Today’s song is a traditional American pop song, “Georgia On My Mind” by Ray Charles.

Fun Facts:

• The song Georgia On My Mind was initially written by Stuart Gorrell and recorded by Hoagy Carmichael in 1930, and released the same year.
• Ray’s driver advised him to record the song since he had fallen in love with the lyrics and kept singing it while they were driving. Ray Charles recorded the song in another version in May 1960 and released it in September 1960.
• The length of the song is 3.35.
• The song “Georgia On My Mind” by Ray Charles is the most widely-known version in Georgia.
• The song was designated as the state song of Georgia on April 24, 1979. Ray Charles was invited to perform it at the State capital.
• The song is a B-side of “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny.”
• Ray Charles won 12 Grammys, including the best vocal performance for the song “Georgia On My Mind.”
• On February 13, 2005, Jamie Foxx teamed up with Alicia Keys to perform “Georgia On My Mind” tribute to Ray Charles during the awards ceremony.
• Other artists of the song are Ella Fitzgerald, who produced the song as Jazz in 1962, Ronnie Hawkins and The Hawks after 1964, and Willie Nelson, who recorded the song on Stardust in 1978.

Lyrics:

(Lyric Find)

 

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