Boots of Spanish Leather
Bob Dylan Lyrics
Oh, I'm sailin' away, my own true love
I'm sailin' away in the morning
Is there something I can send you from across the sea
From the place that I'll be landing?
No, there's nothin' you can send me, my own true love
There's nothin' I'm wishin' to be ownin'
Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled
From across that lonesome ocean
Made of silver or of golden
Either from the mountains of Madrid
Or from the coast of Barcelona
But if I had the stars of the darkest night
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss
For that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'
But I might be gone a long old time
And it's only that I'm askin'
Is there something I can send you to remember me by?
To make your time more easy-passin'
Oh, how can, how can you ask me again?
It only brings me sorrow
The same thing I would want today
I would want again tomorrow
Oh, I got a letter on a lonesome day
It was from her ship a-sailin'
Saying I don't know when I'll be comin' back again
It depends on how I'm a-feelin'
If you, my love, must think that-a-way
I'm sure your mind is roamin'
I'm sure your thoughts are not with me
But with the country to where you're goin'
So take heed, take heed of the western winds
Take heed of the stormy weather
And yes, there's something you can send back to me
Spanish boots of Spanish leather
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Boots of Spanish Leather" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in 1964 on his album The Times They Are A-Changin'.
Dylan's recording features the artist solo on the acoustic guitar, playing the song fingerpicking. The song is played, in the officially released studio recording, in the key of A♭ major; Dylan probably effects this key by using a capo on the first fret and positioning his fingers as if he were playing G major. The dominant notes in the guitar part seem to be what on a piano is called "Middle C Read Full BioBoots of Spanish Leather" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in 1964 on his album The Times They Are A-Changin'.
Dylan's recording features the artist solo on the acoustic guitar, playing the song fingerpicking. The song is played, in the officially released studio recording, in the key of A♭ major; Dylan probably effects this key by using a capo on the first fret and positioning his fingers as if he were playing G major. The dominant notes in the guitar part seem to be what on a piano is called "Middle C," which in this song is the major third in the tonic chord; and the D-flat immediately above "Middle C," which is the perfect fourth; with the top note at any point in the song rotating between these two notes. It is of note that musically this song is nearly identical to his earlier composition "Girl from the North Country."
Lyrically, "Boots of Spanish Leather" is "a restless, forlorn ballad for the ages and sages - a classic Dylan tale of two lovers, a crossroads, and the open sea..." (Trager 80). Most critics have not found it far-fetched to say that this song was written about and maybe to Suze Rotolo, Dylan's New York City girlfriend in the early '60s, who in 1964 left him for Spain. Rotolo confirmed that interpretation in a 2008 NPR interview. The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six verses alternating between the man and woman; however, the last three verses are all given by the one who has been left, presumably the man (Dylan). Within these nine verses, the woman goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether the man would like any gift, and he refuses, poetically saying he only wants her back. Towards the end it becomes clear that she is not returning, and she finally writes saying she may never come back, "It depends on how I'm a-feelin'." The man comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather." Michael Gray has pointed out a strong parallel between this line and the traditional folk song "Blackjack Davey," which Dylan arranged and recorded for his 1992 album Good as I Been to You, and in which footwear of Spanish leather also plays a significant role (Gray 657).
Of note is this song's inclusion in the Norton Anthology of Poetry, 5th edition, in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century."
Though performed live here and there since its composition, Dylan did not start performing "Boots of Spanish Leather" regularly until his Never Ending Tour began in 1988.
Dylan's recording features the artist solo on the acoustic guitar, playing the song fingerpicking. The song is played, in the officially released studio recording, in the key of A♭ major; Dylan probably effects this key by using a capo on the first fret and positioning his fingers as if he were playing G major. The dominant notes in the guitar part seem to be what on a piano is called "Middle C Read Full BioBoots of Spanish Leather" is a song written by Bob Dylan, released in 1964 on his album The Times They Are A-Changin'.
Dylan's recording features the artist solo on the acoustic guitar, playing the song fingerpicking. The song is played, in the officially released studio recording, in the key of A♭ major; Dylan probably effects this key by using a capo on the first fret and positioning his fingers as if he were playing G major. The dominant notes in the guitar part seem to be what on a piano is called "Middle C," which in this song is the major third in the tonic chord; and the D-flat immediately above "Middle C," which is the perfect fourth; with the top note at any point in the song rotating between these two notes. It is of note that musically this song is nearly identical to his earlier composition "Girl from the North Country."
Lyrically, "Boots of Spanish Leather" is "a restless, forlorn ballad for the ages and sages - a classic Dylan tale of two lovers, a crossroads, and the open sea..." (Trager 80). Most critics have not found it far-fetched to say that this song was written about and maybe to Suze Rotolo, Dylan's New York City girlfriend in the early '60s, who in 1964 left him for Spain. Rotolo confirmed that interpretation in a 2008 NPR interview. The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six verses alternating between the man and woman; however, the last three verses are all given by the one who has been left, presumably the man (Dylan). Within these nine verses, the woman goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether the man would like any gift, and he refuses, poetically saying he only wants her back. Towards the end it becomes clear that she is not returning, and she finally writes saying she may never come back, "It depends on how I'm a-feelin'." The man comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather." Michael Gray has pointed out a strong parallel between this line and the traditional folk song "Blackjack Davey," which Dylan arranged and recorded for his 1992 album Good as I Been to You, and in which footwear of Spanish leather also plays a significant role (Gray 657).
Of note is this song's inclusion in the Norton Anthology of Poetry, 5th edition, in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century."
Though performed live here and there since its composition, Dylan did not start performing "Boots of Spanish Leather" regularly until his Never Ending Tour began in 1988.
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lino joseph
Oh, I'm sailin' away, my own true love
I'm sailin' away in the morning
Is there something I can send you from across the sea
From the place that I'll be landing?
No, there's nothin' you can send me, my own true love
There's nothin' I'm wishin' to be ownin'
Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled
From across that lonesome ocean
Oh, but I just thought you might want something fine
Made of silver or of golden
Either from the mountains of Madrid
Or from the coast of Barcelona
But if I had the stars of the darkest night
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss
For that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'
But I might be gone a long old time
And it's only that I'm askin'
Is there something I can send you to remember me by?
To make your time more easy-passin'
Oh, how can, how can you ask me again?
It only brings me sorrow
The same thing I would want today
I would want again tomorrow
Oh, I got a letter on a lonesome day
It was from her ship a-sailin'
Saying I don't know when I'll be comin' back again
It depends on how I'm a-feelin'
If you, my love, must think that-a-way
I'm sure your mind is roamin'
I'm sure your thoughts are not with me
But with the country to where you're goin'
So take heed, take heed of the western winds
Take heed of the stormy weather
And yes, there's something you can send back to me
Spanish boots of Spanish leather
bill croft
In the future he will be talked about in the same breath as Shakespeare
Cody David
Shakeswho?
Kyle Oliva
@ifthereisagodiwillbangher In my opinion it makes dylan even greater, that he, as you say "annunciates like a half tongue drunk". His voice being what it is, is like a one legged man winning gold in the 100 yd dash. Winning gold in the 100 is amazing, winning gold with one leg is supernatural. Bob has a good quote on this.
(Talking about himself) Slur my words, got no diction. Have you people ever listened to Charley Patton or Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters. Talk about slurred words and no diction. It doesn't even matter.
"Why me, Lord?" I would say that to myself.
Critics say I mangle my melodies, render my songs unrecognizable. Oh, really?.....Sam Cooke said this when told he had a beautiful voice: He said, "Well that's very kind of you, but voices ought not to be measured by how pretty they are. Instead they matter only if they convince you that they are telling the truth."
I agree with your premise, but it brings me to an entirely different conclusion.
chris walkden
Instead of Shakespeare!
dexthebs
He already is
Victor Perez
The future is now Mr. croft... desolation Row is a pop art poetic masterpiece and his Nobel peace prize is just desserts. Every artist needs a medium and what Dylan did in a song structure is equal to what Shakespeare did for plays and sonnets.
And for anyone thinking the comparison is still unfathomable, there’s a reason no one likes reading Shakespeare in high school it’s cuz it was meant to be acted out. Dylan on the other hand and be read day in and day out without a line that bores.
Rinifi
Lost love and regrets will bring any man to his knees.
matthew adams
We do remember them don’t we?
matthew adams
It’s true.
Shekhar Sarkar
@big bictors one correction : Alfred Tennyson wrote the line not Shakespeare