Midnight Train to Georgia
Gladys Knight & The Pips Lyrics

L.A. proved too much for the man
The city of Los Angeles overwhelmed and defeated the man, causing him to be unable to handle its challenges.

(Too much for the man, he couldn't make it)
The man struggled and was unsuccessful in managing the difficulties and complexities of life in Los Angeles.

So he's leavin' the life he's come to know, ooh
The man has decided to abandon the existence he has grown accustomed to in Los Angeles.

(He said he's goin')
The man made a statement indicating his intention to leave Los Angeles.

He said he's goin' back to find
He mentioned that he was returning to his previous location in search of something.

(Goin' back to find)
He was going back to look for something he had left behind.

Ooh ooh ooh, what's left of his world
He wanted to discover what remains of the world he inhabited before going to Los Angeles.

The world he left behind
He was returning to the environment he was familiar with before moving to Los Angeles.

Not so long ago
The time elapsed between leaving his previous location and arriving in Los Angeles was relatively brief.

He's leavin' (leavin')
The man is departing from his current location.

On that midnight train to Georgia
He is taking the train to Georgia in the middle of the night.

(Leavin' on the midnight train)
He is departing on the train that leaves in the middle of the night.

Yeah, said he's goin' back
The man declared that he was returning to his previous location.

(Goin' back to find)
He was going back to look for something he left behind.

To a simpler place in time
He is returning to an earlier period in his life where things were less complicated.

(Whenever he takes that ride) oh yes he is
He will indeed return to that simpler time on this trip he is taking.

(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
Someone will be accompanying him on this journey.

And I'll be with him (I know you will)
The singer will be accompanying the man on his journey.

On that midnight train to Georgia
The singer and the man will be traveling to Georgia together on the train that departs in the middle of the night.

(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
They are boarding the train that leaves in the middle of the night and goes to Georgia.

I'd rather live in his world (live in his world)
The artist is agreeing to adopt the man's way of life, which she would rather live in.

Than live without him in mine
The artist would rather share the man's world than live without him in her own world.

(Her world is his, his and hers alone)
The singer and the man share a world only known and understand by the two of them.

He kept dreamin' (dreamin')
The man continued to hold aspirations and hopes for a better life.

Ooh, that someday he'd be a star
He dreamt of attaining stardom and achieving great success.

(A superstar, but he didn't get far)
Although he desired to be a superstar, he was not able to advance much in his efforts.

But he sure found out the hard way
He discovered a difficult truth while pursuing his dream.

That dreams don't always come true
He learned that aspirations and hopes may not always be attainable.

(Dreams don't always come true) oh no
His failed attempt taught him that dreams are not always realized.

(Uh uh) uh uh (no, uh uh)
This is an expression of disappointment and dismay.

So he pawned all his hopes (ooh ooh ooh)
He sacrificed all his hopes to achieve stardom.

And he even sold his old car (woo woo woo)
He took the extreme measure of selling his car to help achieve his dream.

Bought a one way ticket back
He has purchased a ticket for a one-way journey back to his previous location.

To the life he once knew
He is returning to an earlier period in his life.

Oh, yes, he did
He has indeed made the decision to return to his old life.

Ooh, a simpler place in time
He is going back to a less complex period in his life.

(Whenever he takes that ride) ooh
He is going to return to the time when he was less troubled by taking this trip.

(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
Someone will be accompanying him on the journey.

And I'm gonna be with him (I know you will)
The singer will be accompanying the man.

(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia, ooh ooh)
They will depart on the train that leaves in the middle of the night bound for Georgia.

Yeah, ooh, y'all
This is an expression of excitement and enthusiasm.

(Goin' back to find)
He is going back to find what he left behind.

(Whenever he takes that ride) ooh
He will be going back to a less complex and less difficult time when he takes this journey.

(Guess who's gonna be right by his side)
Someone will be joining him on the trip.

And I've got to be with him (I know you will)
The artist will be accompanying the man.

(Leavin' on the midnight train to Georgia)
They will be taking the train that departs in the middle of the night and goes to Georgia.

The midnight train to ride
They will ride on the train that leaves in the middle of the night.

Gotta board the midnight train to go
They have to take the train leaving in the middle of the night to reach their destination.

My world (for love), his world (gonna board)
Their worlds will mix and become one as they travel together.

Our world (the midnight train to go) now I'm his alone
Their world will join, but ultimately, he will be the only one in it for the singer.

Our world (the midnight train to go) now I'm his alone
They will share their world, but he is the only one she wants to share it with.

I've got to go (for love), I've got to go (gonna board)
The artist has to go for love and join him on the train.

(The midnight train to go) hey
This is an expression of excitement and enthusiasm for taking the train.

Our world
The world that they share as a couple.