Bob Dylan - Boots of Spanish Leather (Live BBC Studios 1965)

ENTIRE HALF OF DYLAN'S BBC CONCERT AND BETTER VERSION OF THIS: • Bob Dylan - Live at BB...
Apologies for the weird sound in this recording. I had to change the pitch and other aspects of the audio profile because it was being taken down for copyright. Hopefully this will stay up for a while. I highly recommend getting the full concert, it's one of his best.
This version of Dylan's ballad "Boots of Spanish Leather" gives me goosebumps. His harmonica is piercing, his guitar is moody, and his voice has an intense and full of genuine longing. This was recorded at BBC Studios in London, England on June 26, 1965. I ripped this off of the vinyl bootleg "GWW - BBC Broadcast," pressed by Trade Mark Of Quality in the early '70's. This is the only surviving recording this number from 1965, and the last time he performed it until the 1988. Enjoy this gem while you can!

[@viviandarkbloom100]

Such a sad song. As he realizes she isn't coming back. Another gem from the Sage.

[@connerdearing]

It is really heartbreaking and all too true sometimes.

[@sharpcanines3347]

This was my story, I came back to my one true love after being across the sea with another, only to have him lost at sea. Since 1980 I have been on The Widow's Walk. In 2023 in my old age, this song represents our tragic love story, from which I ill never get over. ❤

[@Dawn-Songs]

It must be truly heartbreaking to have it slowly dawn on you that the person you have fallen in love with has gradually been drifting away . Unfortunately , love can blind us to the truth .; but personally , I would rather know ..no matter how painful because I wouldn't want someone to hang on knowing that they really wanted to leave . There's a saying " If you love someone ,let them go ." I think it is true . 🤍

[@tomfrost6592]

The youthful exuberance of love and hope gradually worn down by the salt,floods and ebbs of life. That final realisation that memories and mementos are all we are left with. Unrequited lost love. The saddest of all human conditions.

[@ldmax]

What a fantastic comment. The best summation of this song I've ever seen.

[@nixon9346]

One of the best comments on youtube

[@tomfrost6592]

If you get to a point in life where your words are the wisest you can hear, you long for youth and innocence. I bet Dylan felt like this early in his twenties.

[@1985snowball]

Absolutely. This version always hits me hard for some reason. Something about the imperfections of live performances. The raw emotion is hard to ignore.

[@Dawn-Songs]

Your comment is so beautiful . Are you a poet ?

[@chenarch]

When I traveled back and forth across the Mediterranean Sea onboard ship for 18 months 40 years ago I listened to this about 1000 times.

[@1985snowball]

Almost every time I hear this song (especially this version for some reason) I weep slightly. As the song goes on, you can tell he knows she’s not coming back. Most people have been in that situation with someone they love or are pining after. Dylan’s a wizard.

[@tammydean4479]

“It’s just that I’m hating time,” he wrote. “I’m trying to stab it - stomp on it - throw it on the ground and kick it - bend it and twist it with gritting teeth and burning eyes - I hate it I love you.” Taken from a letter written to Suze Rotolo from Dylan when she left him to study in Italy. From Suze Rotolo’s book, “A Free Wheeling Time” I don’t know, if the man had written that to me no power on earth could have kept me from running back to him in a New York minute.

[@_Singularity_]

Is it a good book, or only interesting because it involves Dylan?

[@greendragn]

@@_Singularity_ No it's a good book, i've read it. Suze Rotolo was a amazing woman.

[@loiswells3062]

I cried the day I finally realized I meant almost nothing to him. Whether I left or stayed, it was nothing to him. I had nothing even to complain of, just slunk away to hide my foolish tears and gave up all hope of love.

[@hamzaamad3102]

the pain in his voice is exactly the same intensity as what is in my heart.

[@DamienOglesby]

No words to describe this man. First ever song I heard by Dylan in my dad's car was "who killed Davey Moore" I must have been about 7 years old. Ever since then Dylan is the man I come back to. I always return to springsteen or Dylan, no matter what I have been playing or listening to. Dylan has and will always be today. His music is true today as it was when he wrote it. I'll keep it with mine..

[@ldmax]

Check out John Prine too, if you don't already know. Amongst the greatest singer/songwriters of the 20th century.

[@ocaphoenix5347]

"& Will always be TODAY!" Perfect - thx! Celebrate every moment!

[@ijemand5672]

"no words to describe this man" *proceeds to describe him with words*

[@doogert8594]

I think of her every time.

[@andrewnoble4748]

The only love I ever had entered and left my life while this song played and I’m haunted by it.

[@DavidPrattm]

I hope there is still time for you to meet another love, brother.

[@martyacosta8359]

His voice is so haunting. Truly amazing.

[@Bob_Cats]

So beautiful and so sad. Brings a 😢 tear to my eye, singing about sweet Suze.❤

[@BorderRebels]

I saw this live on TV in 1965; one of two broadcasts, and recorded both on my Walter tape recorder, holding the mic up to the TV speaker until my arm ached. The quality wasn’t as good as this, but I was able to learn the songs from the tape, including some from ‘Bringing It All Back Home’ which wasn’t yet available. Stupidly, the BBC wiped over the videotapes, as was common practice in those days. That impassioned, desolate howl when Bob sings “My OOWWNNNNN true love” is one of the most spine tingling moments in music for me.

[@SwinginPig]

Martin Craig / BorderRebels That’s incredible! I’ve heard a lot about you online (unless there were multiple people who recorded it). What was the footage like? Do you remember anything about the visuals of note? I’ve never talked to anybody who saw the actual concert.

[@BorderRebels]

Swingin’ Pig a few people home-taped the two live TV concerts, some of which ended up on bootlegs. The first one I saw was ‘The Circus Is In Town’. The concert format was a typically bare BBC ‘In Concert’ studio and Bob was in his dark jacket, dark skinny-leg jeans and Cuban-heeled Beatle boots; post-folk, early-electric phase (although the two concerts were acoustic). Very cool. This was before colour TV in the U.K. of course. The audience were like many in those pre-‘Judas!’ days; quite studious, polite, dedicated, leaning on every word. Many of them had probably never been to a pop or R&B gig, which may partially explain their shock at the amplified concerts in 1966. Similarly intense audiences sat quietly when some of the world’s best blues men strutted their stuff at the BBC. Maybe they were warned to ‘behave themselves’ before the show started?! The BBC transmitted a similar ‘In Concert’ show by Joan Baez later in 1965, which I also saw - the setting & visuals were quite similar. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHKndH5_icR-mNk Incidentally, the first time I saw Bob on TV was on January 13th, 1963, when he appeared as ‘Bobby the Hobo’ in a Sunday Night Theatre production of ‘Madhouse On Castle Street’. That’s how I first accidentally discovered him, at 16! He sang ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ & ‘Ballad Of The Gliding Swan’, and I was instantly hooked...

[@SwinginPig]

@@BorderRebels Wow, thanks for the info. Very lucky to have seen it. It's a shame it was erased. Strange how Joan's was preserved instead. You saw Mad House?? That's amazing! You're probably one of very few who can say that they saw Bob's television debut. It's a shame there aren't any recordings (visual or audio) of that historical appearance.

[@BorderRebels]

Swingin’ Pig well, there are a few mementoes from ‘Madhouse’. Although the videotape was recorded over (as a money-saving policy!) I believe the BBC still have the original script. There was a 2005 BBC documentary about it, which I contributed to, although my contributions were read by a voiceover actor! The key thing was that it was recorded during the harshest winter Britain had seen since 1947, and most transport routes were closed, which delayed work on the play. The documentary team asked for people’s home recordings of the songs, and their technical staff worked on enhancing them; only two were able to be rescued in full - see link. ‘Blowin’ In The Wind’ is still pretty scratchy, but ‘Ballad Of The Gliding Swan’ sounds better. The wind noise at the start & end of the recordings is part of the documentary; they showed old newsreel footage of the blizzards that brought the country to a halt while the music played. The snow was why I saw the play & discovered Bob; I couldn’t go out that night & my mother spotted an item about an ‘American hobo’ in the TV guide and showed it to me - so we both watched it! I’ll bet that there was an element of snobbery in why the Joanie shows weren’t wiped; she was much more acceptable to the middle-of-the-road BBC execs than Dylan would have been, they’ll have heard her pure tones and didn’t realise how subversive she could be! I think the same thing applied to some of the traditionalists who booed his electric debut in ‘66; they weren’t part of the ‘Beat Boom’ (in fact they hated it) and that’s why some of them felt betrayed by their ‘folk poet’. Crazy; I loved everything he did equally. Here’s an item about ‘Madhouse’, which includes mention of the documentary and a link to the two complete songs: www.lostmediawiki.com/Madhouse_on_Castle_Street_(partially_found_BBC_television_play;_1963)

[@SwinginPig]

Martin Craig / BorderRebels Thanks so much! Fascinating. And I agree on your point about Joan. That makes a lot of sense. Many of her early TV appearances were preserved, and most of Bob’s were destroyed (including the Les Crane appearance, which would probably be the holy grail if it’s ever found). At least we have most of the audio.

[@michaelmckay3179]

Great version! Nice to see its an original and not someone else. No one can do bob dylan like bob

[@SwinginPig]

Glad you enjoy it! And very true. No one sings Dylan like Dylan.

[@MicielorotoCO]

The first time I heard this song I started crying so hard… I couldn’t believe I lost her.I have never felt so empty inside. I never totally had her… but for a while she was mine. And I held her. I listen to this song often and think two things: 1. Holding her and running my hands through her hair 2. How she would have hated this song haha. ❤❤ te amo.

[@michaelmckay3179]

No songs ever played the same by dylan. This has a visons of johanna sound but with a poetic purpose

[@ronstewart2871]

I like your logic, shows intelligence. Very well said, thanks.

[@pauleatinger3105]

I feel my heart sink everytime I hear this masterpiece!

[@oliveeisner8964]

Except for Tambourine Man/1966 this is the most gorgeous thing I've ever heard. I mean it. Now I have to redo all my Dylan top favorite lists. I've always liked this song (and Girl From the North County it's twin) but this takes it to a whole new level. You're so right about the harmonica. And the voice! who says that boy can't sing?

[@SwinginPig]

Olive Eisner it’s one of my favorite of Dylan’s live performances. There’s something magical about it. I’m annoyed because it’s my most popular video, and the sound is a bit messed up; I had to alter it a bit so it wouldn’t get taken down for copyright. I sped it up a tad and changed the pitch, and it came out a bit strange. It sucks, but it still sounds beautiful. If you download it (easily done with KZbin to MP3 converter websites), and import into audacity (great free audio editor), you can mix it down to a mono recording, and that weird noise will disappear. Glad you enjoy it :)

[@oliveeisner8964]

Swingin’ Pig yeah he does appear to be in a bit of a higher register. But it's still sublime. I don't think it sounds bad, but I understand how it can be when your ear gets used to something. Thanks for mentioning the audio tools. I need to learn that stuff.

[@gentelmanjunkie542]

it's my absolute favorite Dylan song, whatever version. original studio or live

[@craigslistdave2086]

This will always speak to my fractured heart

[@sonjadietz5297]

The great Love Song....ever ! Listen it every Day...

[@jeffmartin1259]

This is amazing. Thank you.

[@susieh2981]

Thank you for sharing, Bob Dylan is the greatest

[@SwinginPig]

Sue Boo Thanks for listening! Let me know if you have any requests. Happy holidays!

[@susieh2981]

@@SwinginPig Bob Dylans 115th dream!

[@SwinginPig]

Sue Boo I’ll see what I can do!

[@felichia808]

I love your uploads of early Bob Dylan, & this is one of his most beautiful love songs, so hard to choose only one. Thank You again for sharing 💖💖💖!

[@dylanpl9613]

He sounds good here but nothing will ever beat the studio recording version such a great song one of my favorites from Dylan.

[@AlanZapp]

A fearless performer, Mr. Zimmerman. The guy had a stolid nervous system (and some great drugs, one would think).

[@alrightbymondaymusic7441]

Such a beautiful song. We have it on our Top 10 Dylan songs circa 63-66 series on our channel if anyone is interested in checking that out. The vulnerability he's able to show here especially when he's at the same time so private is magical

[@brucetoo3294]

Dylan was still starting out in Greenwich Village at the time of this song. His live-in girlfriend Suze Ritolo was heading to Italy on a fellowship opportunity to study art--her own passion. Thus, an inspiration for this song-- Years later Dylan was in Rome and he wrote his song about that too--"You promised you'd be right there with me, when I paint my masterpiece." Of course he'd been through quite a few relationships with girlfriends and a wife by that time. But emotional memory tends to be timeless...:If you see her, say hello., etc.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YES BOB I AM JUST SMOKING AND LISTENING TO YOU

[@evelynoconnor3062]

SUCH AN OUTSTANDING RENDERING OF THIS CLASSIC SONG BY BOB DYLAN HIMSELF! --- TRULY MARVELLOUS!

[@lightonbuildings]

Everyone below and above are correct. This song's a jewel. Don't take it lightly.

[@Mikescullymusic]

When my ex wife made it clear that we were over I told a friend that she had sent me leather boots and he had no idea what I was talking about... We haven’t spoken since...

[@sonjadietz5297]

....

[@bonscottrocks1728]

You haven't spoken to your friend because he didn't know what you meant?

[@bonscottrocks1728]

@@sonjadietz5297 4 dots? That's so stupid

[@Mikescullymusic]

@@bonscottrocks1728 I was being facetious genius..

[@Mikescullymusic]

@@bonscottrocks1728 you just trollin or what? 😂🤣

[@andrewwatkins4194]

Wow live is something else! 🙏❤️

[@sonjadietz5297]

OH YES !

[@Thinlizzie83]

I just listened to a beautiful cover of this song, but then I had to come listen to the OG.

[@SwinginPig]

Which cover was it?

[@Thinlizzie83]

Swingin’ Pig by Mandolin Orange (video is here on KZbin)

[@SwinginPig]

Liz Schultz thx ♥️

[@Thinlizzie83]

Swingin’ Pig you’re welcome :)

[@Daveshoaf]

Same

[@maggiebryan2355]

Lovely song

[@bangarang74]

perfect

[@timscully2045]

thank you, just thank you

[@ludwigdietsch]

What a gig...

[@johnmacpherson9791]

Love to all of you. xxx

[@HeWhoFlewFromInwood]

Too brilliant

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN

[@dirtydawg448]

Genius

[@marzipan2115]

Reminds me of Girl From the North Country

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YES YOUNG BOB YOU ARE THE BEST

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YEAH YOUNG BOB YOU ARE THE BEST

[@lauvshahi1439]

❤️❤️💙💙💙💙💙💙Love it

[@SuzanneTrapanotto]

My pap used to say don't ever put your faith or trust in another human! Thi is a good lesson for all of us to learn! (TRUST AND HAVE FAITH IN Jesus Christ)

[@rustmitt1]

♥️♥️♥️

[@karmenjazbec7743]

love U

[@德令哈哈]

我爱这首歌

[@riteshsigdel728]

evergreen 💚🇳🇵

[@gloriasepulvedav.]

26 de junio de 1965

[@JimmyJazz332]

The guitar sounds very similar to the style of guitar playing he used for Visions of Johanna on the 1966 World Tour

[@nixon9346]

Same chords

[@jimk518]

I can hear the influence of John Jacob Niles in this performance.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN KISS KISS

[@kamelgadouche7097]

Suze was in Spain when this song wrote...

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR SWEET KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN

[@desertlifeforlife6530]

Nanci Griffith 🌸🌺💐🌼🌹🌷

[@Singanddanceman61]

I'm looking for John Wessley Harding Sessions. Do you have it complete?

[@alexgordon7637]

The likes of Mr Zimmerman come along once in a lifetime and that's if we are lucky.

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YEAH BOB HONEY I AM JUST SMOKING AND LISTENING TO YOU KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

kiss kiss

[@nicholaskierstead5193]

I miss my daughter

[@stoneworx09]

and yes there is something you can send back too me. .but that was thirty five years ago now, and for me it meant more then than it does now. and as bob puts it ? im sick of love, so sick of it .

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YEAH YOUNG BOB YOU ARE THE BEST KISS KISS ON YOUR PALE HUNGRY LIPS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

I HAVE A PAIR GOOD LEATHER BOOTS I WILL DANCE FLAMENGO FOR YOU BOB HONEY

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR SWEET KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN BOB HONEY

[@karmenjazbec7743]

I can use boots of SPANISH LEATHR

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR SWEET KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN BOB HONEY KISS KISS

[@soulvaccination8679]

But in the end why did he want Boots of Spanish Leather?

[@martinabend1537]

Is that a serious question?

[@soulvaccination8679]

@@martinabend1537 I researched it..It represents walking away.

[@martinabend1537]

Don't think so.

[@soulvaccination8679]

@@martinabend1537 yes its does..I researched it..He finally realized that the girl will never come back and she probably met some man that was loaded..So he finally says yes I will take some Boots of Spanish Leather.

[@martinabend1537]

I cannot prove the opposite

[@karmenjazbec7743]

I HAVE NICE PAIR LEATHER BOOTS I WILL DANCE FLAMENGO FOR YOU BOB HONEY NOW I AM JUST SMOKING AND LISTENING TO YOU

[@karmenjazbec7743]

JUST PLAY HARMONICA TO ME AS MY GRANDFATHER DID

[@照夫西田]

ボブ ディランは歳くって完璧なボブ ディランを描いた。そして尚、違う自身を描く為に走ろうとしている。 　もぅ一人のボブ ディランの為に・・( ´Д`)ノ

[@karmenjazbec7743]

I HAVE A NICE PAIR OF BOOTS I WILL DANCE FLAMENGO FOR YOU BOB HONEY

[@rob5363]

i guess this song is about suze rotolo

[@martinabend1537]

You don't say.

[@nixon9346]

Chords for this version

[@backinblackboy]

It’s in A. Capo on 2nd fret G C Em and D

[@writereducator]

I don't understand why he asks for Spanish boots of Spanish leather.

[@lightningleaf23]

Spain was and is synonymous with quality leather goods and in the days before globalisation they were presumably sought after. I remember even in the late 80s when I was very young my mum and dad would look for school shoes when we were on holiday in Spain due to them being better priced and higher quality.

[@writereducator]

@@lightningleaf23 So, does he ask for them as consolation for losing her? It's hard to see how any boots could make up that loss.

[@lightningleaf23]

@@writereducator he realises she’s gone and whilst devastated he reluctantly accepts it and becomes pragmatic and asks for something of value.

[@jayare2620]

He's saying he wants the real thing not just its name ---real Love not just what she lip service love she gave him

[@writereducator]

@@jayare2620 Now that makes sense!

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN I HAVENT BEEN KISSED FOR 9 YEARS WHEN MY URI COMMITTED A SUICIDE

[@karmenjazbec7743]

you could marry me if you want

[@mattklutho2119]

Send pic

[@hamishmccreight6639]

The subtitles on this are totally crap - words totally misinterpreted !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@DeanH92]

Then turn the subtitles off you deaf moron

[@stephen3073]

Sorry, Bob, but the best version of this song ever recorded is by Andrew and Emily of the duet, Mandolin Orange. I was looking for the source, and found you are the author. Great song, as with everything you write, Bob. But to tell you the truth, your harmonica playing is like an ice pick through the eardrums. Put that thing down, dude!

[@Mikescullymusic]

Stephen Sheriff that’s kind of the point...

[@Mikescullymusic]

Stephen Sheriff sometimes love can feel like an ice pick in the heart.

[@Sm-iw2vh]

Yeah... Bob needs advice? He's done OK.

[@illegallemur4024]

My guy. That version is sweet n cute. High quality and all, but this OG is the realest

[@georgittesingbiel219]

Agree!

[@frankwatkins4170]

He needs to practice more....sounds a bit out of tune .

[@pr0fsnip3r86]

tune your ears

[@pandabshahisamundri4133]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@bonscottrocks1728]

This guy is almost as good as Post Malone...

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

YOUR SWEET KISSES ARE ALL I WISH TO OWN BOB HONEY

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS

[@karmenjazbec7743]

KISS KISS