John Hartford - Gentle on my mind 1977 <br /> <br />(Released 1967, covered by Glen Campbell) <br /> <br />It's knowing that your door is always open <br />And your path is free to walk <br />That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag <br />Rolled up and stashed behind your couch <br /> <br />And it's knowing I'm not shackled <br />By forgotten words and bonds <br />And the ink stains that have dried upon some line <br />That keeps you in the backroads <br />By the rivers of my memory <br />That keeps you ever gentle on my mind <br /> <br />It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy <br />Planted on their columns now that binds me <br />Or something that somebody said <br />Because they thought we fit together walking <br /> <br />It's just knowing that the world <br />will not be cursing Or forgiving <br />when I walk along some railroad track and find <br />That you are moving on the backroads <br />By the rivers of my memory <br />And for hours you're just gentle on my mind <br /> <br />Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines <br />And the junkyards and the highways come between us <br />And some other woman crying to her mother <br />'Cause she turned and I was gone <br /> <br />I still might run in silence tears of joy <br />might stain my face <br />And the summer sun might burn me 'til I'm blind <br />But not to where I cannot see <br />you walkin' on the backroads <br />By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind <br /> <br />(Instrumental) <br /> <br />I dip my cup of soup back from the gurglin' <br />Cracklin' caldron in some train yard <br />My beard a roughning coal pile and <br />A dirty hat pulled low across my face <br /> <br />Through cupped hands 'round a tin can <br />I pretend I hold you to my breast and find <br />That you're waving from the backroads <br />By the rivers of my memory <br />Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind
