Lyrics:

Early one morning the sun was shining, I was laying in bed
Wondering if she'd changed it all, if her hair was still red.
Her folks they said our lives together, sure was gonna 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.

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, and abandoned it out West
Split it 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.

When 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 happened 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.

She was working in a topless bar and I stopped in for a beer
I just kept looking at her side of her face in the spotlight so clear
And later on as the crowd thinned out, I was just about to do the same
She was standing there in back of my chair
Said to me \'Don't I know your name?\'
Well, 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.