
And now I think I've got
A lot more than a chest of toys to lend

Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
When everyday 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

La la la la la, etc.

Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
When every day can be your magic carpet ride
A little bit of courage is all we lack
So catch me if you can, I'm goin' back

La la la la la, etc.

I can recall,
I can remember

I can recall,
I can remember (to fade out)

Songwriters: Carole King / Gerry Goffin



@MrSakkieprinsloo

I think I'm goin' back
To the things I learned so well in my youth,
I think I'm returning to
The days when I was young enough to know the truth
Now there are no games
To only pass the time
No more coloring books,
No Christmas bells to chime
But thinking young and growing older is no sin
And I can play the game of life to win
I can recall a time,
When I wasn't afraid to reach out to a friend
And now I think I've got
A lot more than a skipping rope to lift
Now there's more to do
Than watch my sailboat glide
Then everyday can be my magic carpet ride
And I can play hide and seek with my fears,
And live my life instead of counting my years
Let everyone debate the true reality,
I'd rather see the world the way it used to be
A little bit of freedom, all we're left
So catch me if you can
I'm goin' back
I can recall,
I can remember



@jacobdiaz3671

I think I'm goin' back
To the things 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 a 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
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

La la la la la, etc
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

La la la la, etc



All comments from YouTube:

@billtaylor4224

I used to listen to this album with my brother who was a year older than me back in the 60's. He left this world over 40 years ago. I miss him every day. This music sure takes me back there.

@onemexican1973

music can do that.........time and time again.

@fernandoferreiradossantos4808

... I think your brother is better than us, Rest In Peace ... ❤

@elizabethlinsay9193

I'm very sorry about your brother. I promise you that he is watching over you and will be in your heart forever, and you in his. God bless you both

@patrickthomas3633

I used to listen to it with a lovely guy called Albert Khouri who I was at college with in Oxford in the late sixties. He had the album and I used to call round when I needed to hear this (and I Wasn't Born to Follow). Albert was Lebanese. He died of cancer just a few years later. I still miss his smile.

@jamessilva7991

My condolences. I hope you have a lot of good memories of him.

6 More Replies...

@lxx5045

Such a beautiful haunting song, simply perfect. The Byrds at their best.

@robertbrzozowski7022

Exactly !

@deborahfitzgerald6634

Song written by Carole King.
@@robertbrzozowski7022

@Rogerholberg

This song actually was written by Carole King. Great job of it by The Byrds but she wrote it and so many other wonderful songs.

More Comments

More Versions