Interpretation
The song lyrics "Tangled up in Blue" by
Bob Dylan tell a story about different relationships and life in general. It is about a man who reflects on his past and delves into memories.
The song begins with a description of the man lying in bed and thinking about a woman he once knew. She had red hair and they had difficulties in their relationship. Eventually, the man leaves her and travels to the East Coast. The lyrics say: "He was standing on the roadside, the rain falling on his shoes, and he went to the lonely East Coast, the radio playing the news, tangled up in blue".
Later, it is revealed that the woman he speaks of at the beginning of the song was married but left her husband to be with the man in the song. They travel together to the West, but they separate. The man remembers the moment she turns around and looks at him and says: "I wish I could tell you all the things I never learned to say". The man replies: "That's alright, babe, I love you too, but we were tangled up in blue".
The lyrics also speak about another relationship the man had, but he breaks free from the routine and leaves his job. He travels to New Orleans and has many adventures there. However, in the end, he was still tangled up in the past and had difficulty finding a fulfilling relationship.
The song also talks about the man's encounter with another woman who works in a bright light. He is fascinated by her but doesn't know how to handle the situation. She asks what he's hiding, and he replies that he has nothing to hide. However, in the end, he still feels tangled up in blue.
The lyrics end with the man contemplating going back and seeking new relationships. He wants to find someone whose fate is uncertain. He recognizes that many people live in an illusion, and their beds are messy. The man tries to escape the prison of his life and head towards the sunset. He realizes that he and another person love the same woman but from different perspectives. He still feels tangled up in blue.
Overall, the song lyrics "Tangled up in Blue" are about the complications of relationships and being entangled in the past. It is about seeking freedom and clarity in a world that is often confusing and complex.