Welcome to the second installment of “The Songs That Made Me,” a video series inspired by a post on
’s blog of blessed memory, Midlife Mixtape.The videos explore the resonance of the songs comprising the playlist of my life—songs from middle school, when I first started seeking out music and listening to it with intention; to high school, when music helped me learn who I was, bond with friends, and feel deeply; to the dark days culminating in my father’s premature death from cancer; to the music that sustained me during my subsequent downward spiral; to my wedding night and my first dance with my wife; to the songs I sang to our newborn son.
The first video in the series, “Brokedown Palace” by the Grateful Dead, lives here.
This time ‘round, I give you “Tangled Up in Blue,” by Bob Dylan.
I remember vividly the first time I heard it. I was 14 years old, lying in bed late at night, lights off, headphones on, listening to WNEW in New York City, and was instantly drawn into the storytelling feel of that first line—“Early one mornin’ the sun was shining / I was layin’ in bed”—like I’d suddenly found myself in some intriguing adult fairy tale.
The sense of adventure, romance, and yearning swirling through the chords and verses of the song enveloped me completely. I was mesmerized, feeling like I’d been transported to some far away place during some long-ago era.
As a kid, I was really into music and certainly was into music before I heard “Tangled Up in Blue.” But the song awakened in me this sense of, “Wow, there’s a whole other form of creative expression that’s out there.” It was a foundational moment for me, one that helped instill in me the love of music I carry to this day.
And as I say in the video, I have my estranged Aunt Wendy to thank for introducing me to Dylan’s music. In fact, she solved for me the mystery of “Tangled Up in Blue.” I knew it was a Dylan song the moment I heard his distinctive raspy voice but the DJ never divulged the song’s name. The next time Aunt Wendy was over, I asked her about it, telling her I’d heard the most incredible Dylan song, how all the verses ended with the same line, something about ‘blue,’ how it was like a long story or fable or something, kind of mellow, acoustic, but it soared and swirled and had a great harmonica solo at the end.
Aunt Wendy’s eyes became glassy. I thought she might start to cry. Trying to compose herself, she sat down on one of the twin green upholstered chairs in the foyer of our apartment and took a deep breath. Then, in a hushed voice, like she was letting me in on some great secret (which she sort of was), she said, “Matt, darling, that’s ‘Tangled Up in Blue.’”
We’ve all had shepherds on our musical journeys, folks who sparked the fire of our passion. For me, it was Aunt Wendy.
I don’t know where I’d be without her. I imagine music always would’ve found me, but maybe not quite in the same way.
Aunt Wendy paved the way for my love of music, and that love shaped everything—including my upcoming book. “Tangled Up in Blue” runs through the core of the storyline; a bit of a thank-you in melody.
Who was your Aunt Wendy? What are the songs that made you? I’d love to hear your story.
