(INTRO) C | | | | (VERSE 1) C Cmaj7 C6 It's knowing that your door is always open C Dm And your path is free to walk Dm Dmmaj7 Dm7 That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag G C Rolled up and stashed behind your couch C Cmaj7 And it's knowing I'm not shackled C6 C By forgotten words and bonds C C Dm And the ink stains that are dried upon some line Dm Dmmaj7 That keeps you on the back roads Dm7 G By the rivers of my memory Dm G C That keeps you ever gentle on my mind (VERSE 2) C Cmaj7 It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy C6 C Dm Planted on their columns now that binds me Dm Dmmaj7 Or something that somebo - dy said Dm7 G C Because they thought we fit together walking C Cmaj7 C6 C It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving C Dm7 when I walk along some railroad track and find Dm Dmmaj7 That you're moving on the back roads Dm7 G By the rivers of my memory Dm G C And for hours you're just gentle on my mind (VERSE 3) C Cmaj7 Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines C6 C Dm7 And the junkyards and the highways come between us Dm Dmmaj7 Dm7 And some other woman's cryin' to her mother G C 'Cause she turned and I was gone C Cmaj7 C6 C I still might run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face C Dm7 And the summer sun might burn me 'til I'm blind Dm Dmmaj7 Dm7 G Oh, but not to where I cannot see you walkin' on the back roads Dm G C By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind (VERSE 4) C Cmaj7 C6 I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin', C Dm Cracklin' cauldron in some train yard Dm Dmmaj7 My beard a rustling, a cold towel, Dm7 G C and a dirty hat pulled low across my face C Cmaj7 Through cupped hands 'round the tin can C6 C Dm7 I pretend to hold you to my breast and find Dm Dmmaj7 That you're waiting from the back roads Dm7 G7 By the rivers of my memories Dm G C | Csus4 | C | C7sus4 | C | Ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind