It's knowing that your door is always open
And your path is free to walk
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag
Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
It's knowing I'm not shackled
By forgotten words and bonds
Or the ink stains that have dried upon some line
That keeps you in the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
That keeps you ever gentle on my mind
It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy
Planted on their columns now that binds me
Or something that somebody said
Because they thought we fit together walking
It's knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving
When I walk along some railroad track and find
That you’re waving from the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
For hours you're just gentle on my mind
Though wheat fields and the clothes lines
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
Some other woman crying to her mother
'Cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence tears of joy might stain my face
And the summer sun might burn me 'til I'm blind
But not to where I cannot see you walkin' on the backroads
By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind
I dip my cup of soup back from the gurglin'
Cracklin' caldron in some train yard
My beard rougher than a coal pile
And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can
I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
That you're waving from the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind
That you're waving from the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind
credits
from Leaving Soon,
released June 9, 2015
Written by John Hartford
Ben Larsen - vocals, acoustic guitar
Leigh Jones - vocals
Austin Quattlebaum - banjo
Miles Berry - upright bass
Allie Kral - fiddle
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supported by 5 fans who also own “Gentle On My Mind”
The musicianship--it is ALIVE, PULSING and joyous, sometimes quietly, sometimes raucously, always with their hearts in it. Among all the gems, Old Paint's banjo is one of the most beautiful arrangements ever, and that Cocaine Blues really swings--great fiddling, Josh! lenapple