Boots of Spanish Leather

Album: The Times They Are A-Changin' (1964)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This bittersweet ballad takes the form of a dialogue between two lovers. One of them, the woman, goes away on a long journey across the sea and during the first six verses the pair go back and forth as she warns him she "might be gone a long old time." The last three are all spoken by the man who has been left behind and is slowly witnessing the relationship crumbling before him. When, she writes him a letter saying she may never come back, he requests a gift that would be something to remember his love by - "Spanish boots of Spanish leather."
  • The melody was inspired by English folk singer Martin Carthy's arrangement of the traditional "Scarborough Fair". Dylan came across Carthy's version during his first trip to England in late 1962 and also used the melody for an earlier composition, "Girl From The North Country."
  • Americana singer-songwriter Jason Isbell has a line from the tune tattooed on his arm. ("Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled. From across that lonesome ocean.") He explained to Mojo:

    "I was at the beginning of the relationship with my wife Amanda, and that song really resonated with me. It has that ambiguity, this line in particular. Dylan knows that he is being desperate and whiny and overbearing and masculine and wrong, I like the beauty of that.

    It has a direct kinship to that Leonard Cohen line from Famous Blue Raincoat, 'And thanks, for the trouble you took from her eyes. I thought it was there for good. So I never tried.' Cohen was better at the phrasing, and put more time into the editing, but Dylan had the genius. He could be observing from different places, different perspectives."
  • Artists that have covered the song include Joan Baez on 1968's Any Day Now, Nanci Griffith on her 1993 covers record, Other Voices, Other Rooms and The Lumineers: for the 2016 Target Exclusive Edition of their Cleopatra album.

Comments: 2

  • Leon from OttawaMeaning is too obvious - happens to many of us. For me it was a student, a young flower during a summer love, then she left to study abroad for a term, but it was her heart that roamed. Time and space and life can often break deepest commitments.
    I trusted the spanish sun would comfort my flower,
    as I rained love from beyond upon her
    But the spanish sun stole her away
    and thus lost my heart, my way
    As easy as I lost my dearest flower.
  • Tom M. from Underhill, VtThere is a surprisingly strong cover of this on "Chimes of Freedom: The Songs of Bob Dylan" a collection of covers performed by The Airborne Toxic Event.

    It has become a well known cover of Mandolin Orange as well.

    One of the greatest tributes to Dylan's song writing and lyrics is how many other artists can also make something great out of his songs.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Pam Tillis

Pam TillisSongwriter Interviews

The country sweetheart opines about the demands of touring and talks about writing songs with her famous father.

Rock Stars of Horror

Rock Stars of HorrorMusic Quiz

Rock Stars - especially those in the metal realm - are often enlisted for horror movies. See if you know can match the rocker to the role.

Frankie Valli

Frankie ValliSong Writing

An interview with Frankie Valli, who talks about why his songs - both solo and with The Four Seasons - have endured, and reflects on his time as Rusty Millio on The Sopranos.

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney Princesses

Part of Their World: The Stories and Songs of 13 Disney PrincessesSong Writing

From "Some Day My Prince Will Come" to "Let It Go" - how Disney princess songs (and the women who sing them) have evolved.

Kip Winger

Kip WingerSongwriter Interviews

The Winger frontman reveals the Led Zeppelin song he cribbed for "Seventeen," and explains how his passion for orchestra music informs his songwriting.

Stephen Christian of Anberlin

Stephen Christian of AnberlinSongwriter Interviews

The lead singer/lyricist for Anberlin breaks down "Impossible" and covers some tracks from their 2012 album Vital.