Ray Charles Songs - Georgia On My Mind Lyrics

Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind

Ray Charles - Georgia On My Mind Youtube Music Videos and Lyrics

Album: Genius Hits The Road
Released: 1960

Georgia On My Mind Lyrics

Georgia, Georgia,
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song
Keeps 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 I see
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

Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
Still in peaceful dreams I see
The road leads back to you

Georgia,
Georgia,
No peace, no peace I find
Just this old, sweet song
Keeps Georgia on my mind

I said just an old sweet song,
Keeps Georgia on my mind

Writer/s: CARMICHAEL, HOAGY / GORRELL, STUART
Publisher: Peermusic Publishing
Lyrics licensed and provided by LyricFind

Georgia On My Mind

This was written by Hoagy Carmichael and Stuart Gorrell in 1930. Carmichael was an actor, performer, and popular songwriter - some of his other compositions include "Stardust" and "Winter Moon." Gorrell was a banker living in New York City, and he wrote the lyrics.

It's possible that this was written about a woman, not the state. Carmichael and Gorrell didn't live in Georgia, but Carmichael did have a sister named Georgia.

This was a #10 hit for a Jazz saxophone player named Frankie Trumbauer in 1931. Many artists have recorded it over the years, including Louis Armstrong, James Brown (a Georgia native), Django Reinhardt, and Willie Nelson. Charles' version is by far the most famous.

Charles decided to record this after his driver suggested it, since Ray kept singing it while riding in the car.

Ray Charles was born in Georgia. His family moved to Florida when he was still a baby.

The orchestra was arranged by Ralph Burns, Woody Herman's pianist.

This was recorded quickly in New York City - it took only four takes to complete (compared to Charles' usual 10-12 takes).

This won Grammy awards for Best Male Vocal Recording and Best Pop Song Performance. The album also won for Best Male Vocal Performance Album, and another song on the album, "Let the Good Times Roll," won for Best R&B Performance, giving Charles a total of 4 Grammys in 1960.

Five different versions of this song have made the US Hot 100. Here the four that came after Charles' recording:

Righteous Brothers (#62, 1966)
Georgia Pines Candymen (#81, 1967)
Wes Montgomery (#91, 1968)
Willie Nelson (#84, 1978)
Michael Bolton (#36, 1990)

This was the first of three #1 records for Ray Charles ("Hit the Road, Jack" and "I Can't Stop Loving You" are his others).

In 1979, this became the official state song of Georgia.

Willie Nelson sang this at Charles' funeral in 2004.

Charles won eight awards at the 2005 Grammy Awards, including Record of the Year and Album of the Year (for Genius Loves Company). He was honored throughout the show; Alicia Keys and Jamie Foxx performed this as part of the tribute. Foxx had recently portrayed Charles in the movie Ray.