Album: The Genius Hits The Road (1960)

Charted: 24 1

• Georgia, Georgia
  The whole day through (the whole day through)
  Just an old sweet song
  Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
  
  I said Georgia
  Georgia
  A song of you (a song of you)
  Comes as sweet and clear
  As moonlight through the pines
  
  Other arms reach out to me
  Other eyes smile tenderly
  Still in peaceful dreams I see
  The road leads back to you
  
  I said Georgia
  Oh Georgia, no peace I find (no peace I find)
  Just an old sweet song
  Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
  
  Other arms reach out to me
  Other eyes smile tenderly
  Still in peaceful dreams I see
  The road leads back to you
  
  Whoa-whoa, Georgia
  Georgia
  No peace, no peace I find
  Just an old, sweet song
  Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)
  
  I said just an old sweet song
  Keeps Georgia on my mind Lyrics from a song in Public Domain

Comments: 38

• John R from Branson. MissouriI first heard tis version while still in high school. Always loved it and I became a professional musician and later played with people like Sinatra, Sammy Davis, etc. I am writing a transcription of this arrangement for a professional Broadway type show at this very moment. For those who do not believe it is about the state, than what about the line "Comes as clean and clear
  as Moonlight Through The Pines" THAT is Not about a girl.
• Mike Richards Sucks from Ottawa, OntarioStuart Gorrell literally wrote just one song in his life...and this was it!
  Unfortunately he died in 1963, just a couple of years after Charles made the song legendary.
• Bill from CanadaStuart Gorrell was from Indiana not Georgia. He lived in New York City.
• Al Ford from GeorgiaThis song is about the State of Georgia, despite the fact that Carmichael had a sister named Georgia. Stuart Gorrell, who wrote the lyrics was from Georgia, and Carmichael states in one of his 2 biographies that it is about the state.
• Markus from Laguna Niguel, CaliforniaPita ... the movie you seek is "Four Friends" from 1981. Craig Wasson and Jodi Thelen starred.
• Pita from San Diego, California The song by Ray Charles “Georgia on my mind” was the last song on a soundtrack from a movie I thought was also names “Georgia” about three guys and a carefree girl (Georgia) who grew up together and who all quietly fell in love with her. I might be wrong on some details it it was a really good movie way before we had tablets and smartphones to play any movie genre we wanted. So on a cozy rainy day this movie played one Saturday afternoon and I have never forgotten it. A very moving well played story that I’ve asked around and looked for. I want to say Jason Alexander and the tall guy with curly hair from one of the “Ghost Buster” movies were in it and the girl I thought was Marissa Tomei but I looked and I cannot find it.
  Does anyone know what I’m talking about? Cause I sure don’t.
• Jennifur Sun from RamonaStormy, so glad for a sister named Georgia.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn May 19th 1965, Ray Charles performed "Georgia On My Mind" on the ABC-TV program 'Shindig!"...
  Five years earlier on September 26th, 1960 the song entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #94; seven weeks later on November 14th, 1960 it would peak at #1 {for 1 week} and it stayed on the chart for 13 weeks...
  It reached #3 on Billboard's R&B Singles chart; it was the third of five straight Top 10 records by Mr. Charles, started with "Sticks and Stones" {#2}, "Them That Got" {#10}, this one, then "Ruby" {#10}, and finally "Hit the Road Jack" {#1 for 5 weeks}...
  The 'Genius'; born Ray Charles Robinson, passed away on June 10th, 2004 at the age of 73...
  May he R.I.P.
• Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn February 7th 1989, Georgia state representative Billy Randall sponsored a bill to make "Tutti-Frutti" the official state song. The bill did not pass...
  Ten years earlier on April 24th, 1979 the State of Georgia's General Assembly had adopted "Georgia On My Mind" as the official state song.
• Ashley from Edmond, OkCharles + Music = Genius
• Kerry from Greenville, TxWhen "Georgia On My Mind" became Georgia's state song, Ray Charles was invited to sing it in the state capital building in Atlanta. To see and hear this black man honored by the legislature of a state formerly in the Confederacy was a great experience I will never forget.
• Laurent from Manama, BahrainThere are a few live recordings of Deep Purple that features a medley including "Georgia On My Mind" sung by Glenn Hughes.
• Terry from Wakefield, United KingdomPure Soul. Ray's recordings with his Orchestra were an inspiration to British pop R&B singers and musicians like myself in the 60s.
  Saw Ray live at the Victoria Theatre London 1964.
  Unfortunatly Ray did too much jazzy improvisation on 'Georgia On My Mind' and in my mind ruined it.
  The trouble with many famous artistes is maybe not being satisfied with the recorded version that is imprinted in our minds and messing about with notes and tempo's etc. Elvis for one.
  That said Brilliant talents that get it right on vynil. Amen
  
• Chelsea from Wichita, KyI'm too young to have kids now but I love this song SO much that if I have a girl, I'm naming her Georgia Mae after this song.
• Eden from Folsom, Cai love when ray sings this, he put's so much feeling into it. i believe he wanted to sing this after he was banned from georgia for not playing at that concert.
  
  And im sure he thought this was the perfect way to get his feelings across
• Jeffrey from Vancouver, WaAccording to more than one source, but pulled from the song's Wikipedia Page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgia_on_My_Mind) the song was written by Gorrell about Hoagy's sister, Georgia Carmichael.
• Helen from Campbell, CaI didn't know anything about the composers of "Georgia on My Mind"--or that one of them, Hoagy Carmichael, had a sister named Georgia--until I found this site, but it was always clear to me that the song was originally about a woman, even though the U.S. state of Georgia later adopted it as its official song. I was a Beatles fan before I'd heard of Ray Charles, but I learned that the band was influenced by Charles and other R&B artists. Paul McCartney's reference to "Georgia on My Mind" in "Back in the U.S.S.R"--rendered as "and Georgia's always on my mind"--is both a reference to the former Soviet republic of Georgia, and a tribute to Ray Charles. "Back in the U.S.S.R" is a tribute to the Beach Boys & "California Girls", of course.
  
• Stormy from Kokomo, InThis song has absolutely NOTHING to do with the state of Georgia. Hoagy Carmichael was born just north of my hometown of Kokomo, Indiana in Peru, Indiana, not in Georgia and attended Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana! He wrote this song when he was in New York City writing a score for a Broadway musical. The song is, in deed, dedicated to his sister Georgia who he was very close to and missed while he was in New York City. My parents were friends of Hoagy Carmichael and he told them how and why this song was written! (thanks - Stormy Werbe, Kokomo, Indiana)
• Nicole from N/a, WiRay was a genius, great voice, broke every rule of singing and still managed to kick buns. I heard usher do this on the grammys a couple years ago as a tribute and it was amazing. with clips of the movie starring jamie foxx as ray. Usher's not quite as soulful, but still a great tribute.
• Joelle from Atlanta, GaI'm german but my family and I moved to Georgia when I was still pretty young... We moved back to Germany last year. Everytime I listen to this song now, I remember the great time I had over in the states. The song is perfect for doing this!!!
• Nathan from From The Country Of, Canadawhenever someone older hears this song, whether on the radio or i-pod they get really reflective i've always wondered why...a very good song.
• Jon from Oakridge, OrRay Charles best, at least from what I've heard so far. I've got his greatest hit's CD and it's the best one on there.
• Ramaz from Tiflis, EuropeStuart Gorell wrote the lyrics first and dedicated it to Hoagy Carmichael's sister Georgia Carmichael. Hoagy wrote music later. I am from the country of Georgia (Black Sea Coast) and this song is very popular here.
• Greg from Victoria, Canadato Linda in London who said...."In the Beatles song Back In The U.S.S.R., Paul McCartney sings "thats Georgia's always on my my my my my mind" just thought i'd share that"
  .Georgia is a state/province in Russia/USSR.
  
• Julien from Strasbourg, FranceThis song was also covered by Van Morrison or Maceo Parker (live). The Spencer Davis Group recorded an incredible cover of that song, with a deep soul-blues tempo over the verses and choruses, and an upbeat-jazzy tempo over the piano solo.
• Patrick from Tallapoosa, GaA great song about the state of Georgia. Played every night on local PBS station along with video clips of different parts of the state, inluding Atlanta's skyline, Savannah, Stone Mountain Park, the N. GA Mountains, Athens, and other places as a sign-off signal. Also played at Stone Mountain Park's laser show w/ a moving tribute.
• Casey from Chicago, IlDefinately one of the most ingenious musicians of all time at work in this song.
• Kye from Tullahoma, TnTo be honest, I like Willie Nelson's adaptation of "Geogia On My Mind" because his has a feel good quality to it. His version is one of those songs you like to hear while in the Smoky Mountains or North Georgia.
• Howard from St. Louis Park, MnBoz Scaggs also recorded a cover version of Georgia on My Mind.
• Ken from Louisville, KyThis is now the official state song of Georgia. It is the only pop song to be an official state song, although the theme song for the Broadway musical "Oklahoma!" is now that state's official song.
  
  
• Luna from London, EnglandIn the Beatles song Back In The U.S.S.R., Paul McCartney sings "thats Georgia's always on my my my my my mind" just thought i'd share that
• Ross from Independence, MoThis is #44 in Rolling Stone's list of 500 greatest songs.
• Ross from Independence, MoThis is actually #44. Sorry
• Matt from Millbrae, CaTruly a great song. Ray is a genius who will be missed.
• Nicole from Apple Valley, MnA couple other artists that recorded this song were Billie Holiday (Jazz Vocalist) and Wes Montgomery (Jazz Guitarist).
• Allison from New York, NyOne of the most beautiful songs ever recorded. Charles was a genius.
• Robert from San Francisco, CaTitle song in the 1977 Academy nominated claymation short "Jimmy The C" by Jimmy Picker.
• Deana from Indianapolis, InBecame the theme song for one season of "Designing Women", with Ray Charles playing in the intro.

More Songfacts:

This LoveMaroon 5

Adam Levine of Maroon 5 made it obvious who their song "This Love" was about when he named the album "Songs About Jane."

I Don't Want To Miss A ThingAerosmith

Diane Warren originally wrote Aerosmith's hit tune "I Don't Want To Miss A Thing" for Celine Dion.

(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The BayOtis Redding

"(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay," released a month after Otis Redding died, was the first song to hit #1 in America after the artist died.

Pretty In PinkThe Psychedelic Furs

"Pretty In Pink" by Psychedelic Furs was released in 1981. Five years later, it inspired a movie of the same name starring Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy and Jon Cryer. The song was remixed for the re-release to have more pop appeal.

Last NightGood Charlotte

Good Charlotte's video for "Last Night" reconstructs the TV show "Family Double Dare," complete with host Marc Summers.

More Than a FeelingBoston

Boston leader Tom Scholz went back to his job at Polaroid after releasing the group's debut album. When his co-workers kept coming by to tell him "More Than A Feeling" was playing on the radio, he knew it was time to quit his day job.

Editor's Picks

John Lee HookerSongwriter Interviews

Into the vaults for Bruce Pollock's 1984 conversation with the esteemed bluesman. Hooker talks about transforming a Tony Bennett classic and why you don't have to be sad and lonely to write the blues.

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

90s Music Quiz 1Music Quiz

First question: Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson appeared in videos for what artist?

Def Leppard QuizMusic Quiz

Can you name Def Leppard's only #1 hit in America? Get rocked with this adrenalized quiz.

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Carol KayeSongwriter Interviews

A top session musician, Carol played on hundreds of hits by The Beach Boys, The Monkees, Frank Sinatra and many others.