[78-L] Georgia On My Mind [was My Man From Caroline]

[Cary Ginell]

This is a fallacy. According to Dick Sudhalter's biography of Carmichael, it was Frank Trumbauer who suggested to Hoagy, "Why don't you write a song about Georgia? Nobody ever lost money writing songs about the South." The duality of Gorell's lyrics can be interpreted either way. The intention was possibly deliberately ambiguous as to whether it was about a place or a person. 

Melodies bring memories that linger in my heart
Make me think of Georgia, why did we ever part?
Some sweet day when blossoms fall and all the world's a song
I'll go back to Georgia, 'cause that's where I belong.


Cary Ginell

On Dec 22, 2012, at 12:30 PM, Ray <kil at roadrunner.com> wrote:

> I'm surprised you haven't heard the story before.  IMHO there's no reason to 
> think it was written about the state.  Over the years it has seemed to take 
> on the "state" connotation, since Georgia made it the official state song.
> 
> I never heard this part of the history before, but Wikipedia says the song 
> was written by lyricist Stuart Gorrell, about Hoagy's sister, Georgia 
> Carmichael.  I don't know if that has been verified but it sounds feasible.
> RayK
> 
> 
> From: Julian Vein
> Does this refer to the state or a woman?
> 
> The following is ambiguous, and could be allegorical:
> 
> "Other arms reach out to me
> Other eyes smile tenderly
> Still in peaceful dreams I see
> The road leads back to you"
> 
>      Julian Vein
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