[00:12.16]It's knowing that your door is always open and your path is free to walk
[00:22.55]That makes me tend to leave my sleeping bag rolled up and stashed behind your couch
[00:32.65]And it's knowing I'm not shackled by forgotten words and bonds
[00:37.57]And the ink stains that have dried upon some line
[00:45.69]That keeps you on the back roads by the rivers of my memory
[00:51.00]Keeps you ever gentle on my mind
[00:58.09]It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy planted in a row that bind me
[01:08.60]Or something that somebody said because they thought we fit together walking
[01:18.16]It's knowing that the world will not be cursing or forgiving
[01:23.60]When I walk along some railroad track and find
[01:31.00]That you're moving on the back roads by the rivers of my memory for hours you're just gentle on my mind
[01:56.81]Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines and the junkyards and the highways come between us
[02:06.71]And some other woman's crying to her mother
[02:10.71]She turned and love was gone
[02:16.93]I still might run in silence, tears of joy might stain my face
[02:22.36]The summer sun might burn me till I'm blind
[02:29.90]But not to where I cannot see you walking on the back roads
[02:35.01]By the rivers flowing gentle on my mind
[02:42.58]I dip my cup of soup back from the gurgling crackling cauldron in some train yard
[02:53.02]My beard a rustling coal pile a dirty hat pulled low across my face
[03:03.00]Through cupped hands 'round a tin can I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
[03:13.06]That you're waving from the back roads by the rivers of my memory
[03:18.36]Ever smiling, ever gentle on my mind
[03:39.24]oh~