Country, Folk

Gentle on My Mind Chords

Glen Campbell Beginner Key of C 5 Chords 4 min read

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Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Capo

None

Chords

C · Dm · G · Am · F

Glen Campbell’s classic folk-country song about the lingering memory of a free-spirited love. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

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Tip: Use a light touch and let the chords ring out to match the song’s gentle feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

It’s knowing that your door is always open

F C

And your path is free to walk

C G

That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag

F C

Rolled up and stashed behind your couch

F C

And it’s knowing I’m not shackled

F C

By forgotten words and bonds

F C G

And the ink stains that have dried upon some line

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 2

C G

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines

F C

And the junk yards and the highways come between us

C G

And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother

F C

‘Cause she turned and I was gone

F C F C

I still run in silence till new muddy waters run

F C G

And the summer sun come beating down

F C

To burn me on the ground

F G

And I run to your front porch

F C G

And that evenin’ hush is fallin’

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 3

C G

And it’s knowing you’re not tied

F C

To the wharves down in the quay

C G

Or the drifting in the winds

F C

That start to freeze around my head

F C

And the strings of my old guitar

F C

To the whispers of the weeds

F C G

That run along the banks and whine

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, alternating bass note pattern with your thumb on the C and G chords to create the song’s signature rolling feel.

Ctap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-C-E-A

Chords

C · Dm · G · Am · F

Glen Campbell’s classic folk-country song about the lingering memory of a free-spirited love. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light touch and let the chords ring out to match the song’s gentle feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

It’s knowing that your door is always open

F C

And your path is free to walk

C G

That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag

F C

Rolled up and stashed behind your couch

F C

And it’s knowing I’m not shackled

F C

By forgotten words and bonds

F C G

And the ink stains that have dried upon some line

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 2

C G

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines

F C

And the junk yards and the highways come between us

C G

And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother

F C

‘Cause she turned and I was gone

F C F C

I still run in silence till new muddy waters run

F C G

And the summer sun come beating down

F C

To burn me on the ground

F G

And I run to your front porch

F C G

And that evenin’ hush is fallin’

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 3

C G

And it’s knowing you’re not tied

F C

To the wharves down in the quay

C G

Or the drifting in the winds

F C

That start to freeze around my head

F C

And the strings of my old guitar

F C

To the whispers of the weeds

F C G

That run along the banks and whine

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, alternating bass note pattern with your thumb on the C and G chords to create the song’s signature rolling feel.

Ctap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Left Hand

Root notes

Chords

C · Dm · G · Am · F

Glen Campbell’s classic folk-country song about the lingering memory of a free-spirited love. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light touch and let the chords ring out to match the song’s gentle feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

It’s knowing that your door is always open

F C

And your path is free to walk

C G

That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag

F C

Rolled up and stashed behind your couch

F C

And it’s knowing I’m not shackled

F C

By forgotten words and bonds

F C G

And the ink stains that have dried upon some line

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 2

C G

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines

F C

And the junk yards and the highways come between us

C G

And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother

F C

‘Cause she turned and I was gone

F C F C

I still run in silence till new muddy waters run

F C G

And the summer sun come beating down

F C

To burn me on the ground

F G

And I run to your front porch

F C G

And that evenin’ hush is fallin’

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 3

C G

And it’s knowing you’re not tied

F C

To the wharves down in the quay

C G

Or the drifting in the winds

F C

That start to freeze around my head

F C

And the strings of my old guitar

F C

To the whispers of the weeds

F C G

That run along the banks and whine

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, alternating bass note pattern with your thumb on the C and G chords to create the song’s signature rolling feel.

Ctap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

gDGBD (Open G)

Chords

C · Dm · G · Am · F

Glen Campbell’s classic folk-country song about the lingering memory of a free-spirited love. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light touch and let the chords ring out to match the song’s gentle feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

It’s knowing that your door is always open

F C

And your path is free to walk

C G

That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag

F C

Rolled up and stashed behind your couch

F C

And it’s knowing I’m not shackled

F C

By forgotten words and bonds

F C G

And the ink stains that have dried upon some line

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 2

C G

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines

F C

And the junk yards and the highways come between us

C G

And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother

F C

‘Cause she turned and I was gone

F C F C

I still run in silence till new muddy waters run

F C G

And the summer sun come beating down

F C

To burn me on the ground

F G

And I run to your front porch

F C G

And that evenin’ hush is fallin’

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 3

C G

And it’s knowing you’re not tied

F C

To the wharves down in the quay

C G

Or the drifting in the winds

F C

That start to freeze around my head

F C

And the strings of my old guitar

F C

To the whispers of the weeds

F C G

That run along the banks and whine

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, alternating bass note pattern with your thumb on the C and G chords to create the song’s signature rolling feel.

Ctap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Tuning

G-D-A-E

Chords

C · Dm · G · Am · F

Glen Campbell’s classic folk-country song about the lingering memory of a free-spirited love. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light touch and let the chords ring out to match the song’s gentle feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

It’s knowing that your door is always open

F C

And your path is free to walk

C G

That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag

F C

Rolled up and stashed behind your couch

F C

And it’s knowing I’m not shackled

F C

By forgotten words and bonds

F C G

And the ink stains that have dried upon some line

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 2

C G

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines

F C

And the junk yards and the highways come between us

C G

And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother

F C

‘Cause she turned and I was gone

F C F C

I still run in silence till new muddy waters run

F C G

And the summer sun come beating down

F C

To burn me on the ground

F G

And I run to your front porch

F C G

And that evenin’ hush is fallin’

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 3

C G

And it’s knowing you’re not tied

F C

To the wharves down in the quay

C G

Or the drifting in the winds

F C

That start to freeze around my head

F C

And the strings of my old guitar

F C

To the whispers of the weeds

F C G

That run along the banks and whine

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, alternating bass note pattern with your thumb on the C and G chords to create the song’s signature rolling feel.

Ctap to play

Dmtap to play

Gtap to play

Amtap to play

Ftap to play

Key

C Major

Difficulty

Beginner

Harp Key

C Diatonic

Chords

C · Dm · G · Am · F

Glen Campbell’s classic folk-country song about the lingering memory of a free-spirited love. Beginner difficulty in the key of C.

Folk Strum (4/4 Time)

↓↓↑↑↓↑

123456

Tip: Use a light touch and let the chords ring out to match the song’s gentle feel.

Lyrics & Chords

Full Song

Verse 1

C G

It’s knowing that your door is always open

F C

And your path is free to walk

C G

That makes me tend to leave my sleepin’ bag

F C

Rolled up and stashed behind your couch

F C

And it’s knowing I’m not shackled

F C

By forgotten words and bonds

F C G

And the ink stains that have dried upon some line

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 2

C G

Though the wheat fields and the clothes lines

F C

And the junk yards and the highways come between us

C G

And some other woman’s cryin’ to her mother

F C

‘Cause she turned and I was gone

F C F C

I still run in silence till new muddy waters run

F C G

And the summer sun come beating down

F C

To burn me on the ground

F G

And I run to your front porch

F C G

And that evenin’ hush is fallin’

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Verse 3

C G

And it’s knowing you’re not tied

F C

To the wharves down in the quay

C G

Or the drifting in the winds

F C

That start to freeze around my head

F C

And the strings of my old guitar

F C

To the whispers of the weeds

F C G

That run along the banks and whine

F C

That keeps you in the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

That keeps you ever gentle on my mind

Chorus

C G

It’s not clinging to the rocks and ivy

F C

Planted on their columns now that bind me

C G

Or something that somebody said

F C

Because they thought we fit together walkin’

F C

It’s just knowing that the world

F C

Will not be cursing or forgiving

F C G

When I walk along some railroad track and find

F C

That you’re moving on the backroads

F G

By the rivers of my memory

F C G

And for hours you’re just gentle on my mind

Practice tip: Focus on the steady, alternating bass note pattern with your thumb on the C and G chords to create the song’s signature rolling feel.