Boots of Spanish Leather
The Lumineers Lyrics


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Oh, I'm sailing away my own true love
I'm sailing away in the morning
Is there something I can send you from across the sea?
From the place where I'll be landing

No, there's nothing you can send me, my own true love
There's nothing I'm wishing to be owning
Just to carry yourself back to me unspoiled
From across that lonesome ocean

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

And if I had the stars of the darkest night
Or the diamonds from the deepest ocean
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss
For that's all I'm wishing to be owning

And I might be gone a long old time
And it's only this I'm asking
Is there something I can send you to remember me by?
To make your time more easy passing

Oh how can, how can you ask me again?
What only brings me sorrow
The same thing I would want today
I would want again tomorrow

I got a letter on a lonesome day
It was from her ship a-sailing
Saying I don't know when I'll be coming back again
It depends on how I'm feeling

Well if you, my love, must think that way
And I'm sure your mind is roaming
And I'm sure your heart is not with me
But with the country to where you're going

So take heed, take heed of the western wind
And take heed of the stormy weather




And yes, there's something you can send back to me
Spanish boots of Spanish leather

Overall Meaning

The Lumineers's cover of Bob Dylan's iconic song Boots of Spanish Leather is a melancholic narrative of a love torn apart by distance. The song describes a conversation between two lovers, one of whom is sailing away, leaving the other behind. The sailor asks if there is something he can send over while he's away. The other, filled with pain and heartache, declines any such request but only asks for the singer's unspoiled self to return. The sailor then insists yet again and offers to send something fine, made of silver or gold from Madrid or Barcelona, further emphasizing the distance he would be traveling. But the love of his life reminds him that all she wants is his sweet kiss and presence, not material possessions.


As the song progresses, it becomes apparent that the lovers have parted ways, and the singer is living in uncertainty, waiting patiently for a letter from his beloved. The narrative then takes an interesting turn when the singer receives the message he has been eagerly waiting for- a letter from the sailor's ship. But instead of sweet words of assurance, the letter simply says that the sailor doesn't know when he will be returning. The singer realizes that the distance has wedged a rift between them and that the sailor's heart is in the country he is traveling to, and not with him. The song culminates with a bittersweet ending - the singer, overcome with emotions, asks the sailor to heed the western wind and stormy weather and send back Spanish boots of Spanish leather.


Overall, the stark beauty of the song lies in its simplicity, its poetic lyrics, and its ability to evoke a sense of raw emotion. It is a powerful tribute to the pain of loss and longing that comes with having to let someone go, knowing fully well that they may never come back.


Line by Line Meaning

Oh, I'm sailing away my own true love
I am leaving my lover behind and sailing across the ocean


I'm sailing away in the morning
I will be leaving soon, possibly without seeing my lover again


Is there something I can send you from across the sea?
Do you want me to bring something back for you from my travels?


From the place where I'll be landing
I will be arriving in a new location soon


No, there's nothing you can send me, my own true love
I do not need any gifts or possessions from you


There's nothing I'm wishing to be owning
I do not desire any material things


Just to carry yourself back to me unspoiled
All I want is for you to return to me safely without being changed by your travels


From across that lonesome ocean
From the far away place that is currently separating us


But I just thought you might want something fine
I thought you might appreciate a gift from my travels


Made of silver or of golden
Something of high value and quality


Either from the mountains of Madrid
I could bring you something from the mountainous region of Madrid


Or from the coast of Barcelona
I could bring you something from the coastal city of Barcelona


And if I had the stars of the darkest night
Even if I had the most valuable things in the world


Or the diamonds from the deepest ocean
Or the rarest treasures from the ocean depths


I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss
I would give up everything for a kiss from you


For that's all I'm wishing to be owning
A kiss from you is the only thing I want


And I might be gone a long old time
I will be away for an extended period


And it's only this I'm asking
All I want is to know if there is something I can bring back for you


Is there something I can send you to remember me by?
Can I bring back something for you to hold onto while I am gone?


To make your time more easy passing
To help make the time pass more easily while I am away


Oh how can, how can you ask me again?
How can you ask me to bring back something for you when it only brings me sadness?


What only brings me sorrow
The thought of being parted from you brings me great sadness


The same thing I would want today
I would still want you and our love even if you were to ask me again today


I would want again tomorrow
My love for you and desire to be with you will not change


I got a letter on a lonesome day
I received a letter while feeling lonely


It was from her ship a-sailing
The letter was from my lover, who was still aboard her sailing ship


Saying I don't know when I'll be coming back again
My lover is unsure when she will return


It depends on how I'm feeling
When she comes back will depend on her emotional state


Well if you, my love, must think that way
If you must think that being away is more important than being with me


And I'm sure your mind is roaming
I am sure you are thinking of other things and people while you are away


And I'm sure your heart is not with me
I am sure you do not feel the same way about me as I do about you


But with the country to where you're going
You are more focused on the new place you are going than on our love


So take heed, take heed of the western wind
Be careful of the wind blowing from the west, which could delay your return further


And take heed of the stormy weather
Be mindful of the bad weather that could also impede your return


And yes, there's something you can send back to me
You can send something back to me from your travels


Spanish boots of Spanish leather
I would like a pair of Spanish boots made of fine leather




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Bob Dylan

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Most interesting comment from YouTube:

Rahaf

Verse 1]
Oh, I’m sailin' away my own true love
I’m a-sailin' away in the morning
Is there somethin' I can send you from across the sea
From the place that I’ll be landing?

[Verse 2]
No, there’s nothin' you can send me, my own true love
There’s nothin' I'm a-wishing to be ownin'
Just a-carry yourself back to me unspoiled
From across that lonesome ocean

[Verse 3]
Ah, but I just thought you might want somethin' fine
Made of silver or of golden
Either from the mountains of Madrid
Or from the coast of Barcelona


[Verse 4]
Well, if I had the stars from 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 a-wishin' to be ownin'

[Verse 5]
Well I might be gone a long old time
And it’s only that I’m asking
Is there somethin' I can send you to remember me by
To make your time more easy passing

[Verse 6]
Oh, how can, how can you ask me again
It only brings me sorrow
The same thing I would want today
I want again tomorrow

[Verse 7]
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 a-feelin'

[Verse 8]
If a-you, my love, must think that-a-way
I’m sure your mind is a-roamin'
I’m sure your thoughts are not with me
But with the country to where you’re goin'
[Verse 9]
So take heed, take heed of the western winds
Take heed of the stormy weather
And yes, there’s somethin' you can send back to me
Spanish boots of Spanish leather



All comments from YouTube:

Andrew Rogers

If these guys made a "Lumineers Sing Dylan" album I would be SO happy..

Rob Shrier

Andrew Rogers that would be amazing!!

Laura Fotografiska

Andrew Rogers Oh God, listen to this man's wise words...

Elis Santana

oh god, yes please

Alvah Antonio

YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Omana

!!!!!!!!

7 More Replies...

Tom Goode

Probably one of the best covers of a Bob Dylan song ever.

Jemma Boddy

When I look back on my life and the phases of music genres I have gone through, I would like to think that I will look back at this time when I was in love with this band and know that they gave hope to not only me but to everyone who will hear them and that I knew it before it happened. An absolutely magical cover!

Bryan Wolfhut

this is the type of song that you could never possibly in a million years get tired of 🎵🔄 love this song 👌

Porcine Hero

it falters horribly in the face of the original, sorry folks

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