#bella donna
Leather and Lace
Performed by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley
Written by Stevie Nicks
From Wikipedia: Leather and Lace was released in October 1981 as the second single from Nicks’ 1981 solo debut album Bella Donna. Nicks wrote the song for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter’s duet album Leather and Lace, but the song was not included on that album. Nicks’ version, a duet with Eagles singer Don Henley, peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks in January 1982.
Stephanie Lynn Nicks is one of the greatest songwriters ever. Separate from that, she’s one of the greatest singers ever. A beautiful contralto with a lovely and controlled vibrato make her voice quite unique. When Stevie is singing, it doesn’t sound like anyone else. Her style in general is the “airy fairy” that many female musicians down the road wished they could be, from her platform boots to her veils and scarves. This woman is just a million kinds of awesome.
The song itself is a simple piece of piano, guitar and drums, Stevie’s voice handling the first verse and chorus, followed by Don Henley bringing up the second verse and harmonies in the second chorus. The lyrics tell of a woman quite sure of herself, knowing the strength of her attraction. The man she sings to is insecure and unsure of himself (Could you ever love a man like me?), but feels the attraction nonetheless. Are they destined to be lovers forever? Possibly more? Differences abound, but they meet in the middle exchanging gifts of themselves.
She:
Is love so fragile and the heart so hollow
Shatter with words impossible to follow
You’re saying I’m fragile, try not to be
I search only for something I can’t see
I have my own life
And I am stronger than you know
But I carry this feeling
When you walked into my house
That you won’t be walking out the door
Still I carry this feeling
When you walked into my house
That you won’t be walking out the door
Lovers forever, face to face
My city, your mountains
Stay with me, stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather
Take from me my lace
He:
You in the moonlight
With your sleepy eyes
Could you ever love a man like me?
And you were right
When I walked into your house
I knew I’d never want to leave
Sometimes I’m a strong man
Sometimes cold and scared
And sometimes I cry
But that time I saw you
I knew with you to light my nights
Somehow I’d get by
First time I saw you
I knew with you to light my nights
Somehow I would get by
Both:
Lovers forever, face to face
My city, your mountains
Stay with me, stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather
Take from me my lace
Lovers forever, face to face
My city, your mountains
Stay with me, stay
I need you to love me
I need you today
Give to me your leather
Take from me my lace
