September 19, 2017
Written by Stevie Nicks
Produced by Jimmy Iovine
Released on the album Bella Donna in July 1981
On her debut 1981 album Bella Donna, Stevie Nicks proved how much of a formidable songwriter she can be outside of the construct of her group, Fleetwood Mac. “Leather and Lace” is a song which Nicks did not originally plan on recording, as it was written for Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter. However, that decided against using it and so Nicks teamed up with former Eagles drummer and vocalist Don Henley to record this exquisite version.
The song uses a very simple music arrangement dominated by a strummed acoustic guitar and ethereal, country-style piano, This leaves room for the vocals to shine brightest on this moody and romantic ballad and both Henley and Nicks deliver.
Listen to “Leather and Lace”:
Song Lyrics
Shatter with words, impossible to follow
You’re saying I’m fragile I 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
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
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
But take from me my lace, take from me my lace
Take from me my lace
Stevie Nicks online
Stevie Nicks website
Buy Bella Donna
Album review of Bella Donna
Don Henley online
