Gentle On My Mind

Song Gentle On My Mind
Artist John Hartford
Album Earthwords & Music

Lyrics

[00:04.498] It's knowing that your door is always open
[00:07.670] And your path is free to walk
[00:14.151] That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag
[00:17.281] Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
[00:23.510] And it's knowing I'm not shackled
[00:25.830] By forgotten words and bonds
[00:28.592] And the ink stains that are dried upon some line
[00:35.841] That keeps you in the backroads
[00:38.250] By the rivers of my memory
[00:40.842] That keeps you ever gentle on my mind
[00:47.681] It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy
[00:50.983] Planted on their columns now that bind me
[00:57.071] Or something that somebody said
[01:00.364] Because they thought we fit together walking
[01:07.121] It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing
[01:10.891] Or forgiving when I walk along some railroad track and find
[01:19.078] That you're moving on the backroads
[01:21.811] By the rivers of my memory
[01:24.233] And for hours you're just gentle on my mind
[01:31.303] Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines
[01:33.899] And the junkyards and the highways come between us
[01:40.724] And some other woman's cryin' to her mother
[01:44.641] 'Cause she turned and I was gone
[01:50.897] I still might run in silence tears of joy might stain my face
[01:56.045] And the summer sun might burn me 'til I'm blind
[02:03.394] But not to where I cannot see you walkin' on the backroads
[02:08.251] By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind
[02:15.572] I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin'
[02:18.762] Cracklin' caldron in some train yard
[02:25.283] My beard a rustling, cold towel, and
[02:28.343] A dirty hat pulled low across my face
[02:34.744] Through cupped hands 'round the tin can
[02:37.383] I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
[02:44.403] That you're waiting from the backroads
[02:47.044] By the rivers of my memories
[02:49.601] Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind