In the late '60s and early '70s, Baez came into her songwriting own, penning many songs (most notably "Diamonds & Rust," a nostalgic piece about her ill-fated romance with Bob Dylan, and "Sweet Sir Galahad," a song about sister Mimi Fariña's ( of Richard & Mimi Fariña fame) second marriage, and continued to meld her songcraft with topical issues. She was outspoken in her disapproval of the Vietnam war and later the CIA-backed coups in many Latin American countries.
She was also instrumental in the Civil Rights movement, marching with Dr. Martin Luther King on many occassions and being jailed for her beliefs. In 1963, her performance of "We Shall Overcome" at the Lincoln Memorial just prior to Dr. King's famous "I Have A Dream..." speech helped confirm the song as the Civil Rights anthem.
In December 1972, she traveled to Hanoi, North Vietnam, and was caught in that country's "Christmas Campaign," in which the U.S. bombed the city more times than any other during the entire war. While pregnant with her only son, Gabriel, she performed a handful of songs in the middle of the night on day one of the 1969 Woodstock festival. She is considered the "Queen of Folk" for being at the forefront of the 1960s folk revival and inspiring generations of female folksingers that followed. Over fifty years after she first began singing publicly in 1958, Joan Baez continues to tour, demonstrate in favor of human rights and nonviolence, and release albums for a world of devoted fans.
1959
Boots of Spanish Leather
Joan Baez Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm sailin' away in the mornin'
Is there something I can send you from across the sea,
From the place where I'll be landin'?
No, there's nothing you can bring me my own true love.
There's nothing I wish to be ownin'.
Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled
Well I just though you might want something fine
made of silver or of golden
either from the mountains of Madrid
or the coast of Barcelona.
If I had the stars from the darkest night
and the diamonds from the deepest ocean,
I'd foresake them all for your sweet kiss,
for that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'
That I might be gone a long old time,
and it's only that I'm askin'.
Is there something I can give 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.
For the same thing that I want from you today
I would want again tomorrow.
Well I got a letter on a lonesome day.
It was from her ship a'sailin'.
Sayin' "I don't know when I'll be comin' back again.
It depends on how I'm feelin'."
Well if you my love must think that a'way
I'm sure your mind is a'roamin'.
I'm sure your heart is not with me
but with the country where you're goin'.
So take heed, take heed of the Western wind.
Take heed of the stormy weather.
And yes, there's something you can send back to me;
SPANISH BOOTS OF SPANISH LEATHER.
The lyrics of Joan Baez's "Boots of Spanish Leather" portray a conversation between two lovers who are separated by circumstances. The singer, who is sailing across the sea in the morning, asks their lover if they would like anything sent back to them from where they will be landing. However, the lover declines and asks the singer to return unspoiled. The singer then offers to bring back something fine made of silver or gold from Madrid or Barcelona, but the lover insists that a sweet kiss is all they wish to own. The singer, realizing they might be gone for a long time, asks their lover if there's anything they could do to make their time apart more bearable. However, the lover expresses their sorrow at the thought of being given something to remember the singer by, realizing that it only brings further sadness to their already unbearable separation.
Line by Line Meaning
Well I'm sailin away my own true love.
I am leaving you, my beloved, and setting sail on my journey.
I'm sailin' away in the mornin'
I will be departing in the morning to start my journey.
Is there something I can send you from across the sea,
Can I bring back anything for you from this place I'm going to?
From the place where I'll be landin'?
From the location where I will be arriving?
No, there's nothing you can bring me my own true love.
No tangible object or item will suffice for my love for you.
There's nothing I wish to be ownin'.
I don't desire any possessions or materialistic things.
Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled
Return to me exactly as you were, unchanged and unharmed.
from across that lonesome ocean.
from the vast and lonely expanse of sea.
Well I just though you might want something fine
I thought you might want some luxurious item
made of silver or of golden
crafted from precious silver or gold.
either from the mountains of Madrid
sourced from the majestic hills of Madrid
or the coast of Barcelona.
Or the stunning coastline of Barcelona.
If I had the stars from the darkest night
If I possessed the stars from the darkest of nights,
and the diamonds from the deepest ocean,
and the diamonds from the deepest trenches of the ocean,
I'd foresake them all for your sweet kiss,
I would give them all up for just one of your sweet kisses,
for that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'
for that is the only possession that matters to me.
That I might be gone a long old time,
I may be away for an extended period of time,
and it's only that I'm askin'.
And the only thing I am requesting is
Is there something I can give you to remember me by,
If there's anything I could gift you to remember me by,
To make your time more easy passin'?
to help you through the time we will be apart?
Oh how can, how can you ask me again?
How dare you ask me again?
It only brings me sorrow.
It only causes me heartache and pain.
For the same thing that I want from you today
For the very same thing I want from you today,
I would want again tomorrow.
I would desire tomorrow, and all the following days.
Well I got a letter on a lonesome day.
I received a letter on a lonely day.
It was from her ship a'sailin'.
The letter was from my beloved who was sailing on a ship.
Sayin' "I don't know when I'll be comin' back again.
Stating that she doesn't know when she will return.
It depends on how I'm feelin'."
Her return may vary according to how she feels.
Well if you my love must think that a'way
If this is how you must think my love,
I'm sure your mind is a'roamin'.
I am positive that your mind is wandering.
I'm sure your heart is not with me
I am certain that your heart is not with me,
but with the country where you're goin'.
instead, it is where you are heading.
So take heed, take heed of the Western wind.
Be wary and cautious of the Western wind.
Take heed of the stormy weather.
Take care in the face of harsh weather.
And yes, there's something you can send back to me;
Incidentally, there is something that you could send back to me.
SPANISH BOOTS OF SPANISH LEATHER.
Spanish boots crafted from the finest Spanish leather.
Contributed by Isabella V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@slyeung6562
Beautiful ! Miss Joan Baez is the greatest musician ever.
@tumbas299
best version of this song by far....
@melinda82
Best version is Dylan's at Carnegie Hall 1963.
@paulheadland1309
Love it but listen to Airborne Toxic Event’s version.
@TravisMcGee151
Best version is sung as a duet as posted here on YouTube.
@donuttime2507
Nanci version is better imo? Both fantastic though
@robinpesek3657
Ahhh, my old friend. So good to hear you again.
@paulgildan4388
Joan Baez and old-English-style songs: it doesn't get any better than this.
@rocroc
Well, that was a different version. I like the lyrics on screen for a portion of the time as well. It brings new meaning to the song.
@christianvandalstrom8337
Love this one.