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 have dried upon some line
That keeps you on the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
It keeps you ever gentle on my mind.
It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy
Planted on their columns now that binds me
Or something that somebody said
Because they thought we fit together walking
Its 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 backroads
By the rivers of my memory
And for hours you're just gentle on my mind.
Through the wheat fields and the clotheslines
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman crying to her mother
Cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence
Tears of joy might stain my face
And a summer sun might burn me till I'm blind
But not to where I cannot see you
Walking on the backroads
By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind.
The shutters creak and autumn winds
That make me draw inside myself in silence
Cross-legged now I sit and watch
The endless chase of leaves across my yard
And laying down my hairbrush
I lean back within my window seat and find
That you're moving on the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
Ever smiling ever gentle on my mind.
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can
I pretend I hold you to my breast and find
That you're waving from the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind.
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 have dried upon some line
That keeps you on the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
It keeps you ever gentle on my mind.
It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy
Planted on their columns now that binds me
Or something that somebody said
Because they thought we fit together walking
Its 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 backroads
By the rivers of my memory
And for hours you're just gentle on my mind.
Through the wheat fields and the clotheslines
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman crying to her mother
Cause she turned and I was gone
I still might run in silence
Tears of joy might stain my face
And a summer sun might burn me till I'm blind
But not to where I cannot see you
Walking on the backroads
By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind.
The shutters creak and autumn winds
That make me draw inside myself in silence
Cross-legged now I sit and watch
The endless chase of leaves across my yard
And laying down my hairbrush
I lean back within my window seat and find
That you're moving on the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
Ever smiling ever gentle on my mind.
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can
I pretend I hold you to my breast and find
That you're waving from the backroads
By the rivers of my memory
Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind.