Jump to content

Boots of Spanish Leather: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
KolbertBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,166,042 edits
m Bot: HTTP→HTTPS (v485)
If you search the net and other sources, and if you listen to the song and compare melody, this song is clearly derived from Scarborough Fair...
Line 20: Line 20:
Lyrically, "Boots of Spanish Leather" is a "restless, forlorn ballad for the ages and sages&mdash;a classic Dylan tale of two lovers, a crossroads, and the open sea."<ref name=trager2004>{{cite book|last=Trager|first=Oliver|title=Keys to the rain: the definitive Bob Dylan encyclopedia|year=2004|publisher=Billboard Books|location=New York|isbn=0823079740|page=80}}</ref> The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six verses alternating between the two lovers; however, the last three verses are all given by the lover who has been left behind. Within these nine verses, one of the lovers - a woman - goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether her lover would like any gift and he refuses, stating that 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. Her lover comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather."
Lyrically, "Boots of Spanish Leather" is a "restless, forlorn ballad for the ages and sages&mdash;a classic Dylan tale of two lovers, a crossroads, and the open sea."<ref name=trager2004>{{cite book|last=Trager|first=Oliver|title=Keys to the rain: the definitive Bob Dylan encyclopedia|year=2004|publisher=Billboard Books|location=New York|isbn=0823079740|page=80}}</ref> The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six verses alternating between the two lovers; however, the last three verses are all given by the lover who has been left behind. Within these nine verses, one of the lovers - a woman - goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether her lover would like any gift and he refuses, stating that 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. Her lover comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather."


Michael Gray says there is a strong parallel between this line and the traditional [[folk music|folk]] song "[[The Gypsy Laddie|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.<ref name=gray2002>{{cite book|last=Gray|first=Michael|title=Song & dance man III : the art of Bob Dylan|year=2002|publisher=Continuum|location=London|isbn=0826463827|page=857}}</ref>
Michael Gray says there is a strong parallel between this line and the traditional [[folk music|folk]] song "[[The Gypsy Laddie|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.<ref name=gray2002>{{cite book|last=Gray|first=Michael|title=Song & dance man III : the art of Bob Dylan|year=2002|publisher=Continuum|location=London|isbn=0826463827|page=857}}</ref> However, more often a parallel between this song and the traditional ballad "[[Scarborough Fair (ballad)|Scarborough Fair]]," which Dylan also used for his "[[Girl from the North Country]]," is drawn, both regarding melody and lyrics, as it also consists of an alternation between a man and a woman <ref>{{cite book|title=Highway 61 revisited: Bob Dylan's road from Minnesota to the world|last=Sheehy|first=Colleen Josephine|authorlink=|author2=Thomas Swiss|year=2009|publisher=U of Minnesota Press|location=|isbn=9780816661008|page=85|pages=|url=|accessdate=}}</ref>.


The song is included in the ''[[The Norton Anthology of Poetry|Norton Anthology of Poetry]], 5th edition'', in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century."<ref>{{cite book|first=[ed. by] Margaret Ferguson|title=The Norton anthology of poetry|year=2005|publisher=Norton|location=New York|isbn=0393979202|edition=5.}}</ref>
The song is included in the ''[[The Norton Anthology of Poetry|Norton Anthology of Poetry]], 5th edition'', in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century."<ref>{{cite book|first=[ed. by] Margaret Ferguson|title=The Norton anthology of poetry|year=2005|publisher=Norton|location=New York|isbn=0393979202|edition=5.}}</ref>

Revision as of 11:57, 7 July 2018

"Boots of Spanish Leather"
Song

"Boots of Spanish Leather" is a ballad written and performed by Bob Dylan, and released in 1964 on his album The Times They Are a-Changin'.[1]

Dylan's recording features him solo on the acoustic guitar, playing the song using 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."[2] The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six verses alternating between the two lovers; however, the last three verses are all given by the lover who has been left behind. Within these nine verses, one of the lovers - a woman - goes across the sea. She writes, asking whether her lover would like any gift and he refuses, stating that 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. Her lover comes to realize what has happened and finally gives her a material request: "Spanish boots of Spanish leather."

Michael Gray says there is 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.[3] However, more often a parallel between this song and the traditional ballad "Scarborough Fair," which Dylan also used for his "Girl from the North Country," is drawn, both regarding melody and lyrics, as it also consists of an alternation between a man and a woman [4].

The song is included in the Norton Anthology of Poetry, 5th edition, in the section titled "Popular Ballads of the 20th Century."[5]

Though occasionally performed live since its composition, Dylan did not start performing "Boots of Spanish Leather" regularly until his Never Ending Tour began in 1988.[6]

Covers

"Boots of Spanish Leather" has been covered by many musicians, including:

See also

References

  1. ^ "The Times They Are A--Changin| The Official Bob Dylan Site". Sony Music. Retrieved 6 June 2013.
  2. ^ Trager, Oliver (2004). Keys to the rain: the definitive Bob Dylan encyclopedia. New York: Billboard Books. p. 80. ISBN 0823079740.
  3. ^ Gray, Michael (2002). Song & dance man III : the art of Bob Dylan. London: Continuum. p. 857. ISBN 0826463827.
  4. ^ Sheehy, Colleen Josephine; Thomas Swiss (2009). Highway 61 revisited: Bob Dylan's road from Minnesota to the world. U of Minnesota Press. p. 85. ISBN 9780816661008.
  5. ^ The Norton anthology of poetry (5. ed.). New York: Norton. 2005. ISBN 0393979202. {{cite book}}: |first= missing |last= (help)
  6. ^ "Search results for: "Boots of Spanish Leather" The Official Bob Dylan Site". Sony Music Corporation. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 6 June 2013. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/enwiki/w/index.php?title=Boots_of_Spanish_Leather&oldid=849221040"