Gentle On My Mind
View chords used in this chart
Capo 6
INTRO G
verse 1
G GM7/F# Em
It's knowing that your door is always open
G/D Am
And your path is free to walk
Am AmM7 Am7
That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag
D G
Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
G GM7/F#
And it's knowing I'm not shackled
Em G/D
By forgotten words and bonds
G G Am
And the ink stains that are dried upon some line
Am AmM7
That keeps you on the back roads
Am7 D
By the rivers of my memory
Am D G
That keeps you ever gentle on my mind
verse 2
G GM7/F#
It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy
Em G/D Am
Planted on their columns now that bind me
Am AmM7
Or something that somebody said
Am7 D G
Because they thought we fit together walking
G GM7/F# Em
It's just knowing that the world will not be cursing
G/D G Am
Or forgiving when I walk along some railroad track and find
Am AmM7
That you're moving on the back roads
Am7 D
By the rivers of my memory
Am D G
And for hours you're just gentle on my mind
verse 3
G GM7/F#
Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines
Em G/D Am
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
Am AmM7 Am7
And some other woman's cryin' to her mother
D G
'Cause she turned and I was gone
G GM7/F# Em G/D
I still might run in silence tears of joy might stain my face
G Am
And the summer sun might burn me 'til I'm blind
Am AmM7 Am7 D
Oh but not to where I cannot see you walkin' on the back roads
Am D G
By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind
verse 4
G GM7/F# Em
I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin'
G/D Am
Cracklin' cauldron in some train yard
Am AmM7 Am7
My beard* a rustling, a cold towel,
D G
A dirty hat pulled low across my face (across my face)
G GM7/F#
Through cupped hands 'round the tin can
Em G/D Am
I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
Am AmM7
That you're waiting from the back roads
Am7 D
By the rivers of my memories
Am D G
Ever smilin' ever gentle on my mind
OUTRO
Gentle on my mind
Em/G EmM7/G G
You are gentle on my mind
Em/G EmM7/G G G
Ooh yeah
--
*Awkward singer gender change problems.
How to play Gentle On My Mind
Use the controls above to change the key and text size. Follow the highlighted chords while listening, then practice each section slowly before playing at the original tempo.
What is the starting chord?
The first identified chord is G. You can transpose without leaving the page.
Can I play it on guitar or keyboard?
Yes. The chord progression works on acoustic guitar, electric guitar and keyboard. Adapt the voicings to your instrument and level.