Midnight Train to Georgia Lyrics
Mm, L.A
Proved too much for the man (Too much for the man, he couldn't make it)
So he's leavin' the life
He's come to know, ooh (He said he's goin')
He said he's goin' back to find (Goin' back to find)
Ooh, ooh, ooh, what's left of his world
The world he left behind not so long ago
[Chorus]
He's leavin' (Leavin')
On that midnight train to Georgia (Leavin' on that midnight train)
Mm, yes
Said he's goin' back (Goin' back to find)
To a simpler place and time (Whenever he takes that ride)
Oh, yes, he is (Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
And I'll be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia (Leavin' on that midnight train to Georgia)
Yeah (Woo, woo)
I'd rather live in his world (Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine (Her world is his, his and hers alone)
[Verse 2]
He kept dreamin' (Dreamin')
Ooh, that someday he'd be a star (A superstar, but he didn't get far)
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don't always come true (Dreams don't always come true)
Oh, no, uh-uh (Uh-uh, no, uh-uh)
So he pawned all his hopes
And he even sold his old car
Bought a one-way ticket back
To the life he once knew
Oh, yes, he did, he said he would
Oh, no, he's leavin (Leavin')
On that midnight train to Georgia (Leavin' on that midnight train)
Hmm, yeah
Said he's goin' back to find (Goin' back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place and time (Whenever he takes that ride)
Oh, yeah (Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
I'm gonna be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia (Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
Oh (Woo, woo)
I'd rather live in his world (Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine (Her world is his, his and hers alone)
Ooh, he's leavin' (Leavin')
On the midnight train to Georgia (Leavin' on the midnight train)
Yeah, ooh, y'all
Said he's goin' back to find (Goin' back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place and time (Whenever he takes that ride)
Ooh, y'all, uh-huh (Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
I've got to be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia (Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
Yeah (Woo, woo)
I'd rather live in his world (Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine (Her world is his, his and hers alone)
[Outro]
Oh (For love)
For love (Gonna board)
Gonna board the midnight train to ride
For love (For love)
Gonna board (Gonna board)
Gotta board the midnight train to go
For love (For love)
Gonna board (Gonna board)
Uh-huh, the midnight train to go
My world (For love)
His world (Gonna board)
Our world, mine and his alone (The midnight train to go)
My world (For love)
His world (Gonna board)
Our world, mine and his alone (The midnight train to go)
I've got to go (For love)
I've got to go (Gonna board)
I've got to go, hey (The midnight train to go)
I've got to go (For love)
I've got to go (Gonna board)
Mm (The midnight train to go)
My world (For love)
His world (Gonna board)
My man, his girl (The midnight train to go)
I've got to go (For love)
I've got to go (Gonna board)
Oh, I've got to go (The midnight train to go)
My world (For love)
His world (Gonna board)
Our world, his girl…
About
“Midnight Train to Georgia” was featured on Gladys Knight & the Pips' 11th album “Imagination.” The single was the group’s second release on Buddah Records since they left Motown Records.
The song became a hit, topping the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Soul Singles chart in 1973. It even won a Grammy Award in 1974 for “Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.”
In 1999, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame and it ranks at #432 on Rolling Stone’s “500 Greatest Songs of All Time” list.
Q&A
Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning
In an interview with Marc Myers, Gladys Knight said she wanted to do something different from Cissy Houston’s original recording of the song:
I wanted an Al Green thing going, you know? Something moody, with a little ride to it. I’ve always liked my tracks full: horns, keyboards, and other instruments to create texture and spark something in me.
While recording that single, I was thinking about my own situation. My husband at the time was a beautiful saxophonist, and so gifted, but he was unhappy that we didn’t have a more traditional marriage, because I was often on the road or recording. Ultimately, it all proved too much for him, like the song said, and we divorced later, in ‘73.
- 1.Midnight Train to Georgia
- 8.Perfect Love
