Younger then?

I was wondering about the Simon Jenkins article (below) when I came across this. If Jenkins is right, will we look back and think this? Without the rhyme, maybe.

Yes, my guard stood hard when abstract threats
Too noble to neglect
Deceived me into thinking
I had something to protect
Good and bad, I define these terms
Quite clear, no doubt, somehow.
Ah, but I was so much older then,
I'm younger than that now.

My Back Pages, Bob Dylan

That's a great line: "Quite clear, no doubt, somehow".