Thirsty Boots – Eric Andersen

You've long been on the open road,

You've been sleeping in the rain,

From dirty words and muddy cells

Your clothes are smeared and stained,

But the dirty words and muddy cells

Will soon be hid in shame

So only stop to rest yourself

Till you are off again

Chorus:

So take off your thirsty boots

and stay for a while,

Your feet are hot and weary,

from a dusty mile,

And maybe I can make you laugh,

maybe I can try,

I'm just looking for the evening,

the morning in your eye.

So tell me of the ones you saw

As far as you could see

Across the plain from field to town

A-marching to be free

And of the rusted prison gates

That tumbled by degree

Like laughing children, one by one,

They look like you and me

Chorus.

I know you are no stranger down

The crooked rainbow trails

From dancing cliff-edged shattered sills

Of slandered, shackled jails

For the voices drift up from below

As the walls they're being scaled

Yes, all of this, and more, my friend,

Your song shall not be failed.

Chorus.

Yes, you've long been on the open road

You've been sleeping in the rain

From dirty words and muddy cells

Your clothes are smeared and stained

But the dirty words, the muddy cells,

They'll soon be judged insane

So only stop to rest yourself

'til you are off again.

Chorus.