To name the greatest Bob Dylan song proves to be a challenge. While it remains a very subjective topic and will always depend on a particular listener, it didn’t help that most of his songs are deserving of the “greatest of all time” status. After all, he wouldn’t be dubbed one of the best songwriters in history if it weren’t for his undeniable ability to tell a story — and one that stands the test of time. And in a conversation about the legendary musician’s impactful and culturally significant tracks, there’s one that shouldn’t be left out. That song is “Tangled Up in Blue,” off his fifteenth studio album, Blood on the Tracks.
It takes immense staying power to produce songs that can still resonate with audiences after releasing over 10 albums earlier on, but Dylan did that during his fifteenth album. By the time of the release of Blood on the Tracks, Dylan had nothing to prove already; he had released timeless hits like “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door,” “Like a Rolling Stone,” “The Times They Are a-Changin’,” and more. However, one thing about Dylan is that he is more than just a singer — he is a great storyteller, too. He further demonstrated that through “Tangled Up in Blue,” a melancholic 1975 folk-rock song billed as one of rock’s ultimate breakup anthems.
What Is Bob Dylan’s “Tangled up in Blue” About?
Introspective has always been the one word that best describes most of Dylan’s songs. He has that unmistakable talent to transport listeners into his world, making them feel as if they were there as things unravel. That’s especially the case with “Tangled Up in Blue,” a career-defining 5-minute track retelling his tumultuous relationship with his then-wife Sara. The song may be a bit upbeat and could be mistaken for a happy song, judging solely by its instrumental. Still, it lies behind a rather more melancholic message — if the title itself didn’t already give it away. Through the song, Dylan blended past, present, and future with a shifting perspective, highlighting the lingering memories, the inevitable scars, and the chaos after a messy relationship had ended. Setting up the mood for the entire Blood on the Tracks album, “Tangled Up in Blue” is a clear standout and a breakup song that is very much faithful to Dylan’s songwriting style.
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Dubbed his most complex song ever written, the track reads more like a short story than a traditional song, but told in a non-linear way. That songwriting style catapulted Dylan to greater heights, credited with revolutionizing songwriting by straying away from traditional conventions. Told through seven verses, “Tangled Up in Blue” shifts perspective, making the song all the more complex. It shows how feelings can change as time passes, and that perspective can shift over time. And as time, dare we say it, a-changin’, one thing remains true: he’ll always be tangled up in blue — a color often associated with melancholia. On the process of writing “Tangled Up in Blue,” Dylan shared:
“That was another one of those things where I was trying to do something that I didn’t think had ever been done before. In terms of trying to tell a story and be a present character in it without it being some kind of fake, sappy attempted tearjerker. I was trying to be somebody in the present time while conjuring up a lot of past images. I was trying to do it in a conscious way.”
Dylan isn’t exactly a stranger to crafting good breakup songs. Some of the most beloved breakup tracks from the legendary musician include “Don’t Think Twice It’s All Right,” “Boots of Spanish Leather,” “I Threw It All Away,” “Most of the Time,” and the intense and scathing “Idiot Wind.” Yet, among these songs, we can argue “Tangled Up in Blue” takes the top spot for many reasons, one being it’s written in a very Bob Dylan way. Blood on the Tracks was a great album in itself, and “Tangled Up in Blue” was a great opener. Although many believed it to be an autobiographical album mostly about his marital dilemma, which Dylan himself denied, his son, Jakob Dylan, thinks otherwise. Despite its ambiguity, and however listeners believe the album to be (whether it’s autobiographical or not), it remains one of Dylan’s most celebrated albums. It was also a commercial success and received critical acclaim despite its mixed reception upon its release. The song also earned its rightful spots in several “Best of” lists, proving that it is, indeed, one of rock’s greatest breakup anthems.
