Leather and Lace is a soft rock duet by Stevie Nicks and Don Henley, released in 1981.
It was written by Nicks for country stars Waylon Jennings and Jessi Colter.
But their duet never materialized.
Instead, Nicks recorded it with Henley, her former partner and Eagles frontman.
The song appears on her debut solo album, Bella Donna.

Leather And Lace Lyrics Breakdown and Meaning

🎵 Verse 1

 Is love so fragile and the heart so hollow?
Shattered with words, impossible to follow
You’re saying I’m fragile, I try not to be
I search only for those things I can’t see

Meaning:
She questions how easily love can be broken.
She doesn’t want to be seen as weak, even though emotions are deep and hard to explain.

🎵 Verse 2

 I have my own life now
I am stronger than you know
And I carry this feeling
When you walked into my house
That you won’t be walking out the door

Meaning:
She’s independent now.
But the moment he entered her life again, she felt he was here to stay.

🎵 Chorus (1)

 Lovers forever, face to face
My city, your mountains
Stay with me, stay
Oh, I need you to love me, baby
I need you today
Give to me your leather
Take from me my lace

Meaning:
Their love is powerful and personal.
She craves both emotional closeness and balance—trading strength (leather) for softness (lace).

🎵 Verse 3

 You’re in the moonlight with your sleepy eyes
Could you ever love a man like me?
You were right when I walked into your house
I knew I’d never want to leave

Meaning:
He’s vulnerable, wondering if he’s worthy of her love.
He knew instantly her presence felt like home.

🎵 Verse 4

 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

Meaning:
He admits he has emotional ups and downs.
Her love gives him hope and strength to carry on.

🎵 Chorus (2)

 Lovers forever, face to face
It’s my city, your mountains
Stay with me, stay
Oh, I need you to love me, baby
I need you today
Give to me your leather
Take from me my lace

Meaning:
A repeated desire for deep emotional connection.
She asks for support and offers vulnerability in return.

🎵 Chorus (Final Variation)

 Lovers forever, face to face
It’s my city, your mountains
Stay with me, stay
And I need you to love me, baby
I need you to stay
Give to me your leather
Take from me my lace
Take from me my lace
And I want you to take from me my lace

Meaning:
A powerful emotional close—pleading for love, support, and connection.
She asks him to accept her softer side and stay by her.

Behind the Mic

Stevie Nicks and Don Henley had a real-life romance.
Their chemistry is palpable in the song.
They recorded it as a live vocal duet, not separate tracks.
That rawness adds to the emotion and authenticity.

Cultural Impact

“Leather and Lace” remains a favorite for couples and soft rock fans.
It’s covered in concerts and featured in many playlists.
The emotional honesty and acoustic simplicity keep it timeless.