Go East, Young Man: The Early Years is a memoir written by United States Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas. It describes his childhood and early adult life, ending with his appointment to the Court in 1939 at age 40. The title, a play on the famous American expression "Go West, young man", alludes to Douglas's upbringing in the Western United States – being uprooted often, eventually landing in Yakima, Washington – followed by his legal education and professional success in the East. It was published by Random House in April 1974 and is 493 pages long.
The work showcases a passion for the natural world and includes vivid descriptions of a young Douglas's time in the Western mountains, including such tales as spending a defenseless night with a friend on an isolated spit of land, convinced that a screeching cougar nearby was about to do away with both of them. While not covering Douglas's tenure on the court, the book does not shy away from expressing his opinions on matters political or otherwise. He also criticizes personal aspects of people by name, including John Foster Dulles. In preparation for the work, Douglas said he had spent time researching records of his family's past and visiting ancestral and familial locations in Nova Scotia and Minnesota.
(Verse)
Take it down
Pull it up high
Show me how
Feeling changed
(Chorus)
And what is it all for?
Does anybody know anymore,
If it’ll be okay?