GENTLE ON MY MIND
John Hartford 1. 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 and the ink stains that have dried upon some line That keeps you in the back roads, by the rivers of my mem'ry, that keeps you ever gentle on my mind 2. It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy planted on their columns now that bind me Or something that somebody said because they thought we fit together walkin' It's knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving when I walk along some railroad track and find That you're moving on the back roads, by the rivers of my mem'ry, and for hours you're just gentle on my mind 3. I dip my cup of soup back from the gurglin' cracklin' caldron in some train yard My beard a roughening coal pile and a dirty hat pulled low across my face Though cupped hands 'round a tin can I pretend hold you to my breast and find That you're waving from the back roads, by the rivers of my mem'ry, ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind That you're waving from the back roads, by the rivers of my mem'ry, ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind FLATT & SCRUGGS - Nashville Airplane