I listened to the Eric Andersen recording on 'Bout Changes 'n' Things, and reworked Rog Peek's transcription. My changes are in bold. Sorry, Greg, I don't agree with either of your suggested changes to Rog's transcription. I learned how to do verbatim transcription in Spy School, so I'm pretty good at it....
-Joe-

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 soiled and stained,
But the dirty words and muddy cells will soon be hid in shame,
So only stop to rest yourself till you go 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.

But tell me of the ones you saw as far as you could see
Across the plains 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 trail,
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 then you'll go off again.

CHORUS

Notes:
Originally written about a civil rights worker this song was dedicated to Phil Ochs after his death. It first appeared on the album "'Bout Changes an' Things" (Vanguard LP VRS 79206) released in 1966.
RP jul07

Original Eric Andersen recording: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZdJmzKqMAE - first verse and last are slightly different

2011 Eric Andersen performance with Inge Bakkenes: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hDutkXW4T-M - first verse is not repeated at the end, and it's like the final verse of the original. I like Inge's harmony.

2014 Eric Andersen performance with Michele Gazich & Inge Andersen (note that): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LhlRYbAdya4 (is Michele the one with the beard and the fiddle? I think Eric refers to him as Oliver.)

Note: Later versions have "all of this, and more, my friend, your song shall not be failed." in the third verse - it seems to me that this works better.

Here's a recording by Eric Andersen and Judy Collins - and Arlo Guthrie: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q841UwxzMF0