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Going to Georgia
The Mountain Goats Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

The most remarkable thing about coming home to you
Is the feeling of being in motion again,

It's the most extraordinary thing in the world.
I have two big hands
And a heart pumping blood
And a 1967 Colt .45
With a busted safety catch.

The world shines
As I cross the Macon county line,
Going to Georgia.

The most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway is that it's you
And that you are standing in the doorway

And you smile as you ease the gun from my hand
I am frozen with joy right where I stand.
The world glows its' slide underneath your hair.
40 miles from Atlanta, this is nowhere.

Going to Georgia

The world shines
As I cross the Macon county line,
Going to Georgia

Overall Meaning

"Going to Georgia" by The Mountain Goats is a song that tells the story of a man who is returning to a woman he loves. The first verse sets the tone of the song and describes the feeling of being in motion again. The singer is on the move, and this is the most extraordinary thing in the world. The second verse describes the man's physical attributes and the gun he has. He is strong and armed, which could be seen as a reflection of his determination and readiness to confront whatever challenges come his way.


The refrain "Going to Georgia" marks the moment when the singer crosses the border and enters the state where his beloved lives. This is a significant moment in the song, as it conveys the idea that the man is heading towards something important and meaningful. As he approaches his destination, the world shines, and he is filled with a sense of hope and optimism.


The third verse is the climax of the song, during which the singer reaches the woman's doorstep. He is frozen with joy, and the sight of her smile as she eases the gun from his hand fills him with relief and happiness. The world glows under her hair, and the location - 40 miles from Atlanta - represents a place that is devoid of any significance but holds meaning only because of the woman he is visiting.


Overall, "Going to Georgia" tells a story of hope and resilience. It speaks about overcoming obstacles and the journey of returning to someone you love, and the sense of elation that comes with reaching your destination.


Line by Line Meaning

The most remarkable thing about coming home to you Is the feeling of being in motion again,
Being with you is like finally being in motion again after a stagnant phase in life.


It's the most extraordinary thing in the world. I have two big hands And a heart pumping blood And a 1967 Colt .45 With a busted safety catch.
The feeling of being alive and having a weapon to protect oneself is extraordinary, but the gun is not even functioning properly.


The world shines As I cross the Macon county line, Going to Georgia.
The world becomes brighter and more hopeful as I journey towards Georgia.


The most remarkable thing about you standing in the doorway is that it's you And that you are standing in the doorway
The most remarkable thing about you is simply the fact that you are you and standing in the doorway.


And you smile as you ease the gun from my hand I am frozen with joy right where I stand.
You disarm me and it fills me with joy even though I'm left feeling momentarily paralyzed.


The world glows its' slide underneath your hair. 40 miles from Atlanta, this is nowhere.
The world turns golden beneath your hair and despite being in a remote location far from Atlanta, it feels like home because you are there.


Going to Georgia
Going to Georgia, the place where everything feels right because you are there.




Contributed by Chloe S. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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