Gentle on My Mind

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

And 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 on the back roads by the rivers of my memory

Keeps you ever gentle on my mind

It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy planted in a row that bind 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 moving on the back roads by the rivers of my memory for hours you're just gentle on my mind

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines and the junkyards and the highways come between us

And some other woman's crying to her mother

She turned and love was gone

I still might run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face

The summer sun might burn me till I'm blind

But not to where I cannot see you walking on the back roads

By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind

I dip my cup of soup back from the gurgling crackling cauldron in some train yard

My beard a rustling coal pile 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 back roads by the rivers of my memory

Ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind

oh~