World Within a Song

Music That Changed My Life and Life That Changed My Music

By: Jeff Tweedy

Narrated by: Jeff Tweedy

Length: 4 hrs and 41 mins

Publisher's summary

An exciting and heartening mix of memories, music, and inspiration from Wilco front man and New York Times bestselling author Jeff Tweedy, sharing fifty songs that changed his life, the real-life experiences behind each one, as well as what he’s learned about how music and life intertwine and enhance each other

What makes us fall in love with a song? What makes us want to write our own songs? Do songs help? Do songs help us live better lives? And do the lives we live help us write better songs?

After two New York Times bestsellers that cemented and expanded his legacy as one of America’s best-loved performers and songwriters, Let’s Go (So We Can Get Back) and How to Write One Song, Jeff Tweedy is back with another disarming, beautiful, and inspirational book about why we listen to music, why we love songs, and how music can connect us to each other and to ourselves. Featuring fifty songs that have both changed Jeff’s life and influenced his music—including songs by the Replacements, Mavis Staples, the Velvet Underground, Joni Mitchell, Otis Redding, Dolly Parton, and Billie Eilish—as well as Jeff’s “Rememories,” dream-like short pieces that related key moments from Jeff’s life, this book is a mix of the musical, the emotional, and the inspirational in the best possible way.

* This audiobook edition includes a downloadable PDF with song credits and permissions.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2023 Jeff Tweedy (P)2023 Penguin Audio

Critic reviews

"The Wilco frontman delves into his inspiring relationship with music through 50 songs (from \"Gloria\" to \"Free Bird\") and adds heart-wrenching memories of childhood friendship, gun-wielding tour bus drivers and more. If life's a movie, Tweedy's has a pretty great soundtrack." —People

“A beautiful, effervescent, and introspective journey.” —Shelf Awareness

“Tweedy’s storytelling skills are as sharp as his songcraft…a joy to read.” —Performer Magazine

Tweedy is the Man

A candid and thoughtful account of not only the songs that have shaped Tweedy’s approach of songwriting and life, but a brilliant consideration of why we as humans love listening to music. I highly recommend this book.

Jeff is an interesting and captivating storyteller. I enjoy listening to him read his books. I’ve listened to all of his.

Self deprecating, funny, poignant, painful. Just like life. Try to keep it light but it’s dark a lot of the time.

Loved it

I’m a fan but I am a fan of music first and foremost. Jeff’s appeal that grabbed me initially was that he is just a fan too. He captures the joy of the love of music and how it is bookmarks of your life.

You are not alone.

Jeff Tweedy has the rare combination of ability and humility that make him both a superstar on stage and a guy you could sit with on your porch talking about music and life. Jeff, I wish you had gone on for another thousand pages, not because of any egregious omissions (the thought honestly never crossed my mind) but because I’d just like to hang out with you for a few more hours. You are squarely at the top of my fantasy dinner guest list… indeed, you did “take me there.”

Warm, funny, and deeply sincere

I have enjoyed listening Tweetie perform all of his books,. He is so very much himself, and never over performs in anyway. 

Jeff Tweedy’s Plain Spoken, Direct, Funny, Touching, Vulnerable, & Honest Meditation on Music is Perfection

To kibble about his choices or omissions misses the whole point. This book is not so much about the list itself, but rather the way music moves us and why, and illustrates why Jeff Tweedy is just so damn good at making it. The guy can really write too. I didn’t want it to end.

Music is Life

Interesting stories on the music that shaped or had profound impact on Mr. Tweedy. He could easily do 4 more volumes of this type of song realted story telling. Great listen/read!

Worth the time to listen

Smooth voice telling you in tidbits of his.life through the songs that impacted his life. Some are familiar some not but all take you on a journey. Well done. Easy to follow. I will listen again and write the titles down. Maybe I'll listen to the unfamiliar ones.

Read by author , interactive read

Love mention of husker du band - thank you I love them and bob mould artist. Great read!

I laughed, I cried, I grinned from ear to ear

Jeff’s two previous books, as compelling and original as they were, didn’t prepare me for this book’s impact. Tweedy writes in such a vivid and intimate way about his musical memories that, even though we didn’t share his specific memories, we can feel them in our bones and can easily relate to the person telling us these stories and conjure up our own personal memories. Tweedy is a natural writer, vulnerable and open hearted and always, always disarmingly honest and authentic. Those qualities are a big reason why his own music reaches out and grabs us, and it’s a delight to discover that he can deliver the same magic through words.