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Q&A Is there any cultural background in Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish leather" final desire?

I recently discovered Boots of Spanish Leather, a 1963 song by Bob Dylan through Joan Baez's cover in Any Day Now (1968). Its lyrics really moved me, so I tried to understand them deeply. The Wiki...

1 answer  ·  posted 2y ago by fedorqui‭  ·  last activity 1y ago by Mithical‭

Question lyrics
#2: Post edited by user avatar gmcgath‭ · 2022-06-19T16:38:31Z (over 2 years ago)
Fixing a typo in the title
  • Is there any cultural background in Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish letter" final desire?
  • Is there any cultural background in Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish leather" final desire?
I recently discovered [*Boots of Spanish Leather*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_of_Spanish_Leather), a 1963 song by Bob Dylan through Joan Baez's cover in [Any Day Now (1968)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Any_Day_Now_(Joan_Baez_album)).

Its lyrics really moved me, so I tried to understand them deeply. The Wikipedia article (linked above) explains the meaning perfectly:

>The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six stanzas alternating between the two lovers; however, the last two stanzas are both given by the lover who has been left behind. 

However, what gives the name to the song is:

> 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".

Maybe because I live in Spain, or maybe because a Spanish boots *per se* don't sound any special, I would like to know if there is some cultural background in this reference. Were Spanish boots and/or Spanish leather part of some kind of trend, or a motto to people just traveling? Was there any *hidden* meaning of those?
#1: Initial revision by user avatar fedorqui‭ · 2022-06-07T19:40:04Z (over 2 years ago)
Is there any cultural background in Bob Dylan's "Boots of Spanish letter" final desire?
I recently discovered [*Boots of Spanish Leather*](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boots_of_Spanish_Leather), a 1963 song by Bob Dylan through Joan Baez's cover in [Any Day Now (1968)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Any_Day_Now_(Joan_Baez_album)).

Its lyrics really moved me, so I tried to understand them deeply. The Wikipedia article (linked above) explains the meaning perfectly:

>The song is written as a dialogue, with the first six stanzas alternating between the two lovers; however, the last two stanzas are both given by the lover who has been left behind. 

However, what gives the name to the song is:

> 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".

Maybe because I live in Spain, or maybe because a Spanish boots *per se* don't sound any special, I would like to know if there is some cultural background in this reference. Were Spanish boots and/or Spanish leather part of some kind of trend, or a motto to people just traveling? Was there any *hidden* meaning of those?