About the song

“Gentle on My Mind,” performed by the legendary Glen Campbell, is a timeless classic that has touched the hearts of many since its release. This beautiful song, written by John Hartford, first came to the public’s attention in 1967 and has since become one of the signature tunes in Campbell’s illustrious career.

Glen Campbell, known for his smooth vocals and exceptional guitar skills, brought “Gentle on My Mind” to life with an emotional depth that resonates with listeners of all ages. The song is a perfect blend of country and folk, characterized by its gentle melody and heartfelt lyrics. It tells a story of freedom and longing, capturing the essence of wandering while keeping cherished memories alive.

Originally part of the album “Gentle on My Mind and Other Originals,” the song quickly climbed the charts, securing a place in the hearts of music lovers. It earned Campbell multiple Grammy Awards in 1968, including Best Country & Western Solo Vocal Performance, Male, and Best Country & Western Recording. The song’s success didn’t stop there; it has been covered by numerous artists across various genres, cementing its status as a staple in American music.

The gentle strumming of the guitar, combined with Campbell’s tender voice, makes this song a soothing and reflective experience. It paints a vivid picture of open roads and cherished moments, making it relatable to anyone who has ever felt the pull of the past while journeying through the present. “Gentle on My Mind” remains a testament to Glen Campbell’s enduring legacy and the universal power of music to connect us all.

For those who grew up during the golden age of country music or are just discovering it, “Gentle on My Mind” offers a nostalgic trip back to a time when storytelling and melody reigned supreme. It’s a song that remains, as its title suggests, gentle on our minds.

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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