The Beau Brummels broke into the mainstream with their debut single, "Laugh, Laugh", for which they would later be credited for setting the aesthetic foundation for the San Francisco Sound. The band's popularity continued with the subsequent album, 1965's Introducing the Beau Brummels, and the Top 10 single "Just a Little". The group's commercial success declined by the following year, at which time the financially struggling Autumn label was acquired by Warner Bros. Records. After recording an album of cover songs, Beau Brummels '66, the band released a pair of critically acclaimed albums: Triangle in 1967 and Bradley's Barn in 1968.
The band underwent several personnel changes, beginning with Mulligan's departure in 1965. Guitarist Don Irving joined the band in late 1965 when Elliott began to suffer seizures resulting from a diabetic condition, leaving him unable to tour with the band. Shortly after the release of Beau Brummels '66, Irving left the group when he was inducted into the armed forces. Petersen left to join Harpers Bizarre, reducing the Beau Brummels to a trio for the recording of Triangle. Meagher was drafted for military service in 1968, leaving Valentino and Elliott as the only remaining band members. The duo worked with prominent Nashville session musicians to record Bradley's Barn before parting ways in 1969 to focus on solo material and participate in projects by other artists. The five original Beau Brummels reformed in 1974, and the band released an eponymous album the following year.
These Boots Are Made For Walking
The Beau Brummels Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Something you call love but confess
You've been a-messing where
You shouldn't of be messing
And now someone else is getting all your best
Ya, these boots they're made for walking
That's just what they're gonna do
Gonna walk all over you
You keep lying when you ought to be truth-en
And you keep losing when you ought not bet
You keep saming when you ought-a be changing
Now what is right is right
But you ain't been right yet
Ya, these boots they're made for walking
Babe, that's just what they're gonna do
One of these days these boots are
Gonna walk all over you
[Instrumental Interlude]
Ah, you keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
You keep thinking that you'll never get burned
Ha, but I just found me a brand new box of matches
And what she knows you ain't had time to learn
You see, these boots they're made for walking
And that's just what they're gonna do
One of these days these boots are
Gonna walk all over you
Get 'em boots
The Beau Brummels's song These Boots Are Made For Walking tells the story of a woman who is tired of her partner's lies and cheating ways. The woman repeatedly confronts her partner about his infidelity, but he continues to deny it. She decides that she's had enough and lets him know that she's going to walk away from the relationship. She warns him that her boots are made for walking and that one day, they will walk all over him.
The lyrics are empowering, as they convey a strong sense of self-respect and determination. The woman refuses to be lied to and cheated on any longer, and she's not afraid to walk away from the relationship. The boots represent her power and agency, as they give her the ability to assert her independence and make her own decisions.
This song was originally written by Lee Hazlewood and performed by Nancy Sinatra in 1966. However, The Beau Brummels's version, which was released the same year, was also a hit and is considered a classic in its own right. It showcases the band's folk rock sound and lead singer Sal Valentino's soulful vocals.
Line by Line Meaning
Ah, you keep saying you've got something for me
You often claim that you have something to offer me
Something you call love but confess
You claim it to be love, but admit it's not really love at all
You've been a-messing where You shouldn't of be messing
You've been involved in things you shouldn't have been
And now someone else is getting all your best
Someone else is receiving your best efforts and not me
Ya, these boots they're made for walking
These boots were designed for walking
That's just what they're gonna do
That's their intended purpose
Now one of these days these boots are
Soon these boots will
Gonna walk all over you
Step all over you and leave you in their wake
You keep lying when you ought to be truth-en
You keep telling lies instead of being truthful
And you keep losing when you ought not bet
You continue to lose when you shouldn't be gambling
You keep saming when you ought-a be changing
You keep repeating the same behavior instead of changing it
Now what is right is right
What is right is objectively correct
But you ain't been right yet
But you haven't been able to do what is right yet
Babe, that's just what they're gonna do
That's precisely what these boots will do
Ah, you keep playing where you shouldn't be playing
You keep getting involved in things you should stay away from
You keep thinking that you'll never get burned
You believe that you won't face consequences for your actions
Ha, but I just found me a brand new box of matches
But I just acquired something that will cause you some trouble
And what she knows you ain't had time to learn
And there are things she understands that you haven't had the chance to learn yet
Get 'em boots
Take command of those boots
Contributed by Charlotte F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jesus sm
Best cover on this album, ahead of their time
brachio1000
I don't know of anyone who could beat Nancy Sinatra's version, but this is kinda' great in its own right.
Akbar Lebowitz
Listen to The New Christie Minstrels' cover.
bernie sanders
different sound more like a story the way they sing it
Robert Moga
It's sad that Autumn Records sold the group to Warner bros. A "middle of the road" label if there ever was one. Warners biggest artists were The Association (from Valiant Records & Petula Clark from England). This band should have been assigned, IF conscripted to do "cover versions', to songs like East Side Story (Bob Seger & Last Heard), Lie, Beg Borrow & Steal (Mouse & The Traps), Respect (The Rationals), Get Down On Your Knees (The 4 of Us), and any number of GREAT GARAGE tunes from the mid-"60's. The lead singer had that great "gruff" garage style to his voice that MIGHT have done justice to such songs. But the stuff (covers) that Warner Bros (& their producer) forced on them for THIS album spelt their DOOM in the mod-"60's era. Too bad
Will
Bradley's Barn and Triangle are masterpieces though.