Midnight Train To Georgia
Indigo Girls Lyrics

L.a. proved too much for the man
The city of Los Angeles proved to be too challenging for the man.

(too much for the man)
He couldn't handle the difficult environment of the city.

(he couldn't make it)
He was unable to succeed in Los Angeles.

So he's leaving the life he's come to know
He has decided to abandon the lifestyle he created in Los Angeles.

(he said he's going)
He has made a clear declaration of his intentions to leave.

He said he's going back to find
He stated that he plans to go back and discover what he left behind.

(going back to find)
He wants to return to his past to uncover something he lost.

What's left of his world
He wants to see what is still there in the world he once knew.

The world he left behind
The place he used to live in before moving to Los Angeles that he abandoned.

Not so very long ago
He left that world just recently, it is still fresh in his mind.

He's leaving
He is departing from Los Angeles.

(leaving)
He is taking his leave from Los Angeles.

On that midnight train to georgia
He is leaving at midnight, taking the train to Georgia.

(leaving on a midnight train)
He is taking the train that departs at midnight.

Oh yeah
This is an exclamation of excitement about the upcoming journey.

Oh y'all
An expression to address a group in a friendly way.

Said he's going back to find
He mentioned before that he is returning to his past to discover what he left behind.

(he's going back to find)
He is returning to his past to search for something of value that he left behind.

A simpler place and time
He wishes to find a place and time that is less complicated than Los Angeles.

(and when he takes that ride)
When he travels to his past and searches for what he lost...

Yes he is
He definitely will go and retrieve what he left behind.

(guess who's gonna be right by his side)
The singer is excited about joining him on his mission to recover what he lost.

I'll be with him
The singer will accompany him on this journey.

(I know you will)
The singer is convinced that she will not abandon him.

On that midnight train to Georgia
They will travel together on the train that departs at midnight and goes to Georgia.

(leaving on a midnight train to Georgia)
Boarding the train that departs at midnight and goes to Georgia.

(whoo whoo)
This is an enthusiastic exclamation.

I'd rather live in his world
The singer would rather live in the simpler, less complicated world that he's returning to.

(live in his world)
The singer would prefer to live in the world that he finds more comfortable.

Than live without him in mine
She doesn't want to live in a world without him, even if it's more comfortable.

(world, world)
This is an emphasis on the importance of their respective worlds.

(it's his, his and hers alone)
Their respective worlds belong solely to them and are not shared with anybody else.

He kept dreaming
He maintained a consistent dream over time.

(dreaming)
He was in a state of dreaming about being a superstar.

That one day he'd be a star
He held an aspiration of attaining fame one day.

(a superstar but he didn't get far)
The realization of his desires did not match up with the level of his aspirations.

But he sure found out the hard way
He learned the hard truth about success through his own experience.

That dreams don't always come true
Not everyone's ambitions are fulfilled to their desired extent.

(dreams don't always come true)
Some people are not able to materialize their desires to the extent they want.

Oh no
This is an expression of disappointment.

(uh uh no uh uh)
This sounds like a rejection or a refutation of something.

So he sold all his hopes
He had given up his aspirations by selling them off, Perhaps for money.

And he even sold his own car
He even sold his own possessions (like a car) to fund his return.

And bought a one way ticket back
He bought a ticket for a trip to return back to his past for a longer duration.

To the life that he once knew
He is returning to the life that he had before he left.

Oh yes he did
There's confirmation that he did purchase the ticket and is going through with his plan.

I know he's leaving
The singer is aware that he is departing to go back to his past.

On that midnight train to georgia
He is leaving late at night by train to go to Georgia.

(leaving on a midnight train)
He is taking the train that departs just before midnight.

Oh yeah
This is another expression of enthusiasm about his exit from Los Angeles.

Oh y'all
The singer makes an address to the audience.

Than live without him in mine
She would prefer to live in his world than live without him in hers.

(world, world)
This is an emphasis on the importance of their respective worlds.

(is his, his and hers alone)
Their respective worlds belong solely to them and are not shared with anybody else.

(her man, his girl)
Referring to the relationship between the man and the woman who is singing.