Georgia On My Mind – English Lyrics

• By: Ray Charles
• Album: True Genius

Lyrics & Translation

Discover the rich history and heartfelt emotion behind Ray Charles' iconic rendition of "Georgia On My Mind." Originally written in 1930, Charles transformed the song into a soul-stirring anthem, blending jazz, blues, and gospel to create a timeless masterpiece that explores themes of longing and nostalgia, while also highlighting the connection to the state of Georgia and its complex history.

[English]

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 a 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

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

Woh oh oh oh Georgia

Georgia

No peace, no peace I find

Just this old sweet song

Keeps Georgia on my mind (Georgia on my mind)

I said just an old sweet song

Keeps Georgia on my mind

...

Key Vocabulary

Vocabulary	Meanings
Georgia /ˈdʒɔːrdʒə/ A1	noun - A state in the southeastern United States.
song /sɔŋ/ A1	noun - A short poem or other set of words set to music or meant to be sung.
mind /maɪnd/ A2	noun - The element of a person that enables them to be aware of the world and their experiences, to think, and to feel; the faculty of consciousness and thought. verb - to be concerned or worried by something
sweet /swiːt/ A2	adjective - Having a pleasant taste like that of sugar or honey.
arms /ɑːrmz/ A1	noun - Each of the two upper limbs of the human body from the shoulder to the hand.
reach /riːtʃ/ A2	verb - Stretch out an arm in a specified direction in order to touch or grasp something.
eyes /aɪz/ A1	noun - Each of a pair of globular organs in the head through which people and vertebrate animals see.
smile /smaɪl/ A1	verb - Form one's features into a pleased, kind, or amused expression, typically with the corners of the mouth turned up and the front teeth exposed.
tenderly /ˈtendərli/ B2	adverb - In a gentle and careful way.
peaceful /ˈpiːsfʊl/ B1	adjective - Free from disturbance; tranquil.
dreams /driːmz/ A2	noun - A series of thoughts, images, and sensations occurring in a person's mind during sleep.
road /roʊd/ A1	noun - A wide way leading from one place to another, especially one with a specially prepared surface that vehicles can use.
find /faɪnd/ A1	verb - Discover or perceive (something) unexpectedly or while looking for something else.
clear /klɪər/ A2	adjective - Easy to perceive, understand, or interpret.
moonlight /ˈmuːnlaɪt/ B1	noun - The light from the moon.
pines /paɪnz/ B1	noun - An evergreen coniferous tree that has needle-shaped leaves.

Key Grammar Structures

• The whole day *through*

  ➔ Preposition "through" used as an adverb

  ➔ Here, "through" doesn't connect two nouns; it acts as an adverb modifying "the whole day", meaning all day long. It emphasizes the duration.

• Keeps Georgia *on* my mind

  ➔ Phrasal verb "keep something on someone's mind"

  ➔ This idiom means to constantly think about something or someone. The preposition "on" is crucial for the meaning.

• Comes as sweet and clear *as* moonlight through the pines

  ➔ Simile using "as...as"

  ➔ This sentence uses a simile to compare the sound to moonlight. The structure is "as + adjective + as + noun".

• Other arms reach out *to* me

  ➔ Preposition "to" indicating direction/recipient

  ➔ Here, "to" indicates the direction of the action, which is the arms reaching towards the speaker. It signifies the recipient of the action.

• Still in peaceful dreams I *see* the road leads back to you

  ➔ Inversion for emphasis (rare)

  ➔ While the standard sentence structure is "I see the road leads back to you", the structure "I see the road leads..." can occur more frequently. Moving "Still in peaceful dreams" to the front emphasizes the context of the dream and feeling. It would be rare now.