Thirsty Boots

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Song: Thirsty Boots
Artist: Bob Dylan
Album: The Bootleg Series Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969–1971), 2013
Written: Eric Andersen (with amendments by Dylan)
URL’s: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirsty_Boots
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
The_Bootleg_Series_Vol._10:_Another_Self_Portrait_%281969%E2%80%931971%29
Tempo: Moderato
Style: Folk & Blues
Tuning: Standard
Capo 5
Chords:
EADGBe
G
320003
Bm
X24432
Am
X02210
D
XX0232
Em
022100
C
332010
INTRO:(Acoustic lead, piano and harmonica over)
G BmAmD
| | | x4
VERSE 1:
G Bm
You've been long and on the open road,
Am D
You’ve been sleepin’ in the rain.
G Em
From the dirty words and muddy cells,
Am D
Your clothes are smeared and stained.
G Em
But the dirty words and muddy cells,
Am D
Will soon be judged insane.
G C
So only stop and rest yourself,
Am D
’Til you are off again.
CHORUS 1:
G C
And, take off your thirsty boots,
G C
And stay for awhile.
G Em
Your feet are hot and weary,
Am D
From a dusty mile.
G C
And maybe I can make you laugh,
Am D
And maybe I can try.
G Em
Just looking for the evening,
C D G
And the mornin’ in your eye.
REFRAIN:(Acoustic lead over)
G EmCD
| | |
VERSE 2:
G Bm
Then tell me of the ones you saw,
Am D
As far as you could see.
G Em
Across the plains from field to town,
Am D
Marching to be free.
G Bm
And of the rusty prison gates,
Am D
That tumble by degree,
G C
Like laughing children, one by one,
Am D
Who look like you and me.
CHORUS 2:
G C
Then, take off your thirsty boots,
G C
And stay for awhile.
G Em
Your feet are hot and weary,
Am D
From a dusty mile.
G C
And maybe I can make you laugh,
Am D
And maybe I can try.
G Em
Just looking for the evening,
Am D G
And the mornin’ in your eye.
INSTRUMENTAL:(Acoustic lead, piano and harmonica over)
G EmAmD
| | | x4
VERSE 3:
G Bm
I know that you’re no stranger,
Am D
Down the crooked rainbow trail.
G Em
From dancing cliffheads, shattered sills,
Am D
Of slandered shackled jails.
G Bm
But the voices drift up from below,
Am D
As his walls are being scaled.
G
And all of this,
Em
And more my friend,
Am D
Your song shall not be failed.
CHORUS 3:
G Em
Then, take off your thirsty boots,
Am D
And stay for awhile.
G Em
Your feet are hot and weary,
Am D
From a dusty mile.
G C
And maybe I can make you laugh,
Am D
And maybe I can try.
G Em
Just looking for the evening,
Am D G
And the mornin’ in your eye.
CODA:(Acoustic lead, piano and harmonica over)
G EmAmD
| | | x4
G
| |
End
1. "Thirsty Boots" is a Civil Rights era folksong by American singer-songwriter Eric Andersen that first
appeared on his 1966 album 'Bout Changes 'n' Things. According to the album's liner notes, the song "was
written to a civil rights worker-friend. Having never gone down to Mississippi myself, I wrote the song
about coming back."
2. I’ve tried to make it more simply accessible, by changing it’s key to match the recorded version, by
moving the capo to the fifth fret. Hence, these chords could be easily played ‘open’ on a ukulele, which
is in standard A tuning.
3. It has resonance, as this song could easily be about the suffering of present-day refugees and internee’s
in our Australian ’detention centres’, both in and off-shore. :-R

Thirsty Boots chords and lyrics

Free chords for Thirsty Boots by Bob Dylan. Scroll the interactive sheet above or read the chord names inline below.

Song:     Thirsty Boots
Artist:   Bob Dylan
Album:    The Bootleg Series Vol. 10: Another Self Portrait (1969–1971), 2013
Written:  Eric Andersen (with amendments by Dylan)
URL’s:    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thirsty_Boots
          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
          The_Bootleg_Series_Vol._10:_Another_Self_Portrait_%281969%E2%80%931971%29
Tempo:    Moderato
Style:    Folk & Blues
Tuning:   Standard
Capo 5
Chords:
          EADGBe
G         320003
Bm        X24432   
Am        X02210
D         XX0232
Em        022100
C         332010
INTRO:(Acoustic lead, piano and harmonica over)
|G  Bm|Am D| x4
VERSE 1:
CHORUS 1:
REFRAIN:(Acoustic lead over)
|G  Em|C D|
VERSE 2:
CHORUS 2:
INSTRUMENTAL:(Acoustic lead, piano and harmonica over)
|G  Em|Am D| x4
VERSE 3:
CHORUS 3:
CODA:(Acoustic lead, piano and harmonica over)
|G  Em|Am D| x4   
|G         |
[End]
1.  "Thirsty Boots" is a Civil Rights era folksong by American singer-songwriter Eric Andersen that first 
appeared on his 1966 album 'Bout Changes 'n' Things. According to the album's liner notes, the song "was 
written to a civil rights worker-friend. Having never gone down to Mississippi myself, I wrote the song 
about coming back."
2.  I’ve tried to make it more simply accessible, by changing it’s key to match the recorded version, by 
moving the capo to the fifth fret.  Hence, these chords could be easily played ‘open’ on a ukulele, which 
is in standard A tuning.  
3.  It has resonance, as this song could easily be about the suffering of present-day refugees and internee’s 
in our Australian ’detention centres’, both in and off-shore. :-R

Thirsty Boots Chords by Bob Dylan

Learn how to play Thirsty Boots by Bob Dylan with free guitar chords, lyrics, and interactive chord diagrams. Search for “Thirsty Boots chords”, “Thirsty Boots guitar chords”, or “Bob Dylan Thirsty Boots chords” and you will find this page — transpose to any key, tap chords for diagrams, and use auto-scroll while you play. Perfect for beginners looking for easy Thirsty Boots chords and for experienced players who want accurate Thirsty Boots lyrics and chords in one place. Common chords in this song include G, Bm, Am, D, Em, C.

Frequently asked questions about Thirsty Boots

How do I play "Thirsty Boots" by Bob Dylan on guitar?

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Can I transpose "Thirsty Boots" to a different key?

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Is "Thirsty Boots" easy to play on guitar?

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What key is "Thirsty Boots" in?

The chords for "Thirsty Boots" show the original chord names (including G, Bm, Am, D, Em, C). Use transpose to move the song into any key that fits your voice or capo.