Georgia on My Mind has been the national anthem of the US state of Georgia since 1979. Many believe that it was composed by order of the authorities, but this is not so.
It was born half a century before it became the official song of the state and a few days before the birth of Ray Charles, who made her famous.
The story of the creation of the song Georgia on My Mind
The composition was composed in 1930 by composer Hoagy Carmichael and lyricist Stuart Gorrell. According to music historians, neither of them had been to Georgia before.
According to a common legend, the work was originally dedicated not to the state, but to Carmichael’s sister, whose name was Georgia. But in his autobiography Sometimes I Wonder, Hoagy denied this version. He said that the idea to write a song about the state of Georgia belonged to the saxophonist Frankie Trambauer (Frankie Trambauer). Allegedly, he suggested starting it with the words “Georgia, Georgia…” and added:
No one has ever lost money writing songs about the South.
In September 1930, Hoagy Carmichael recorded Georgia on My Mind with his orchestra and released the song on LP.
A year later, the composition was presented by Frankie Trumbauer. His version became Georgia on My Mind’s first hit record. She hit the top 10 on the US charts.
Georgia on My Mind by Mildred Bailey, released in the same 1931, was also very popular.
In 1941, Anita O’Day’s version of Georgia on My Mind and the Gene Krupa Orchestra climbed to number seventeen on the US charts.
Video of Georgia on My Mind – Ray Charles
Charles was born in Albany, Georgia. He knew and loved this song for a long time. However, the idea to perform the composition did not come to Ray and not to his producers. This idea was suggested to him by the driver, who constantly heard the musician, sitting in the back seat, humming: “Georgia, Georgia…”.
The Ray Charles version was published in September 1960. She climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy.
In 2004, Rolling Stone magazine named it one of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
On March 7, 1979, Ray Charles sang the song in front of the Georgia General Assembly. In April of that year, it was chosen as the state anthem.
Other cover versions
In 1978, Willie Nelson released Georgia on My Mine as a single from the album Stardust. The track topped the Billboard Hot 100 and was awarded a Grammy.
The composition was also performed by Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, The Righteous Brothers, Coldplay and many other famous musicians.
Interesting Facts
- In 2004, Willie Nelson sang Georgia on My Mind at the funeral of Ray Charles.
Georgia On My Mind Lyrics Ray Charles
Georgia
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
Comes as sweet and clear
As moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams
The road leads back to you
I said Georgia
Ooh Georgia, 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
The road leads back to you
Whoa, Georgia
Georgia
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old sweet song
Keep Georgia on my mind
I said just an old sweet song
Keep Georgia on my mind
Georgia on My Mind Lyrics Ray Charles Alternate
Georgia, Georgia
All day long
Nice old song
Makes me think about Georgia (Think about Georgia)
I said Georgia
Georgia,
Song about you
Just as nice and clean
Like moonlight in the pines
Other hands are outstretched to me
Gently smiling other eyes
But in silent dreams I see
The road that leads back to you
I said Georgia
Oh, Georgia, I haven’t found peace.
Nice old song
Makes me think about Georgia (Think about Georgia)
Other hands are outstretched to me
Gently smiling other eyes
But in silent dreams I see
The road that leads back to you
Oh Georgia
Georgia,
I didn’t find peace, I didn’t find peace.
Just this old sweet song
Makes me think of Georgia
I said just this old sweet song
Makes me think of Georgia.
Song quote
I never knew a girl named Georgia… And I didn’t dream of a state… even though I was born there. It was just a beautiful romantic tune.
Ray Charles
