Midnight Train to Georgia
Aretha Franklin Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Baby, baby
Don't go
Baby, baby
Don't, don't, don't, don't go

L.A. proved too much for the man
And so he's leaving a life that he's come to know, ooh
He said he's going back
Ooh, what's left of his world
The world he left behind not so long ago

He's leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia, yeah
(Leaving on the midnight train)
Georgia, Georgia, Georgia
He said he's going back
(Going back to find)
To a simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, I'm gonna be by his side)
I've gotta be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
I'd rather be in his world
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)

He kept dreaming, yeah
That some day he would 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
Oh so he pawned off his hopes
And he even sold that old raggedy hoopty-holler car
He bought a one way ticket back to a life that he once knew

Oh-oh, he's leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leavin' on a midnight train)
Wait on me, baby, I'm comin'
He said he's going back
(Going back to find)
To a simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, I'm gonna be by his side)
I've gotta be with him
(I know you will)
Yeah, on that midnight train
I gotta be on that midnight train to Georgia
I'd rather live in his world
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine

Ooh, I gotta be on that midnight
The midnight, the midnight, on the midnight, mid-mi-mid-mid-mi-mid
Midnight train to Georgia

Ooh, he's leaving
Track One
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
He's leaving
On the midnight, on the midnight, mid-mi-mid-mid-mi-mid
Midnight train to Georgia
Georgia, Georgia, yeah
(Midnight train to George)
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
(For the love of a boy)
(The midnight train to Georgia)
(For love of a boy)
(The midnight train to Georgia)
(For love of a boy)




(The midnight train to Georgia)
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Aretha Franklin's classic "Midnight Train to Georgia" tell the emotional story of a man who leaves behind the promise of a successful music career in Los Angeles to return to his humble roots in Georgia. The singer passionately pleads with him not to go, but ultimately decides to follow him back to a world that she knows and loves.


The song begins with the singer begging the man not to leave - she can sense that he's unhappy and is afraid that if he goes, she'll lose him forever. The man explains that L.A. is too much for him and that he wants to go back to a simpler time and place. The singer knows that she can't change his mind, so she decides to go with him on the midnight train to Georgia. She'd rather live in his world than without him in hers.


The lyrics poignantly capture the idea of chasing dreams versus embracing one's roots. Despite the man's disappointment in not becoming a star, he still longs for the comfort and familiarity of his hometown. The song suggests that our true purpose is found not in chasing after fickle opportunities, but in being grounded in the people and places we know and love.


Line by Line Meaning

Baby, baby
Affectionate call to the addressee


Don't go
Expression of urgency and request to the addressee not to leave


L.A. proved too much for the man
The life in Los Angeles was too tough for him to handle


And so he's leaving a life that he's come to know, ooh
He's departing from the life he's become familiar with


He said he's going back
He stated that he's returning


Ooh, what's left of his world
The remains of the world he left behind


The world he left behind not so long ago
He departed from the world he left only recently


On that midnight train to Georgia, yeah
He's departing on the train bound for Georgia at midnight


He said he's going back
He mentioned that he's returning


To a simpler place and time
He's going back to a less complicated era


(Whenever he takes that ride, I'm gonna be by his side)
She plans to accompany him whenever he chooses to leave


I've gotta be with him
She feels the strong need to be with him


On that midnight train to Georgia
She plans on traveling with him on the midnight train to Georgia


I'd rather be in his world
She prefers to be in his world


Than live without him in mine
She would rather not live without him by her side


He kept dreaming, yeah
He continued to have aspirations


That some day he would be a star
He hoped to become a famous personality one day


(A superstar, but he didn't get far)
Unfortunately, he did not achieve his dream of becoming a superstar


But he sure found out the hard way
He faced a tough reality


That dreams don't always come true
He realized that aspirations may not always become reality


Oh so he pawned off his hopes
He had to give up his expectations


And he even sold that old raggedy hoopty-holler car
He sold his old, run-down car


He bought a one way ticket back to a life that he once knew
He purchased a one-way ticket to return to his former life


Wait on me, baby, I'm comin'
She's asking him to wait for her before he leaves


I gotta be on that midnight train to Georgia
She intends to travel with him on the midnight train to Georgia


Ooh, he's leaving
He's departing


(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
Their lives are intertwined


Georgia, Georgia, yeah
Georgia serves as their destination


(For the love of a boy)
Their union is fueled by a strong affection


(The midnight train to Georgia)
The train they're taking is bound for Georgia at midnight


(For love of a boy)
They're doing this all for love


(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
They share each other's world




Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: James D. Weatherly

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
To comment on or correct specific content, highlight it

Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Song not found

More Versions