You've long been on the open road,
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You've been sleeping in the rain,
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From dirty words and muddy cells
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Your clothes are smeared and stained,
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But the dirty words and muddy cells
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Will soon be hid in shame
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So only stop to rest yourself
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Till you are off again
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Chorus:
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So take off your thirsty boots
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and stay for a while,
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Your feet are hot and weary,
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from a dusty mile,
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And maybe I can make you laugh,
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maybe I can try,
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I'm just looking for the evening,
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the morning in your eye.
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So tell me of the ones you saw
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As far as you could see
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Across the plain from field to town
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A-marching to be free
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And of the rusted prison gates
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That tumbled by degree
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Like laughing children, one by one,
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They look like you and me
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Chorus.
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I know you are no stranger down
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The crooked rainbow trails
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From dancing cliff-edged shattered sills
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Of slandered, shackled jails
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For the voices drift up from below
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As the walls they're being scaled
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Yes, all of this, and more, my friend,
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Your song shall not be failed.
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Chorus.
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Yes, you've long been on the open road
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You've been sleeping in the rain
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From dirty words and muddy cells
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Your clothes are smeared and stained
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But the dirty words, the muddy cells,
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They'll soon be judged insane
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So only stop to rest yourself
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'til you are off again.
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Chorus.
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-----------------
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Thirsty Boots
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| Phil Ochs |