About the song
“Gentle on My Mind” is a timeless classic performed by the legendary Glen Campbell. Released in 1967, this song is a hallmark of Campbell’s illustrious career and showcases his signature blend of country and pop music. The song was written by John Hartford, a gifted songwriter and musician who crafted a piece that resonates deeply with its audience.
The track was part of Campbell’s album “Gentle on My Mind,” which played a significant role in establishing his reputation as a crossover artist capable of reaching both country and pop music fans. The album itself was a commercial success, further cementing Campbell’s status in the music industry.
“Gentle on My Mind” became one of Campbell’s most beloved songs, earning multiple accolades and significant chart success. It peaked at number 30 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 1 on the RPM Country Tracks in Canada. Additionally, the song won four Grammy Awards in 1968: two for Hartford as the songwriter and two for Campbell as the performer.
The song’s lyrics evoke a sense of nostalgia and wanderlust, painting vivid images of freedom and the open road, themes that were particularly resonant during the late 1960s. Campbell’s smooth vocals and Hartford’s evocative writing create a beautiful and poignant piece that continues to captivate listeners across generations.
For older listeners, “Gentle on My Mind” may bring back memories of a bygone era, while younger audiences can appreciate its timeless appeal and the masterful musicianship of Glen Campbell. This song not only highlights Campbell’s exceptional talent but also stands as a testament to the enduring power of heartfelt, well-crafted music.
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Lyrics
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 are dried upon some line
That keeps you in the back roads 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 bind me
Or something that somebody said
Because they thought we fit together walking
It’s just 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
And 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 cryin’ 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 back roads, by the rivers flowing gentle on my mind
I dip my cup of soup back
From a gurglin’ cracklin’ Calderon in some train yard
My beard, a roughening’ coal pile
And a dirty hat pulled low across my face, through cupped hands
‘Round the tin can, I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
That you’re waiting from the back roads by the rivers of my memories
Ever smilin’, ever gentle on my mind