BOOTS OF SPANISH
LEATHER – Written
by Bob Dylan,
performed by Nanci
Griffith
Oh, sto partendo per mare,
amore mio sincero e adorato
partirò questa mattina
c’è qualcosa che
possa mandarti,
dall’altro capo del
mare
dal luogo dove
approderò?
Oh, non c’è
niente che tu
possa
mandarmi,
amore mio
sincero e
adorato
non c’è nulla che io
desideri possedere
voglio solo che
tu ritorni a me
sano e salvo
dall’altro capo
di quel triste
oceano.
Oh, ma
credevo
semplicemente
che tu potessi
desiderare
qualcosa di
bello
qualcosa d’oro
o d’argento
dalle
montagne di
Madrid
o dalla costa
di
Barcellona.
Beh, se io
avessi le stelle
dalla notte più
scura
e i diamanti
dall’oceano più
profondo
rinuncerei a
tutto questo
per il tuo
dolce bacio
poiché è solo
esso che io
desidero
possedere.
Beh, potrei
star via per
un bel po’ di
tempo
e tutto quello
che sto
chiedendo è
se c’è qualcosa
che possa
mandarti per
farti pensare
a me nel
frattempo
per aiutarti a
far passare il
tempo?
Ma come puoi,
come,
domandarmelo
ancora?
Beh, ciò non fa
altro che
addolorarmi.
Quello che
vorrei oggi
lo vorrei, lo
stesso,
nuovamente
domani.
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 aChangin'.
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“.