Boots of Spanish Leather is a love ballad written and performed by Bob Dylan, featured on his 1964 album The Times They Are a-Changin. The song is a dialogue between two lovers, where one is going abroad and offers to send gifts from the trip, but the other only wishes for their safe return. It is often seen as reflecting Dylans relationship with Suze Rotolo, a significant figure in his life and music, who was in Italy at the time of its writing.
Key: G
G
C/G
G
C/G
Em
C
G
Oh I'm sailin' away my own true love
Em
D/F#
G
I'm sailin' away in the morning
Em
C
G
is there something I can send you from across the sea
Em
D/F#
G
From the place that I'll be landing?
Em
C
G
No, there's nothin' you can send me, my own true love
Em
D/F#
G
There's nothin' I wish to be ownin'
Em
C
G
Just carry yourself back to me unspoiled
Em
D/F#
G
From across that lonesome ocean.
Em
C
G
Oh, but I just thought you might want something fine
Em
D/F#
G
Made of silver or of golden
Em
C
G
Either from the mountains of Madrid
Em
D/F#
G
Or from the coast of Barcelona?
Em
C
G
Oh, but if I had the stars from the darkest night
Em
D/F#
G
And the diamonds from the deepest ocean
Em
C
G
I'd forsake them all for your sweet kiss
Em
D/F#
G
For that's all I'm wishin' to be ownin'.
Em
C
G
That I might be gone a long time
Em
D/F#
G
And it's only that I'm askin'
Em
C
G
Is there something I can send you to remember me by
Em
D/F#
G
To make your time more easy passin'?
Em
C
G
Oh, how can, how can you ask me again
Em
D/F#
G
It only brings me sorrow
Em
C
G
But the same thing I would want today
Em
D/F#
G
I would want again tomorrow.
Em
C
G
When I got a letter on a lonesome day
Em
D/F#
G
It was from her ship a-sailin'
Em
C
G
Saying I don't know when I'll be comin' back again
Em
D/F#
G
It depends on how I'm a-feelin'.
Em
C
G
Well, if you, my love, must think that-a-way
Em
D/F#
G
I'm sure your mind is roamin'
Em
C
G
I'm sure your thoughts are not with me
Em
D/F#
G
But with the country to where you're goin'.
Em
C
G
So take heed, take heed of the western wind
Em
D/F#
G
Take heed of the stormy weather
Em
C
G
And yes, there's something you can send back to me