BOOTS OF SPANISH LEATHER – Written by Bob Dylan, performed by Nanci Griffith

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?

Oh, there’s nothing you can send me, my own true love there is nothing I am wishing to be owning

Just to 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.

Well 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 ‘cause that’s all I wish to be owning.

Well I might be gone a long whole time and it’s only that I’m asking

is there something I can send you to remember me by to make your time more easy passing?

But how can, how can you ask me again? Well it only brings me sorrow

oh the same thing I would want today I would want again tomorrow.

Oh I got a letter on a lonesome day and it was from his ship 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 then I know your mind is roaming then I know your thougths are not with me but with the country where you’re going. So take heed, take heed of the western wind and take heed of stormy weather and yes, there is something you can send back to me Spanish boots of Spanish leather.

"Boots of Spanish Leather" is a ballad written by Bob Dylan, and released in 1964 on his album The Times They Are a- Changin'.

It is a classic Dylan tale of two lovers, a crossroads, and the open sea. 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. Within these nine verses, the woman goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether the man would like any gift, and he refuses, 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 feeling". The man comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather." The song is included in the Norton Anthology of Poetry, 5th edition, in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century“.