Boots of Spanish Leather
| "Boots of Spanish Leather" | |
|---|---|
| Song by Bob Dylan from the album The Times They Are a-Changin' | |
| Released | January 13, 1964 |
| Recorded | August 7, 1963 |
| Genre | Folk |
| Length | 4:40 |
| Label | Columbia |
| Writer | Bob Dylan |
| Producer | Tom Wilson |
| The Times They Are a-Changin' track listing | |
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"Boots of Spanish Leather" is a song performed by Bob Dylan, released in 1964 on his album The Times They Are A-Changin'.
Dylan's recording features the artist solo on the acoustic guitar, playing the song fingerpicking.
Lyrically, "Boots of Spanish Leather" is "a restless, forlorn ballad for the ages and sages - a classic Dylan tale of two lovers, a crossroads, and the open sea..." (Trager 80). Most critics have not found it far-fetched to say that this song was written about and maybe to Suze Rotolo, Dylan's New York City girlfriend in the early '60s, who in the summer of 1962 left him for Italy. Rotolo confirmed that interpretation in a 2008 NPR interview. 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 (Dylan). Within these nine verses, the woman goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether the man would like any gift, and he refuses, poetically 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 a-feelin'." The man comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather." Michael Gray has pointed out a strong parallel between this line and the traditional folk song "Blackjack Davey," which Dylan arranged and recorded for his 1992 album Good as I Been to You, and in which footwear of Spanish leather also plays a significant role (Gray 657).
The song is played, in the officially released studio recording, in the key of A♭ major; Dylan probably effects this key by using a capo on the first fret and positioning his fingers as if he were playing G major. The dominant notes in the guitar part seem to be what on a piano is called "Middle C," which in this song is the major third in the tonic chord; and the D-flat immediately above "Middle C," which is the perfect fourth; with the top note at any point in the song rotating between these two notes.
Musically, this song is nearly identical to his earlier composition "Girl from the North Country" which in turn drew heavily on the Martin Carthy arrangement of the traditional ballad "Scarborough Fair". A contemporary work with the same melody is Donovan's song "Ballad of Geraldine", from his 1965 album Fairy Tale.
Of note is this song's inclusion in the Norton Anthology of Poetry, 5th edition, in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century."
Though performed live here and there since its composition, Dylan did not start performing "Boots of Spanish Leather" regularly until his Never Ending Tour began in 1988.
[edit] Covers
"Boots of Spanish Leather" has been covered by many musicians, including:
- Joan Baez: Any Day Now
- Sebastian Cabot: Sebastian Cabot, Actor-Bob Dylan, Poet (1967)
- Dervish: Spirit (2003)
- Dubliners: 30 Years A-Greying (1994)
- Nanci Griffith: Other Voices, Other Rooms (1993), Winter Marquee (2002), Putumayo Presents American Folk (2005)
- Richie Havens: Electric Haven (1966)
- Various Artists (performed by Ida): A Tribute to Bob Dylan, Volume 3: The Times They Are A-Changin' (2000)
- Linda Mason: How Many Seas Must a White Dove Sail (1964)
- Dan McCafferty: Dan McCafferty (1975)
- Ronnie Drew and Eleanor Shanley on their live album A Couple More Years (2000)
- Michael Moore: Jewels and Binoculars (2000)
- Seldom Scene: Scene It All (2000)
- Martin Simpson: Bootleg USA- Martin uses his fluid fingerstyle, frailing and open tuning
- Various Artists (performed by Martin Simpson): A Nod to Bob (2001)
- T. Duggins: T. Duggens:Undone (2006)
- Jason Steel: "Baby, Wolves Abound" (2010)
- Patti Smith: "Bowery Ballroom" (12/30/2010)
[edit] References
- Bob Dylan's official page. Retrieved 15 March 2006.
- Gray, Michael. Song & Dance Man III: The Art of Bob Dylan. Continuum, 2000.
- Trager, Oliver. Keys to the Rain: The Definitive Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. Billboard Books, 2004.
- Fresh Air from WHYY: Suze Rotolo: Of Dylan, New York and Art. Retrieved 15 May 2008.
[edit] External links
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