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