Known as "Van the Man" by his fans, Morrison first rose to prominence as the lead singer of the Northern Irish band Them, writing their 1964 hit "Gloria". A few years later, Morrison left the band for a successful solo career, starting with the album Astral Weeks.
Morrison has pursued an idiosyncratic musical path. Much of his music is tightly structured around the conventions of American soul and R&B, such as the popular singles "Brown Eyed Girl", "Moondance", "Domino", and "Wild Night". An equal part of his catalogue consists of lengthy, loosely connected, spiritually inspired musical journeys that show the influence of Celtic tradition, jazz, and stream-of-consciousness narrative, such as his classic album Astral Weeks and lesser known works such as Veedon Fleece and Common One. The two strains together are sometimes referred to as "Celtic Soul," and Morrison rejects the characterization of his genre of music as Rock, citing Elvis Presley as a non-influence.
He continues to perform regularly and achieved his highest U.S. chart position (number ten on the Billboard 200) with his 2008 album, Keep It Simple.
Georgia On My Mind
Van Morrison Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
The whole day through
Just an old sweet song keeps
Keeps Georgia on my mind
Oh, on my mind, on my mind
Well, well, well, well, well, well I say a hey now
Hey now, hey now, hey now, Georgia
Comes as sweet and clear
As the moonlight through the pines
Other arms reach out to me
Other eyes smile tenderly
For that peaceful dreams I see
The road, the road, the road, the road, the road
The road, the road, the road, the road, the road
The road leads back to you, oh
Said-a Georgia
No peace, no peace, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Keeps you, keeps you, keeps you
Gentle on my mind
Your arms, your arms, your arms, your arms
Your arms, your arms, your arms, your arms reach out to me
Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes
Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes, your eyes smile tenderly
For that peaceful, for that peaceful dreams I see
Oh the hardened, hardened ground and road
Oh they lead back to you
Georgia
No, no, no peace I find
Just an old sweet song
Just an old sweet, just an old sweet, just an old sweet song
Keeps you, keeps you, on my mind, on my mind
On my mind, oh
Just an old sweet song keeps
Georgia on my mind
On my mind, on my mind
The lyrics to Van Morrison's "Georgia On My Mind" are a tribute to the state of Georgia, which is always on the singer's mind. The song is full of emotions and vivid imagery, transporting the listener to a place of peacefulness and nostalgia. The song speaks of how just the thought of Georgia brings sweet memories to the singer's mind, much like the moonlight through the pines. Other people may try to reach out to the singer, but he always finds himself returning to Georgia, where he finds peace and comfort.
In the chorus, the singer repeats the line "just an old sweet song keeps Georgia on my mind," emphasizing how music has the power to evoke emotions and memories. The song feels like a longing for a place where the singer can connect with his soul and find peace, despite the turmoil and distractions around him. The singer seems to find solace in the familiarity of the old sweet song that reminds him of Georgia.
Overall, "Georgia On My Mind" is a heartfelt tribute to the state of Georgia and a reminder to cherish the memories and emotions that come with it. It highlights the power of music to evoke feelings of nostalgia and longing for a place that feels like home.
Line by Line Meaning
Georgia, Georgia
The state of Georgia, my connection to it.
The whole day through
All day long, constantly.
Just an old sweet song keeps
A classic, sentimental melody maintains.
Keeps Georgia on my mind
The song reminds me of Georgia.
Oh, on my mind, on my mind
I cannot stop thinking about Georgia.
Just the thought of you
Merely the idea of Georgia.
Comes as sweet and clear
Arrives in my mind pleasantly and vividly.
As the moonlight through the pines
Similar to the gentle, serene light of the moon peering through the trees.
Other arms reach out to me
Other people, places, or things try to distract me.
Other eyes smile tenderly
Others attempt to lure me away from my thoughts of Georgia with kindness or affection.
For that peaceful dreams I see
Despite these disturbances, I am able to maintain a sense of tranquility by imagining pleasant dreams.
The road, the road, the road, the road, the road
Repeated mention of traveling.
The road leads back to you, oh
No matter where I go, I always end up returning to Georgia.
Said-a Georgia
Georgia, once again.
No peace, no peace, no peace I find
I cannot find any peace or rest in my thoughts about Georgia and my desire to be there.
Gentle on my mind
A beautiful and fond memory that stays with me.
Your arms, your arms, your arms, your arms
Referring to a person in Georgia who I deeply miss.
Your eyes, your eyes, your eyes
The eyes of the person in Georgia who I think about.
For that peaceful, for that peaceful dreams I see
The peaceful dreams I have about this person bring me comfort.
Oh the hardened, hardened ground and road
The rough and difficult journey to return to Georgia.
Georgia
Georgia, once again, the object of my thoughts and feelings.
Just an old sweet song
Again acknowledging the long-standing impact of a classic tune.
Keeps you, keeps you, keeps you
Continues to maintain the memory of Georgia and the person I miss.
On my mind, on my mind
My thoughts are filled with Georgia and this person who is always on my mind.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Hoagy Carmichael, Stuart Gorell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind