James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001) came to prominence as a Soul s… Read Full Bio ↴James Carr (June 13, 1942 - January 7, 2001) came to prominence as a Soul singer during the mid-1960s. He has often been recognized as one of that era's greatest vocalists, placing him alongside an elite list that includes Aretha Franklin and Otis Redding. Born in Coahoma County, Mississippi in 1942, Carr's family had moved to Memphis when he was still a young child. It was here that he discovered music through the sound of Gospel, listening to artists such as Sam Cooke and The Soul Stirrers. In 1963, he signed with the Memphis label Goldwax, and while on their roster, released a string of hit singles, including You've Got My Mind Messed Up and his signature tune, The Dark End Of The Street, penned by Dan Penn.

His life took a turn, though, as he became a victim of drug and alcohol abuse, as well as stints with manic depression that found him hospitalized in a mental health facility. He had almost disappeared entirely when he started performing again on rare occasions in the early 1990s, often working with Tyrone Davis or Otis Clay.

Carr had suffered from lung cancer for many years, spending the end of his life in a nursing home in Memphis. At the age of 58, James Carr died there from his battle with the disease on January 7, 2001. It is said that he had been analphabetic.

Gonna Send You Back To Georgia
James Carr Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

You had nothin' when I met you baby
But look what you got now
Sometimes I wonder, did I make a mistake

When I brought you to the south
Gonna send you back to Walker
Girl, that's where you belong
Since you been got in the big city

Well you been started treatin' me wrong
Your mama and your daddy done told me baby

Not to bring you to the south
I brought you to the city
And the bright lights knocked you out
I'm gonna send you back to Walker
Girl that's where you belong, I know
Since you been got in the big city
Well you been started treatin' me wrong
Your mama and your daddy done told me baby

Not to bring you to the south
I brought you from the city
And the bright lights knocked you out
I'm gonna send you back to Walker
Girl that's where you belong, I know baby
Since you've been got in the big city
Well you been started treatin' me wrong
I know you been treatin' me wrong

Ah, so long
I'm gonna send you back where you belong
Alright, alright
Put you down
Send you back home
Goodbye Baby

So long
Hey, hey, goodbye baby

Overall Meaning

The song "Gonna Send You Back to Georgia" by James Carr reveals the internal conflict of a man who wonders whether he made the right decision in bringing his current partner to the south. The singer believes that his partner is not happy and is acting out because she is out of her element. He believes that she should be sent back to her original home in Walker, Georgia because that's where she belongs. The bright lights of the city have caused her to change and treat him poorly. He is finally fed up and decides to send her back home. The chorus, "I'm gonna send you back to Walker, girl that's where you belong" reinforces the idea that the only way to save their relationship is by sending her back home where she will be happy.

The lyrics of the song are packed with imagery that conveys the message of the song. The singer talks about how he brought his partner to the city, where she became mesmerized by the bright lights, which caused her to change. She no longer acted the same and ended up treating him horribly. The singer acknowledges the warnings given to him by the partner’s parents about bringing her to the south. He regrets his decision, and the chorus reveals that he is ready to do whatever it takes to save the relationship. He is ready to put her on a plane back to her hometown.

Line by Line Meaning

You had nothin' when I met you baby
When I first met you, you didn't own anything

But look what you got now
You now have acquired possessions or wealth

Sometimes I wonder, did I make a mistake
I often question myself if it was a mistake to bring you to the south

When I brought you to the south
When I brought you to live in the southern part of the country

Gonna send you back to Walker
I plan to send you back to the town of Walker

Girl, that's where you belong
I believe that your hometown is where you should live

Since you been got in the big city
Since you moved to the major metropolitan area

Well you been started treatin' me wrong
Lately, you have been treating me poorly

Your mama and your daddy done told me baby
Your parents had already warned me

Not to bring you to the south
That I should not take you to live in the southern states

I brought you to the city
I took you to live in the urban area