Gentle On My Mind

Oh, Benny Mart, now
 It's knowin' that your door is always open
 And your path is free to walk
 
 That makes me tend to leave, my sleepin' bag
 Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
 And it's knowin' I'm not shackled by forgotten words and bonds
 And the ink stains that have dried upon some lines
 That keeps you in the back roads, by the rivers of my memory
 And keeps you ever gentle on my mind
 Oh, Sam, Sammy Bush
 It's not clingin' to the rocks and ivy
 Planted on their columns now that binds me
 Or somethin' that somebody said
 Because they thought we fit together walkin'
 It's just knowin' that the world will not be cursin' or forgivin'
 When I walk along some railroad track and find
 That you're wavin' from the back roads, by the rivers of my memory
 For hours you're just gentle on my mind
 Although the wheat fields and the curled twines
 And the junkyards and the highways come between us
 And some other woman 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 till I'm blind
 But not to where I cannot see you walkin' on the back roads
 By the rivers flowin' gentle on my mind
 Take Robin and Buddy Ellins
 I dip my cup of soup back from the gurglin'
 Cracklin' cauldron in some train yard
 My beard a roughenin' 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 wavin' from the back roads, by the rivers of my memory
 Ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind