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schlange - Posted - 08/04/2014: 11:16:49
"Gentle On My Mind" was written by the great John Hartford and released on his 2nd album, 1967's "Earthwords & Music." In 1968 it won 2 Grammy Awards, one for Hartford for "Best Folk Performance" and the second for "Best Country & Western Solo Vocal Performance, Male" to country singer Glen Campbell for his version.
It's a unique and beautiful folk tune with wonderfully poetic lyrics. My favorite line has always been "I dip my cup of soup back from the gurglin' cracklin' cauldron in some train yard..."
According to Hartford, the song only took about 30 minutes to write. He later said, "While I was writing it, if I had any idea that was going to be a hit, it probably would have come out differently and it wouldn't have been a hit. That just came real fast, a blaze, a blur."
The song has been recorded by numerous other artists including Elvis Presley, Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, R.E.M, Johnny Cash, Brian Setzer and others. See the playlist to the right for various versions I found.
Played in lots of different keys--I've heard recordings of Hartford doing it in C, D, and A. Others (like IIIrd Tyme Out) do it in E. Gotta play it to fit the voice!
Lyrics
It's knowin' that your door is always open
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
That keeps you in the back roads, 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 binds me
Or somethin' that somebody said
Because they thought we fit together walkin'
It's just knowin' that the world will not be cursin' or forgivin'
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 clotheslines
And the junkyards and the highways come between us
And some other woman 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 the gurglin'
Cracklin' cauldron in some train yard
My beard a roughenin' 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 wavin' from the back roads, by the rivers of my memory
Ever smilin', ever gentle on my mind
Learn the Tune:
- Hear It using the GrooveShark playlist to the right.
- Casey Henry has posted a lesson teaching you the lead break for this tune using the "Murphy Method"--by ear, no tab! Lesson is only $6 thru the end of the week. Get it here >
- Backing Tracks: Band in a Box tracks are included below at various speeds for your practicing pleasure.
- Tabs: there are a few posted on the BHO, including one from Jack Baker.
Share!
I (and others) would love to hear (and see!) you play your version of this tune--post it in a reply below!
Jack Baker - Posted - 08/04/2014: 13:07:42
Eric,
This is one I've never tabbed out except a basic sketch to teach with. There were so many tunings that John played this in that I could never choose one to tab out.
The performance with Glen Campbell and John Hartford is one of the best versions I've ever seen John, and later on with Glen, play. Glen Campbell made this song into a mega hit many years ago. John's friendship with Glenn was cemented forever.
John was a very special man not to mention his incredible talent. He forged a style which was completely his own...I still miss John...He came to NYC for awhile years ago and asked me how I liked his new song Gentle On My Mind and that Chet Atkins said it would be a mega hit.
I replied "great song John, but a mega hit? well i hope so" John teased me about that prediction for years. My wife Ellen also got to meet him and of course instantly loved him as a person etc.
I got to know John pretty well and he often talked about growing up in upstate NY. John was wonderful and modest about it all....Jack
Edited by - Jack Baker on 08/04/2014 13:16:57
lonesomepicker - Posted - 08/04/2014: 19:30:58
Just FYI, the Kingston Trio never recorded this song, though it's one I'd love to have heard them do. Maybe I can plant the seeds of thought next time I see them in a couple of weeks.
jbrookeiii - Posted - 08/05/2014: 06:29:28
That crackling cauldron is my favorite lyric too!
Edited by - jbrookeiii on 08/05/2014 06:29:54
schlange - Posted - 08/05/2014: 09:10:17
quote:
Originally posted by lonesomepicker
Just FYI, the Kingston Trio never recorded this song, though it's one I'd love to have heard them do. Maybe I can plant the seeds of thought next time I see them in a couple of weeks.
Ah, you are correct! What happened is I was searching for versions in GrooveShark, and found one labeled as the Kingston Trio--then later listened to it and noticed it was just another version from John Hartford. Removed it from the GrooveShark playlist, but forgot to remove them from the writeup! Just did though.
chuckv97 - Posted - 08/05/2014: 09:24:51
What a great piece of poetic writing! Yeah,love the line noted above,also the one about the" wheatfields and the clothes lines ,and the junkyards and the highways come between us". It was huge in my musical mind in the late 60's. I heard John was out of town when Glen recorded it ,so Doug Dillard played the banjo on it. Anyone know if this is true?
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 08/05/2014: 09:43:34
Eric: I love this tune - would it be okay for me to post something here?
schlange - Posted - 08/05/2014: 09:57:47
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence Diehl
Eric: I love this tune - would it be okay for me to post something here?
Absolutely, that's what these weekly posts are all about! Post your own version, discuss it, etc.
KidfromDeliverance - Posted - 08/05/2014: 11:51:58
Kind of difficult picturing Frank stashing his sleeping bag behind someone's couch, though . . .
chuckv97 - Posted - 08/05/2014: 13:40:21
Hmmm,yeah. Not sure if Aretha ever slept in a railside hobo jungle either.....lol
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 08/06/2014: 13:58:08
quote:
Originally posted by schlange
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence Diehl
Eric: I love this tune - would it be okay for me to post something here?
Absolutely, that's what these weekly posts are all about! Post your own version, discuss it, etc.
Thanks for letting me be a part of this! Here is my take on it. I found the tune to be both simple and complicated at the same time. It is a very simple melody, basically 2 notes, which gives you a lot of freedom to experiment - also a lot of freedom to make bad notes! 
The descending line is a nice thing to build your solo around, but can also get repetitive so I would often leave it out, and let the backing track carry it as a counterpoint. This tune works great in Scruggs style, melodic or single string so I threw in a little of each. I didn't realize I was playing for over 4 minutes (got carried away by the hypnotic groove) so my apologies for the unfocussed noodling at the end.
rickhayes - Posted - 08/06/2014: 14:10:56
That was a most enjoyable ride Laurence.
schlange - Posted - 08/06/2014: 14:46:07
Sounds great as always, Laurence!
Jim Yates - Posted - 08/06/2014: 15:10:07
John's dynamics are one of the (many) things I love about his playing and Laurence has captured that. Super job Laurence.
Lew H - Posted - 08/06/2014: 15:15:16
Laurence, Great picking! I love the improvisations!
chuckv97 - Posted - 08/06/2014: 17:12:49
Excellent Laurence - makes me want to grab my banjo and work on it myself. Thanks.
gregsquared - Posted - 08/06/2014: 18:19:36
YouTube has a clip of John Hartford (banjo) and Glen Campbell (guitar) singing a duet of "Gentle on my Mind" on the Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour on March 3, 1968.
The tune popped up on another episode of Smothers Brothers -- the way I remember it, Tommy was singing to a lady in a kangaroo suit:
It's knowin' that your door is always open
And your path is free to walk
That makes me tend to leave my sleepin' bag
Rolled up and stashed behind your pouch
Laurence Diehl - Posted - 08/06/2014: 21:31:37
quote:
Originally posted by chuckv97
Excellent Laurence - makes me want to grab my banjo and work on it myself. Thanks.
Thanks Chuck, I look forward to hearing it, and hopefully,some other versions too!
Catman - Posted - 08/07/2014: 03:48:50
I never knew that "Gentle On My Mind" would sound this good played as an instrumental. Really enjoyed your playing and improvisation on this tune Laurence. Great job. Thanks
Ragaisis - Posted - 08/07/2014: 10:55:45
I transcribed the version John played on his solo video project and posted it to the tab archive what would be a year ago tomorrow. ;-) Tony Trischka worked it out, as well, and our tabs vary only by an occasional picking hand choice (using thumb or finger), so I'm pretty sure it's exactly what John played. Enjoy!
pickincat - Posted - 08/08/2014: 22:14:31
WOW. Memory lane. It was the early 90s. John played at the Arvada Center of Performing Arts in Colorado. Lannie Garrett was the opening act. Every song John played was like hearing it brand new. When he played Gentle On My Mind my heart just kinda melted into the song like it never had before.
Jack Baker - Posted - 08/09/2014: 18:58:29
Hi Eric,
Here is a transcription which was originally done via Youtube by Chris Ragaisis. I hope my additions are ok with Chris. He does some excellent transcribing and this one by John Hartford is right on the money.
The backup chords I chose were taken from several Youtube versions of this song...Jack p.s. John's phrasing in this song is wild
Gentle On My Mind
Edited by - Jack Baker on 08/09/2014 19:13:08
Jack Baker - Posted - 08/09/2014: 19:25:04
Laurence,
You are simply amazing. What a great arrangement and some pretty daring stuff in there...
...Jack
quote:
Originally posted by Laurence Diehl
Garyflksngr - Posted - 08/10/2014: 19:08:14
Probably the greatest song ever written. I met John in 1971 at a blue grass festival in Noble, Oklahoma. His passing left a big hole in my musical life. Here is my version.
MOUNTAIN GOAT - Posted - 08/10/2014: 20:56:48
Really cool stuff Jack and Laurence. Really cool.
Thanks
Jack Baker - Posted - 08/10/2014: 21:12:37
Here is the song again at the proper tempo...Jack
Gentle On My Mind
Originally posted by Jack Baker
Hi
Eric,
Here is a transcription which was originally done via Youtube by Chris Ragaisis. I hope my additions are ok with Chris. He does some excellent transcribing and this one by John Hartford is right on the money.
The backup chords I chose were taken from several Youtube versions of this song...Jack p.s. John's phrasing in this song is wild
Edited by - Jack Baker on 08/10/2014 21:14:17
sangrej - Posted - 08/16/2014: 11:31:41
I used to tell people about John Hartford before he became so well-known. I'd always just say, "He's the guy that used to stand up in the audience, playing the banjo at the beginning of The Glen Campbell Show", and everybody knew who I meant. Of course, the show I was referring to was the summer replacement show that took over the Smothers Brothers' time slot during their first summer hiatus. Guess it was summer of '67. And as I remember, it was Gentle On My Mind that he played as the theme song for that show. "Another good thing has done gone on."
