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7 <title>Tangled Up in Blue
</title>
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13 <h1 class=
"songtitle">Tangled Up in Blue
</h1>
16 <p>Words and music Bob Dylan
<br />
17 Released on
<a class=
"recordlink" href=
"index.htm">Blood on the Tracks
</a> (
1975) and on
<a class=
"recordlink" href=
"../28_biograph/index.htm">Biograph
</a>
18 (
1985), and live on
<a class=
"recordlink" href=
"../26_reallive/index.htm">Real Live
</a> (
1984) and
<a class=
"recordlink" href=
"../42_bs5/index.htm">Live
1975</a>
20 Original New York version released on
<a class=
"recordlink" href=
"../34_bootleg/index.htm">The Bootleg Series
1-
3</a> (
1991)
<br />
21 Tabbed by Eyolf
Østrem
</p>
23 <p>Read my little essay on this song
<a href=
"../professors/tangled_up_in_tangled_up_in_blue.htm">Tangled up in Tangled up in Blue
</a>.
</p>
26 <h2 class=
"songversion">Original New York (Bootleg Series
1-
3) version, recorded September
16th and
19th
</h2>
28 <div class=
"preamble">
29 <p>The main text is the version recorded Sept
16, released on the Bootleg
30 Series
1-
3. Some lyrical variations from the version from Sept
19,
31 included for release on the original test pressing, have been
34 <p><a href=
"../roadmaps.htm#opentunings">Open D/E tuning
</a></p>
53 [one verse guitar intro]
56 Early one mornin' the sun was shinin',
60 Wond'rin' if she'd changed at all
62 If her hair was still red.
64 Her folks they said their lives together
66 Sure was gonna be rough
68 They never did like Mama's homemade dress
70 Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough.
72 And he was standin' on the side of the road
74 Rain fallin' on his shoes
76 Heading out for the East Coast
78 Lord knows he's paid some dues gettin' through,
84 She was married when they first met,
86 He helped her out of a jam, I guess,
87 But he used a little too much force.
88 They drove that car as far as we could
90 Split up on a dark sad night
91 Both agreeing it was best.
92 She turned around to look at him
93 As he was walkin' away
94 she said:
"This can't be the end, . . . this ain't the end,
95 We'll meet on another day, on the avenue,
" We'll meet again some day . . .
98 He had a job in the old north woods
99 Working as a cook for a spell
100 But he never did like it all that much
101 And one day the ax just fell.
102 Well, he drifted down to L.A.
103 Where he reckoned to try his luck
104 Workin' for a while on an airplane plant,
105 Loading cargo onto a truck
106 But all the while he was alone
107 The past was close behind,
108 He seen a lot of women
109 But she never escaped his mind, and he just grew
112 She was workin' in a topless place
113 And I stopped in for a beer,
114 I just kept looking' at the side of her face
115 In the spotlight so clear.
116 And later on, as the crowd thinned out
117 I's about to do the same,
118 She was standing there in back of my chair
119 Said to me,
"What's your name?
"
120 I muttered somethin' underneath my breath,
121 She studied the lines on my face.
122 I must admit I felt a little uneasy
123 When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe,
126 She lit a burner on the stove and offered me a pipe
127 "I thought you'd never say hello,
" she said
128 "You look like the silent type.
"
129 Then she opened up a book of poems
131 Written by an Italian poet
132 From the thirteenth century.
133 And every one of them words rang true
134 And glowed like burnin' coal
135 Pourin' off of every page
136 Like it was written in my soul from me to you,
139 He was always in a hurry,
140 too busy or too stoned,
141 And everything that she ever planned,
142 just a-had to be postponed.
143 She thought they were successful,
144 She thought they were blessed, He thought . . .
145 with objects and material things,
146 but I never was impressed.
147 And when it all came crashing down,
149 The only thing I knew how to do
150 Was to keep on keepin' on
151 Like a bird that flew
154 So now I'm goin' back again,
155 I got to get to her somehow.
156 All the people we used to know
157 They're an illusion to me now.
158 Some are mathematicians
159 Some are doctors' wives.
160 Don't know how it all got started,
161 I don't know what they're doin' with their lives.
162 But me, I'm still on the road
163 Headin' for another joint
164 We always did feel the same,
165 We just saw it from a different point of view,
171 <h2 class=
"songversion">Album version
</h2>
176 Early one mornin' the sun was shinin',
180 Wond'rin' if she'd changed at all
182 If her hair was still red.
184 Her folks they said our lives together
186 Sure was gonna be rough
188 They never did like Mama's homemade dress
190 Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough.
192 And I was standin' on the side of the road
194 Rain fallin' on my shoes
196 Heading out for the East Coast
198 Lord knows I paid some dues gettin' through,
202 She was married when we first met
204 I helped her out of a jam, I guess,
205 But I used a little too much force.
206 We drove that car as far as we could
207 Abandoned it out West
208 Split up on a dark sad night
209 Both agreeing it was best.
210 She turned around to look at me
211 As I was walkin' away
212 I heard her say over my shoulder,
213 "We'll meet again someday on the avenue,
"
216 I had a job in the great north woods
217 Working as a cook for a spell
218 But I never did like it all that much
219 And one day the ax just fell.
220 So I drifted down to New Orleans
221 Where I happened to be employed
222 Workin' for a while on a fishin' boat
223 Right outside of Delacroix.
224 But all the while I was alone
225 The past was close behind,
226 I seen a lot of women
227 But she never escaped my mind, and I just grew
230 She was workin' in a topless place
231 And I stopped in for a beer,
232 I just kept looking' at the side of her face
233 In the spotlight so clear.
234 And later on as the crowd thinned out
235 I's just about to do the same,
236 She was standing there in back of my chair
237 Said to me,
"Don't I know your name?
"
238 I muttered somethin' underneath my breath,
239 She studied the lines on my face.
240 I must admit I felt a little uneasy
241 When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe,
244 She lit a burner on the stove and offered me a pipe
245 "I thought you'd never say hello,
" she said
246 "You look like the silent type.
"
247 Then she opened up a book of poems
249 Written by an Italian poet
250 From the thirteenth century.
251 And every one of them words rang true
252 And glowed like burnin' coal
253 Pourin' off of every page
254 Like it was written in my soul from me to you,
257 I lived with them on Montague Street
258 In a basement down the stairs,
259 There was music in the cafes at night
260 And revolution in the air.
261 Then he started into dealing with slaves
262 And something inside of him died.
263 She had to sell everything she owned
265 And when finally the bottom fell out I became withdrawn,
266 The only thing I knew how to do
267 Was to keep on keepin' on
268 Like a bird that flew
271 So now I'm goin' back again,
272 I got to get to her somehow.
273 All the people we used to know
274 They're an illusion to me now.
275 Some are mathematicians
276 Some are carpenter's wives.
277 Don't know how it all got started,
278 I don't know what they're doin' with their lives.
279 But me, I'm still on the road
280 Headin' for another joint
281 We always did feel the same,
282 We just saw it from a different point of view,
288 <h2 class=
"songversion">Live
1975 version
</h2>
293 Early one mornin' the sun was shinin',
297 Wond'rin' if she'd changed at all
299 If her hair was still red.
301 Her folks they said our lives together
303 Sure was gonna be rough
305 They never did like Mama's homemade dress
307 Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough.
309 And he was standin' on the side of the road
311 Rain fallin' on his shoes
313 Heading out for the East Coast
315 Lord knows he paid some dues gettin' through,
321 She was married when they first met
323 He helped her out of a jam, I guess,
324 But he used a little too much force.
325 And they drove that car as far as they could
326 Abandoned it out West
327 Splitting up on a dark sad night
328 Both agreeing it was best.
329 She turned around to look at him
330 As he was walkin' away
331 saying over her shoulder,
332 "We'll meet again someday on the avenue,
"
335 We had a job in Santa Fe
336 Working in an old hotel
337 But he never did like it all that much
338 so one day it just went to hell.
339 So he drifted down to New Orleans
340 lucky not to be destroyed
341 where he got him a job on a fishing boat
342 Right outside of Delacroix. [or
"docked...
"?]
343 But all the while he was alone
344 The past was close behind,
345 He seen a lot of women
346 But she never escaped his mind, and he just grew
349 She was workin' in a topless place
350 And I stopped in for a beer,
351 I just kept looking at the side of her face
352 In the spotlight so clear.
353 And later on as the crowd thinned out
354 I's just about to do the same,
355 She was standing there right beside my chair
356 Said,
"Don't tell me, let me guess your name
"
357 I muttered somethin' underneath my breath,
358 She studied the lines on my face.
359 I must admit I felt a little uneasy
360 When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe,
363 I lived with them on Montague Street
364 In a basement down the stairs,
365 There was music in the cafes at night
366 And revolution in the air.
367 Then he started into dealing with slaves
368 And something inside of him died.
369 She had to sell everything she owned
371 And when it all came crashing down,
373 The only thing I knew how to do
374 Was keep on keepin' on
375 Like a bird that flew
378 So now I'm goin' on back again,
379 I got to get to them somehow.
380 All the faces we used to know
381 They're an illusion to me now.
382 Some are mathematicians
383 Some are truck drivers' wives.
384 Don't know how it all got started,
385 I don't know what they're doin' with their lives.
386 But me, I'm still on the road
387 Headin' for another joint
388 We always did feel the same,
389 We just saw it from a different point of view,
395 <h2 class=
"songversion">1978 “grand ballad
” version
</h2>
397 <div class=
"preamble">
398 <p>Represented by Charlotte, Dec
10,
1978<br />
399 If you haven't got this one, do yourself a favor and get it.
</p>
401 <p>Capo
4th fret (sounding key E major)
</p>
407 Early one mornin' the sun was shinin',
409 And I was layin' in bed
411 Wond'rin' if she'd changed at all
413 If her hair was still red.
415 Her folks they said that our lives together
417 Well, it sure was gonna be rough
419 They never did like Mama's homemade dress
421 Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough.
423 And I was standin' on the side of the road
425 Rain fallin' on my shoes
427 Heading out for the East Coast
429 Ready to pay some dues gettin' through,
433 She was married when we first met
435 I helped her out of a jam, I guess,
436 But I used a little too much force.
437 We drove that car as far as we could
438 We abandoned it way out West
439 Splittin' up on a dark sad night
440 Both agreeing that it was best.
441 She turned around to look at me
442 One more time, as I was walkin' away
443 Sayin' over her shoulder,
444 "Boy, We're bound to meet again someday on the avenue,
"
447 I remember stayin' in the north woords
448 Living in a vagabond hotel
449 One day there in the pouring rain
450 I could feel how the ax just fell.
451 So I drifted down to New Orleans
452 And I was lucky not to be destroyed
453 I almost died of the bulldog clap
454 Two miles outside of Delacroix.
455 But all the while I was alone
456 The past was close behind,
457 I seen a lot of women
458 But she never escaped my mind, and I just grew
461 She was dancin' in the Flamingo hotel
462 And I was passin' by, so I stopped in for a beer,
463 I just kept starin' at the side of her face
464 In the spotlight so clear.
465 And later on when the crowd thinned out
466 I was just about to do the same,
467 She was standing there right behind my chair
468 Toughing me said:
"You know it ain't no accident that you came.
"
469 I muttered somethin' underneath my breath,
470 She studied the lines on my face.
471 I must admit I felt a little uneasy
472 When she bent down to tie the laces of my shoe,
475 She lit a burner on the stove, wearin' a dress made up of stars and stripes
476 "I thought you'd never say hello,
" she said
477 "You know you look like you could be the silent type.
"
478 Then she opened up the Bible
479 And she started quotin' it to me
480 Jeremiah chapter seventeen
481 From verses
21 and
33.
482 And every one of them words rang true
483 And glowed like burnin' coal
484 Pourin' off of every page
485 Like it was written in my soul from me to you,
488 I lived with them on Montague Street
489 In a basement down the stairs,
490 There was music in the cafes at night,
491 There was revolution in the air.
492 Then he started into dealing with slaves
493 And something inside of her froze.
494 She had to sell everything she owned
495 Even her jewellery and her clothes.
496 And when it all came crashing on, I became withdrawn,
497 The only thing I knew how to do
498 Was to keep on keepin' on
499 Like a bird that flew
502 So now I'm goin' back again,
503 I got to get to her and be brave.
504 All the people we used to know,
505 At least the ones that ain't in the grave,
506 Some are bricklayers, some are bankrobbers
507 Some are burglars and some are truck-drivers' wives.
508 I Don't know how it all got started,
509 I have no idea what they're doin' with their lives.
510 But me, I'm still on the road
511 Headin' for another joint
512 We always did feel the same,
513 We just saw it from a different point of view,
517 <hr class=
"footsep" />
519 <p>*) The actual reference varied from night to night, and none of them stand out as the obviously
“right
” quote. Here are a few of the different alternatives, from different shows:
</p>
521 Jeremiah, (??), Chapters
1 & 33
522 Jeremiah, chapters
32, verses (
21 & 33)
523 Jeremiah, chapter
17, from verses
21 and
33
524 Jeremiah, chapters
37 (
& 38,) Verses
29 & 33
525 Jeremiah, chapters
10 & 20, verses
21 & 33
526 Jeremiah, chapters
36, verses
21 & 33
527 Jeremiah, chapter
31, Verses
9 to
33
532 <h2 class=
"songversion">1984 Real Live version
</h2>
534 <div class=
"preamble">
535 <p>Standard tuning, capo
2nd fret (sounding key A major)
</p>
540 Early one mornin' the sun was shinin',
544 Wond'rin' if she'd changed at all
546 If her hair was still red.
548 Her folks they said that their lives together
550 Sure was gonna be rough
552 They never did like Mama's homemade dress
554 Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough.
556 And he was standin' on the side of the road
558 Rain fallin' on his shoes
560 Heading out for the lone East Coast
562 Radio blastin' the news straight on through,
567 She was married when they first met,
568 to a man four times her age.
569 He left her penniless, in the state of regret,
570 it was time to bust out of the cage.
571 They drove that car as far as they could,
572 abandoned it out west.
573 splitting up on a dark, sad night,
574 both agreeing that it was best.
575 And she turned around to look at him
576 as he was walking away.
577 She said I wish I could tell you all the things
578 that I never learned how to say.
579 He said thats alright babe I love you too,
580 but we were tangled up in blue.
582 He had a steady job and a pretty face,
583 and everything seemed to fit.
584 One day he could just feel the waste,
585 he put it all down and split.
586 And he headed down to New Orleans,
587 where they treated him like a boy.
588 He nearly went mad in Baton Rouge,
589 he nearly drowned in Delacroix.
590 And all the time he was alone,
591 the past was close behind.
592 he had one too many lovers then,
593 and none of them were too refined,
595 but you were tangled up in blue.
597 She was working in the blinding light,
598 and I stopped in for a drink.
599 I just kept looking at her face so white,
600 I didn't know what to think.
601 Later on as the crowd thinned out,
602 I was getting ready to leave.
603 She was standing there, beside my chair,
604 saying
"What's that you got up your sleeve?
"
605 I said
"nothing baby, and thats for sure
"
606 She leaned down into my face.
607 I could feel the heat and the pulse of her
608 as she bent down to tie the laces
612 I lived with them on Montague street
613 in a basement down the stairs.
614 There was snow all winter and no heat,
615 revolution was in the air.
616 Then one day all his slaves ran free,
617 and something inside of him died.
618 The only thing I could do was be me,
619 and get on that train and ride.
620 And when it all came crashing down,
622 I didn't know whether the world was flat or round,
623 I had the worst taste in my mouth,
627 Now I'm going back again,
628 maybe tomorrow, maybe next year.
629 I've got to find someone among the women and men
630 whose destiny is unclear.
631 Some are ministers of illusion,
632 some are masters of the trade.
633 All under strong delusion,
634 all of their beds unmade.
635 Me I'm heading toward the sun,
636 trying to stay out of the joints.
637 We always did love the very same one.
638 We just saw her from a different point
645 <h2 class=
"songversion">Current acoustic version (
1997-)
</h2>
647 <div class=
"preamble">
648 <p>Since Larry Campbell joined the band in
1997, Tangled has been played
649 as an acoustic song, with Larry playing the intro below. Larry's
650 guitar is played with a capo on the
2nd fret, Bob's guitar is
651 uncapoed. The chords are more or less those of the
<em>Blood on the
652 Tracks
</em> version above.
</p>
657 : . . . : . . . : . . . : . . .
658 |-
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659 |-
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3-
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660 |-
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661 |-
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662 |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
663 |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
667 : . . . : . . . : . . . : . . .
668 |-
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669 |-
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670 |-
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671 |---------
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2-
2-|
672 |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|---------
3---
3-
3-|
673 |-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|-----------------|
677 Early one mornin' the sun was shinin',
681 Wond'rin' if she'd changed at all
683 If her hair was still red.
685 Her folks they said that their lives together
687 Sure was gonna be rough
689 They never did like Mama's homemade dress
691 Papa's bankbook wasn't big enough.
693 And he was standin' on the side of the road
695 Rain fallin' on his shoes
697 Heading out for the East Coast
699 Lord knows he paid some dues getting through