I’m taking one more slow step toward checking something off of my life’s to-do list…making the ultimate mixed cd(s) documenting songs that give props to the peach-fuzz state, my dearly beloved Georgia.
I’m hoping for suggestions from the eclectic dopey masses. My personal list is already quite diverse and random, and I’m sure there will be many good suggestions from y’all.
I’m looking for songs with lyrics that include “Georgia” or anywhere located within her (Atlanta, Savannah). Also fair game are song titles. If Georgia (or Atlanta etc) is in the title but not the lyrics, I’m still interested. I’m even considering including songs if the name of the band has a Georgia reference, it just has to be good…for example, I don’t think the collection will be complete without a copy of “Keep your hands to yourself” by * The Georgia Satellites*.
The biggest problem I forsee is deciding, for example, between Ray Charles’ or Willie Nelson’s “Georgia on my mind”…so there might just have to be multiple versions of the same song…no sense in being too picky in such matters…
I prefer Willie Nelson’s “Georgia on my Mind,” myself. Billie Holiday did a great one, too.
I’d also add “Midnight Train to Georgia.”
Otis Redding, Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay: “I left my home in Georgia…”
The B-52s, Love Shack: “I’m headin’ down the Atlanta highway” (aka Hwy 316)
I’ve heard that REM’s Don’t Go Back to Rockville is about Athens and refers to the old Rockfish Palace, but I’m not sure. It seems strange that I can’t think of an REM song that mentions Georgia specifically.
Rainy Night in Georgia - Brooke Benton Highway 61 Revisted - Bob Dylan
“Well, Georgia Sam he had a bloody nose” Po’ Boy - Dylan
“Had to go to Florida, dodgin’ them Georgia laws”
Cite? And then… relevance? It’s the official state song, and is immediately associated with the state by everyone. I suppose the lyrics could be read either way, but you tend not to talk about “the road leading back to” a woman, but home.
Anyway, I’ve done something similar to the OP a few times, although I usually make the rules a little more vague and allow any artist from GA. If you stick to the rules:
“Oh Atlanta” – Alison Krauss & Union Station (I’m not sure if this is a cover; there are about a million songs called “Oh Atlanta”)
“Love Shack” – the B-52’s (starts with the line “Headin’ down the Atlanta Highway” in Athens)
The B-52’s have some other brief references to Athens – “Butterbean” starts out “Hey, if you go down to Athens, GA.” “Song for a Future Generation” mentions Athens a couple of times when they’re introducing themselves and saying where they’re from. And “Deadbeat Club” has the line “Let’s go crash that party down in Normaltown tonight”, which is a neighborhood in Athens (a couple blocks from where I used to live, incidentally).
“Southland in the Springtime” – Indigo Girls (“in Georgia nights are softer than a whisper”)
You’d think that Indigo Girls & REM would include more references to GA in their lyrics, but I can’t come up with any more.