Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, T… Read Full Bio ↴Gilmore is a native of the Texas Panhandle, having been born in Amarillo, Texas and raised in Lubbock, Texas. His earliest musical influence was Hank Williams and the honky tonk brand of country music that his father played. In the 1950s, he was exposed to the emerging rock and roll of other Texans such as Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash and Lubbock native Buddy Holly. He was profoundly influenced in the 1960s by the likes of The Beatles and Bob Dylan and the folk music and blues revival in that decade.

Gilmore also played "Smokey" in The Big Lebowski

My Mind's Got a Mind of Its Own
Jimmie Dale Gilmore Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

My mind's got a mind of its own
It takes me out a walkin' when I'd rather stay at home
Takes me out to parties when I'd rather be alone
My mind's got a mind of its own

I've been doing things I thought I'd never do
I've been getting into trouble without ever meaning to
I'd as soon settle down but I'm right back up again

I feel just like a leaf out in the wind.

(chorus)

I seem to forget half the things I start
I try to build a house and then I tear the place apart
I freeze myself on fire and then I burn myself on ice
I can't count to one without thinking twice

(chorus)

I tell myself to do the things I should
And then I get to thinkin' that them things ain't any good.

I tell myself the truth but know I'm lying like a snake
You can't walk on water at the bottom of a lake.

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Jimmie Dale Gilmore's song "My Mind's Got a Mind of Its Own" delve into the complexities of human consciousness and how we often feel like we have little control over our minds. The opening lyric, "My mind's got a mind of its own," sets the stage for the rest of the song. He goes on to describe how his mind takes him places he doesn't necessarily want to go, like parties when he wants to be alone. In these moments, he feels like he's just along for the ride, as if his mind is acting of its own accord.

Throughout the song, Gilmore laments the way his mind seems to betray him, leading him to do things he never thought he would, getting into trouble without meaning to, and forgetting half the things he starts. He captures the sense of helplessness and frustration that often accompanies these experiences with evocative lines like, "I feel just like a leaf out in the wind."

But the song doesn't just focus on the negative aspects of the mind's wanderings. Gilmore also highlights the duality of human nature, how we often tell ourselves to do one thing, but then feel conflicted. He uses the metaphor of walking on water at the bottom of a lake to illustrate the impossibility of reconciling these conflicting impulses.

Overall, "My Mind's Got it's Own" is a poignant meditation on the nature of consciousness, and how our minds can be both our greatest ally and our greatest enemy.

Line by Line Meaning

My mind's got a mind of its own
My thoughts and actions are often not in my control and I feel powerless over them.

It takes me out a walkin' when I'd rather stay at home
My mind leads me to do things that I initially resist or don't want to do.

Takes me out to parties when I'd rather be alone
My mind urges me to be social, even when I desire solitude.

I've been doing things I thought I'd never do
I have behaved in ways that are surprising, unexpected or against my own morals.

I've been getting into trouble without ever meaning to
I have repeatedly found myself in problem situations unintentionally or inadvertently.

I'd as soon settle down but I'm right back up again
I have a hard time acting soberly for a sustained period of time and often return to my old habits.

I feel just like a leaf out in the wind.
I feel helpless and directionless like a leaf that is tossed around by the wind.

I seem to forget half the things I start
I have a habit of leaving things unfinished or forgetting what I started in the first place.

I try to build a house and then I tear the place apart
I struggle to complete or maintain my projects, often sabotaging my own efforts.

I freeze myself on fire and then I burn myself on ice
I experience conflicting or paradoxical feelings or thoughts that make it hard to make a decision or take action.

I can't count to one without thinking twice
I second-guess myself excessively, even when making small or simple decisions.

I tell myself to do the things I should
I try to do what's right and responsible, even if it's hard or uncomfortable.

And then I get to thinkin' that them things ain't any good.
I begin to doubt or question the value or worthiness of my own actions or intentions.

I tell myself the truth but know I'm lying like a snake
I deceive myself by rationalizing my own behavior or thoughts, even when they are not true or honest.

You can't walk on water at the bottom of a lake.
I recognize that some things are not possible and that I must accept the limitations of reality.

Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: BUTCH HANCOCK

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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