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Credits
PERFORMING ARTISTS
Elvis Presley
Lead Vocals
Albert Edelman
Violin
Anna Oldham
Violin
Anne Kendall
Cello
Bobby Emmons
Organ
Bobby Wood
Piano
Donna Thatcher
Background Vocals
Ed Kollis
Harmonica
Edward Freudberg
Violin
Gene Chrisman
Drums
Glen Spreen
Saxophone
Gloria Hendricks
Violin
Hal Saunders
Violin
Jack Jr. Hale
Trombone
Jackie Thomas
Trombone
Joe D'Gerolamo
French Horn
John Wehlan
Viola
Mary Holladay
Background Vocals
Mary Snyder
Viola
Mike Leech
Bass Guitar
Noel Gilbert
Violin
Nono Ravarino
Viola
Peter Spurbeck
Cello
R.F. Taylor
Trumpet
Reggie Young
Electric Guitar
Robert Snyder
Violin
Ronnie Milsap
Piano
Sandy Posey
Background Vocals
TOMMY COGBILL
Bass Guitar
Tony Cason
French Horn
Vernon Taylor
Viola
Wayne Jackson
Trumpet
COMPOSITION & LYRICS
PRODUCTION & ENGINEERING
Chips Moman
Producer
Felton Jarvis
Producer
Al Pachucki
Engineer
Roy Shockley
Engineer
Lyrics
It's knowin' that your door is always open
And your path is free to walk
That makes me tend to keep my sleeping bag rolled up
And stashed behind your couch
It's knowin' I'm not shackled
By forgotten words and bonds
And the ink stains that have dried up on some lovin'
That keeps you in the back roads
By the rivers of my memory
It keeps you ever gentle on my mind
It's not clinging to the rocks and ivy
Planted on their columns now that bind me
Or something that somebody said
Because they thought we'd fit together walkin'
It's just knowing that the world will not be cursin'
Or forgivin' when I walk along some railroad track and find
That you're moving 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 junk yards 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 'til I'm blind
But not to where I cannot see you
Walking in the back roads
By the rivers flowing gently on my mind
I dip my cup of soup back from a gurgling
Cracking cauldron in some train yard
My beard a roughening coal pile
And a dirty hat pulled low across my face
Through cupped hands around the 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 smiling ever gentle on my mind
Writer(s): Sid Tepper, Roy C. Bennett
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