Gentle on My Mind – Elvis Presley

About The Song

“Gentle on My Mind” is a song recorded by Elvis Presley in 1969, featured in his album “From Elvis in Memphis.” Originally written by John Hartford, the song became a classic in the country and folk genres, and Elvis’s rendition added a unique touch to the track.

Five facts about “Gentle on My Mind – Elvis Presley – 1969”:

Original Version: “Gentle on My Mind” was written and first recorded by John Hartford in 1967. Glen Campbell’s version of the song became a hit and won four Grammy Awards in 1968. Elvis Presley’s rendition added a different dimension to the song, incorporating his distinctive vocal style.
Album Inclusion: The song is part of Elvis Presley’s 1969 album “From Elvis in Memphis,” a pivotal release in his career as it marked a return to his musical roots and showcased a diverse range of genres, including country, soul, and rock.
Grammy Nominations: Elvis’s version of “Gentle on My Mind” earned him a Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Male Solo Vocal Performance. Although he didn’t win in this category, the nomination highlighted the song’s impact and Presley’s ability to interpret diverse musical styles.
Recording Session: The recording of “Gentle on My Mind” took place at American Sound Studio in Memphis, with producer Chips Moman. The studio sessions during this period are praised for capturing the essence of Elvis’s emotive vocals and the overall authenticity of his performance.
Musical Style: Elvis’s rendition retains the folk-country feel of the original but adds his own vocal nuances and a touch of rock, showcasing his ability to put his signature stamp on a song. “Gentle on My Mind” reflects the evolution of Elvis’s musical style during his comeback phase in the late 1960s.

Video

Lyrics

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 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 clingin’ to the rocks and ivy
Planted on their columns now that bind me
Or something that somebody said because

They thought we fit together walkin’
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 movin’ 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 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

I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin’ cracklin’ cauldron
In some train yard
My beard a rustlin’ 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 waitin’ from the back roads

By the rivers of my memory
Ever smilin’, ever gentle on my mind