Presley was born in Tupelo, Mississippi, and relocated to Memphis, Tennessee, with his family when he was 13 years old. His music career began there in 1954, recording at Sun Records with producer Sam Phillips, who wanted to bring the sound of African American music to a wider audience. Accompanied by guitarist Scotty Moore and bassist Bill Black, Presley was a pioneer of rockabilly, an uptempo, backbeat-driven fusion of country music and rhythm and blues. In 1955, drummer D. J. Fontana joined to complete the lineup of Presley's classic quartet and RCA Victor acquired his contract in a deal arranged by Colonel Tom Parker, who would manage the singer for more than two decades. Presley's first RCA single, "Heartbreak Hotel", was released in January 1956 and became a number one hit in the United States. With a series of successful network television appearances and chart-topping records, he became the leading figure of the newly popular sound of rock and roll. His energized interpretations of songs and sexually provocative performance style, combined with a singularly potent mix of influences across color lines during a transformative era in race relations, made him enormously popular—and controversial.
In November 1956, Presley made his film debut in Love Me Tender. Drafted into military service in 1958, Presley relaunched his recording career two years later with some of his most commercially successful work. He held few concerts however, and guided by Parker, proceeded to devote much of the 1960s to making Hollywood movies and soundtrack albums, most of them critically derided. In 1968, following a seven-year break from live performances, he returned to the stage in the acclaimed television comeback special Elvis, which led to an extended Las Vegas concert residency and a string of highly profitable tours. In 1973, Presley gave the first concert by a solo artist to be broadcast around the world, Aloha from Hawaii. Years of prescription drug abuse severely compromised his health, and he died suddenly in 1977 at his Graceland estate, just 42 years of age.
Presley is one of the most celebrated and influential musicians of the 20th century. Commercially successful in many genres, including pop, country, blues, and gospel, he is the best-selling solo artist in the history of recorded music. He won three competitive Grammys, received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award at age 36, and has been inducted into multiple music halls of fame.
Gentle on My Mind
Elvis Presley Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
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
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
The lyrics to Elvis Presley's song Gentle On My Mind speak about the simplicity and freedom of love that is not burdened by material possessions or societal expectations. The song expresses the idea that love is not about external symbols of commitment like wedding rings or words spoken in ceremony, but it is instead about an intrinsic emotional connection between two people that transcends time and space. The opening lines refer to the feeling of comfort that the singer experiences knowing that their partner's door is always open and their path is free to walk. This simple gesture signifies a welcoming acceptance into their lover's life. The singer then goes on to express gratitude for the fact that their love is not tied down by forgotten words and bonds, which reminds the listener of the freedom that comes with not being bogged down with societal expectations. The song's refrain, which repeats the line "by the rivers of my memory", suggests that this love is not limited by time or distance and that the memory of the love impacts the singer wherever they go. Ultimately, the lyrics to Gentle On My Mind tell the story of a love that is free from societal constraints while remaining forever present in the singer's heart.
Line by Line Meaning
It's knowin' that your door is always open
Knowing that you are always approachable and accepting.
And your path is free to walk
And you always allow people to follow their own path without judgement.
That makes me tend to leave my sleepin' bag
This encourages me to leave my comfort zone.
Rolled up and stashed behind your couch
And take risks, leaving my belongings behind.
And it's knowin' I'm not shackled
And understanding that I am not tied down.
By forgotten words and bonds
And I am not held back by any past regrets or commitments.
And the ink stains that have dried upon some line
Nor by memories of things that were said or written in the past.
That keeps you in the back roads
This allows me to feel free to explore the less-traveled roads in life.
By the rivers of my memory
And holds a special place in my thoughts and memories.
That keeps you ever gentle on my mind
Which keeps you forever in my thoughts in a comforting way.
It's not clingin' to the rocks and ivy
It isn't holding on to the past and things that no longer serve me.
Planted on their columns now that bind me
Holding me back from living my true life.
Or something that somebody said because
Or it isn't something that someone else said to try to make me stay.
They thought we fit together walkin'
Trying to force a relationship that isn't meant to be.
It's just knowing that the world
It's simply understanding that the world will keep turning.
Will not be cursing or forgiving
It won't condemn me or offer me forgiveness for my choices.
When I walk along some railroad track and find
When I'm out exploring and find new adventures.
That you're movin' on the back roads
Knowing that you are exploring new areas as well.
Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines
Even though distance and time may separate us.
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And even though we may follow different paths.
And some other woman's cryin' to her mother
And other people may experience heartbreak along the way.
'Cause she turned and I was gone
Because I chose to move on with my life.
I still might run in silence
I may still be sad, though I don't show it.
Tears of joy might stain my face
And I may feel emotional at the memories we shared.
And the summer sun might burn me till I'm blind
And I may have to weather hard times and difficult situations.
But not to where I cannot see
But despite this, I never lose sight of you.
You walkin' on the back roads
And I always imagine you exploring new areas.
By the rivers flowin' gentle on my mind
In a way that is calming and constant, reminding me of the good times we had.
I dip my cup of soup back from a gurglin' cracklin' cauldron
I find comfort in mundane, everyday activities.
In some train yard
Even if I'm in a bland or dirty location.
My beard a rustlin' coal pile
Even if I have let my appearance go.
And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
And I am not concerned about presenting myself perfectly to others.
Through cupped hands 'round a tin can
By using my imagination and memories.
I pretend to hold you to my breast and find
I have the ability to conjure up your presence and feel your love.
That you're waitin' from the back roads
Knowing that you may be waiting for me somewhere far-off.
By the rivers of my memory
In my imagination and treasured memories.
Ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind
Always warm and loving, making me feel comforted even when we are apart.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: John Hartford
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Mr966496
A lot of people covered this song but no one can compare to Elvis’s version. The vibrato in his voice is beyond words.
@user-rq8pj3zm7r
Engelbert and Dean Martin did a great job too
@flawlesswhoreless7691
@michael jackson dean Martin did an amazing job 10%
@raymondturner1478
@Flawless Whoreless Dean lacks the emotion of Elvis by a long way.
@keetonplace
Glen Campbell was very good! Such great words by John Hartford.
@sacramentocheesehog9195
Then you gotta listen to glen Campbell
@bradhuskers
Elvis's soul depth and diversity remain unmatched.
An iconic artist, the likes of which may never be seen again.
@vanillac7383
Elvis could sing any song ever written and make everyone of them sound great
Like no other
Gone But Not Forgotten ❤️
@compassionistheway4300
Sounds like God came down to earth from celestial realm to give us this gift in the form of this beautiful song. Heavenly voice. Thanks Bruce for loading this. What a gift you have shared with us all. Elvis lives on, forever sharing his heavenly gift.
@sleepyjean4275
God had nothing to do with it , Gladys and Vernon gave him his genes.