Gentle on my mind
Nancy Wilson Lyrics


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Once I laughed when I heard you saying
That I'd be playing solitaire
Uneasy in my easy chair
It never entered my mind

And once you told me I was mistaken
That I'd awaken with the sun
And ordered orange juice for one
It never entered my mind
You had what I lack, myself
Now I even have to scratch my back myself

Once you warned me that if you scorned me
I'd say a lonely prayer again
And wish that you were there again
To get into my hair again
It never entered my mind

Once you warned me that if you scorned me
I'd say a lonely prayer again
And wish that you were there again




To get into my hair again
It never entered my mind

Overall Meaning

In Nancy Wilson's rendition of "Gentle on my mind," the lyrics are an introspective narrative about a lover who once laughed at the idea of being alone, but now finds themselves without their partner. The song opens with the singer admitting that they never thought they would be in the position they currently find themselves in, which is wallowing in solitude as they play solitaire. The next stanza continues with the theme of denial and disbelief, as they recall how their partner told them they would eventually awaken alone, but they refused to believe it, instead ordering orange juice for one. The singer's tone then shifts to one of resentment as they acknowledge that their partner had what they lacked, and they are now forced to do even menial tasks such as scratch their own back.


The penultimate stanza is particularly poignant, as the singer recalls their former partner warning them that if they were ever scorned, they would pray for their presence once again, even if it meant enduring the same frustrations as before. The last stanza repeats this warning, emphasizing the pain and longing that the singer feels for their partner. The line "to get into my hair again" is an interesting turn of phrase, as it suggests that the singer longs to argue and bicker with their partner again, which would be better than the isolation they currently face.


Overall, "Gentle on my mind" is a song that captures the melancholy and nostalgia of lost love, with a deep emphasis on the ways in which we take our relationships for granted and fail to appreciate their importance until it is too late.


Line by Line Meaning

Once I laughed when I heard you saying
I used to laugh when you'd mention that I might end up alone someday.


That I'd be playing solitaire
That I'd be sitting by myself, playing cards.


Uneasy in my easy chair
Feeling restless and uncomfortable in my own home.


It never entered my mind
I never even considered that as a possibility.


And once you told me I was mistaken
You once corrected me when I was wrong about something.


That I'd awaken with the sun
That I'd be up early in the morning.


And ordered orange juice for one
And ordered a drink for myself, instead of for both of us.


It never entered my mind
I never considered that things would change so much between us.


You had what I lack, myself
You were already self-sufficient and I had to learn to be as well.


Now I even have to scratch my back myself
I have to take care of myself completely, even small things like scratching my back.


Once you warned me that if you scorned me
You once cautioned me that if you ever left me alone, I would feel lonely again.


I'd say a lonely prayer again
I'd pray to have you back again.


And wish that you were there again
And long for your company.


To get into my hair again
To annoy me and get on my nerves again.


It never entered my mind
I never imagined that I would miss you like this.




Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LORENZ HART, RICHARD RODGERS

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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