Gentle On My Mind
Embracing Freedom: Memories Kept Gentle
Lyrics
It's knowing that your door is always open
Feeling welcome and knowing there's always a place for me
And your path is free to walk
Feeling free to navigate my own way
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag
Feeling comfortable enough to leave my belongings
Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
Keeping my things stored in your space
And it's knowing I'm not shacked
Feeling unburdened by past issues or promises
By forgotten words and bonds
Not tied down by forgotten commitments or obligations
And the ink stains
Remnants of past troubles that have dried up
That have dried upon some line
Signs of past difficulties that are now resolved
That keeps you in the back roads
Knowing the reasons why I take less traveled paths
By the rivers of my memory
Symbolic description of recalling memories
That keeps you ever gentle on my mind
Feeling the lingering impact of your presence in my memories
It's not clinging to the rocks and I'd be planted
Not being stuck in one place unwillingly
On their columns now that binds me
Not constrained or held back by external factors
Or something that somebody said
Not affected by rumors or opinions about us
Because they thought we fit together walkin'
Not dictated by others' perceptions of our compatibility
It's just knowing that the world will not be cursin' or forgivin'
Knowing the world won't judge or define my actions
When I walk along some railroad track and find
Realizing your movement without judgment or criticism
That you're movin' on the back roads
Understanding your choice to take less common routes
By the rivers of my memory
Recognizing your presence in my thoughts and memories
And for hours you're just gentle on my mind
Feeling the enduring impact of your influence on my mind
I dipped my cup of soap back from
Recalling a moment from the past
A gurglin' cracklin' caltron in some train yard
Describing a specific memory of obtaining water
My beard a roughen coal pile
Depicting a rugged appearance with coal-like beard
And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Masking identity with a dirty hat pulled down
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can
Imagining holding you close in my thoughts
I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
Finding comfort in thoughts of you
That you're waving from the back roads
Imagining your movement along less traveled paths
By the river of my memories
Relating your presence to my memories
Ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind
Feeling the enduring warmth of your memory
That you're waving from the back roads
Reiterating your presence in my thoughts
By the river of my memories
Emphasizing the lasting impact you've left on my memories
Ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind
Highlighting the enduring, gentle impact of your memory on my mind
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