Sounds of Soul

The song was written by Jim Weatherly, who performed and recorded it in under its original title “Midnight Plane to Houston.” The story behind the song is that Weatherly had befriended Lee Majors, who was dating Farrah Fawcett at the time. Weatherly was on the phone with Majors and overheard Farrah say that she was “taking the midnight plane to Houston” to visit her family. That started Weatherly imagining a scenario about someone taking midnight transportation to leave L.A. after not being able to make it to superstar in that town. And his lady friend who will travel with him wherever he goes. The song was also recorded in 1973 by Cissy Houston. She changed Houston to Georgia in the title.

Gladys Knight and the Pips recording and release it in 1973 on their album Imagination and as a single. It charted well internationally for them. The song rose to #1 on the U.S. billboard Hot 100, #5 in Canada, and #10 in the U.K.

Gladys Knight and the Pips formed in Atlanta, Georgia in 1952 and disbanded in 1989. On the track were Gladys Knight on the lead vocals, with the background vocals sung by Merald “Bubba” Knight, Eddie Patten, and William Guest.

Here are the lyrics to “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and The Pips:

Mom L.A. proved too much for the man
(Too much for the man)
(He couldn’t make it)
So he’s leavin’ the life he’s come to know oooo
(He said he’s goin’)
He said he’s goin’ back to find
(Goin’ back to find)
Ooh, oooh ooh what’s left of his world
The world he left behind
Not so long ago

He’s leavin’ (leavin’)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train)
Said he’s goin’ back (goin’ back to find)
To a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who’s gonna be right by his side)
Oh yes he is

And I’ll be with him (I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I’d rather live in his world
Than live without him in mine
(That world is his, his and hers alone)

He kept dreamin’ (dreamin’)
Ooh that someday he’d be a star
(A superstar but he didn’t get far)
But he sure found out the hard way
That dreams don’t always come true
(Dreams Don’t always come true)
On no! ah ah (uh uh no, uh uh)

So he pawned all his hopes
And he even sold his old car
Bought a one way ticket back
To the life he once knew
Oh yes he did
He said he would
Oh yes he did

He said he would
Oh oh he’s leavin’ (leavin’)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train)

Said he’s goin’ back to find (goin’ back to find)
Oh a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who’s gonna be right by his side)
I’m gonna be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I’d rather live in his world (live in his world)
Than be without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)

Ooh, he’s leaving
(Leaving)
On the midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on the midnight train)
Said he’s going back to find
(Going back to find)
Ooh, a simpler place in time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who’s gonna be right by his side)
I’ve got to be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I’d rather live in his world
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(Her world is his, his and hers alone)

For love, gonna board the midnight train to ride
For love, gonna board, gotta board the midnight train to go
For love, gonna board, uh huh, the midnight train to go
My world, his world, our world, mine and his alone
My world, his world, our world, mine and his alone
I got to go
I got to go
I got to go, hey
I got to go
I got to go
My world, his world, my man, his girl
I got to go
I got to go, oh
I got to go
My world, his world, our world, his girl

For More 70s Tunes

The System has daily featured music from all sorts of genres of 1970s music. You’re welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections in The System. Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight and The Pips.