Bob Dylan’s “Tangled Up in Blue” is a standout track from his 1975 album Blood on the Tracks. Widely regarded as one of his greatest works, the song is celebrated for its intricate narrative and emotional depth.
“Tangled Up in Blue” explores themes of love, loss, and the passage of time through a series of vignettes that shift between different perspectives and moments in the narrator’s life. The lyrics are rich with imagery and poetic language, reflecting Dylan’s innovative approach to songwriting.
In this article, we’ll explore the message conveyed in the song’s lyrics.
“Tangled Up in Blue” Lyrics Meaning
Verse 1
Early one morning the sun was shining
I was laying in bed
Wondering if she’d changed at all
If her hair was still red
Her folks they said our lives together
Sure was going to be rough
They never did like Mama’s homemade dress
Papa’s bankbook wasn’t big enough
And I was standing on the side of the road
Rain falling on my shoes
Heading out for the East Coast
Lord knows I’ve paid some dues
Getting through
Tangled up in blue
In this verse, the narrator reflects on a past relationship, wondering if his former lover has changed. He recalls the disapproval of her parents and the struggles they faced together.
The imagery of standing in the rain and heading out for the East Coast suggests a sense of departure and the hardships he has endured. The phrase “Tangled up in blue” encapsulates his emotional entanglement and the sadness of his memories.
Verse 2
She was married when we first met
Soon to be divorced
I helped her out of a jam, I guess
But I used a little too much force
We drove that car as far as we could
Abandoned it out west
Split up on a dark sad night
Both agreeing it was best
She turned around to look at me
As I was walking away
I heard her say over my shoulder
“We’ll meet again someday
On the avenue”
Tangled up in blue
This verse recounts the beginning of their relationship when she was still married. The narrator helped her through a difficult time, but their relationship was tumultuous. They eventually parted ways, agreeing it was for the best. The promise of meeting again “on the avenue” suggests a lingering hope or inevitability of their paths crossing again, despite their separation.
Verse 3
I had a job in the great north woods
Working as a cook for a spell
But I never did like it all that much
And one day the ax just fell
So I drifted down to New Orleans
Where I lucky was to be employed
Working for a while on a fishing boat
Right outside of Delacroix
But all the while I was alone
The past was close behind
I seen a lot of women
But she never escaped my mind
And I just grew
Tangled up in blue
Here, the narrator describes his transient lifestyle, moving from job to job and place to place. Despite his attempts to move on, he remains haunted by memories of his past lover. His loneliness and inability to forget her are central themes, emphasizing the enduring impact of their relationship.
Verse 4
She was working in a topless place
And I stopped in for a beer
I just kept looking at the side of her face
In the spotlight, so clear
And later on, when the crowd thinned out
I was just about to do the same
She was standing there, in back of my chair
Said, “Tell me, don’t I know your name?”
I muttered something underneath my breath
She studied the lines on my face
I must admit, I felt a little uneasy
When she bent down to tie the laces
Of my shoe
Tangled up in blue
In this verse, the narrator unexpectedly encounters his former lover working in a bar. The recognition and awkwardness of their interaction highlight the unresolved tension between them. Her act of tying his shoe laces is intimate and poignant, symbolizing a connection that remains despite the passage of time.
Verse 5
She lit a burner on the stove
And offered me a pipe
“I thought you’d never say hello,” she said
“You look like the silent type”
Then she opened up a book of poems
And handed it to me
Written by an Italian poet
From the thirteenth century
And every one of them words rang true
And glowed like burning coal
Pouring off of every page
Like it was written in my soul
From me to you
Tangled up in blue
This verse depicts a more intimate and intellectual connection between the narrator and his lover. The sharing of poetry signifies a deep, soulful bond. The words of the poems resonate profoundly with him, suggesting that their relationship has a timeless, almost fated quality.
Verse 6
I lived with them on Montague Street
In a basement down the stairs
There was music in the cafes at night
And revolution in the air
Then he started into dealing with slaves
And something inside of him died
She had to sell everything she owned
And froze up inside
And when it finally, the bottom fell out
I became withdrawn
The only thing I knew how to do
Was to keep on keeping on
Like a bird that flew
Tangled up in blue
This verse reflects a period of communal living and political unrest. The mention of “dealing with slaves” could be metaphorical, indicating a moral or ethical compromise that led to a loss of integrity.
The collapse of their situation forced the narrator to withdraw emotionally, continuing his journey alone, yet still entangled in his memories and emotions.
Verse 7
So now I’m going back again
I got to get to her somehow
All the people we used to know
They’re an illusion to me now
Some are mathematicians
Some are carpenter’s wives
Don’t know how it all got started
I don’t know what they’re doing with their lives
But me, I’m still on the road
A-heading for another joint
We always did feel the same
We just saw it from a different point
In the final verse, the narrator resolves to reconnect with his former lover. He reflects on the people from their past, now seeming distant and irrelevant.
Despite the changes and the passage of time, he remains on a journey, driven by the same emotions and perspectives that once connected them. The phrase “Tangled up in blue” underscores the persistent and inescapable nature of his feelings.
Deeper Meaning Behind “Tangled Up in Blue”
“Tangled Up in Blue” is often seen as autobiographical, reflecting Dylan’s own life, particularly his relationship with his first wife, Sara Dylan. The song was written during a period of personal turmoil for Dylan, as he was dealing with the breakdown of his marriage.
However, Dylan has also stated that the song incorporates a broader, more universal perspective on time and relationships, influenced by his studies with painter Norman Raeben, who taught him to perceive time in a more fluid, non-linear way. Dylan described this influence as learning to “see” in a way that allowed him to consciously incorporate multiple time frames into his work.
He has mentioned that the entirety of the Blood on the Tracks album, which includes “Tangled Up in Blue,” was influenced by the short stories of Russian writer Anton Chekhov.
There is also speculation that Dylan was inspired by Joni Mitchell’s 1971 album Blue. Dylan reportedly spent a weekend immersing himself in Mitchell’s work, which may have influenced the emotional tone and title of his own song.
The song’s title “Tangled Up in Blue” serves as a poetic encapsulation of the song’s themes of love, loss, memory, and the complex web of human experiences.
The word “tangled” suggests a complex, intertwined state of emotions. It reflects the narrator’s inability to fully separate himself from his past relationship and experiences.
“Blue” is often associated with sadness, melancholy, and depth of feeling. Being “tangled up” in this state suggests a persistent, inescapable condition that the narrator finds himself in throughout the various episodes of his life.

Jacob Carter is a lyricist. He created the lyrics writing course to teach people how to analyze and write lyrics. He graduated from the University of Oxford with a degree in English Literature, so he’s skilled at playing with words.
He’s also an amateur guitarist, which means he knows music and melody very well. With this background, he’s a great lyricist you can rely on to learn writing lyrics.