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.
Oh I'm sailin' away my own true love I'm sailin' away in the morning is there something I can send you from across the sea From the place that I'll be landing? No, there's nothin' you can send me, my own true love There's nothin' I wish to be ownin' Just 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? Oh, but 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 wishin' to be ownin'. That I might be gone a long time And it's only that I'm askin' Is there something I can send you to remember me by To make your time more easy passin'? Oh, how can, how can you ask me again It only brings me sorrow But the same thing I would want today I would want again tomorrow. When I got a letter on a lonesome day It was from her ship a-sailin' Saying I don't know when I'll be comin' back again It depends on how I'm a-feelin'. Well, if you, my love, must think that-a-way I'm sure your mind is roamin' I'm sure your thoughts are not with me But with the country to where you're goin'. So take heed, take heed of the western wind Take heed of the stormy weather And yes, there's something you can send back to me Spanish boots of Spanish leather.