Meaning of “Midnight Train to Georgia” by Gladys Knight & The Pips

The character who is at the center of this song is the lover of the singer. He is someone who has moved to Los Angeles (where he apparently met her) in search of stardom. However, in the process actually “didn’t get far”, in other words he failed at achieving this ‘dream’. So as a result, he has “pawned all his hopes”, as in sold off all of his possessions (including his car) for a “one-way ticket back” to Georgia, which is likely his hometown and overall within the context of this song represents “a simpler place in time”.

And although in the grand scheme of things, Gladys plays the role of a supporting character by taking center stage in the chorus. This is where she states her intention to “be with him on that midnight train to Georgia”. She does not appear to be faced with the same personal challenges living in Los Angeles as her lover. In fact the implication is that she is actually doing quite well for herself. Yet she would rather forsake the ‘City of Angels’, which is her “world”, in order to go and live in his.

Conclusion

So in summation, the story being told in this song is based on the unique perspectives of two lovers. One is a person who, disappointed with life in the present, is set to go back from whence he came, to a setting less-challenging than the one where he currently finds himself. The other, his partner, appears to be pretty-content, except for the fact that her lover is leaving. So as a result, she has decided to follow him back to Georgia.

Facts about “Midnight Train to Georgia”

• This song was composed by singer/songwriter Jim Weatherly. Originally it was entitled “Midnight Plane to Houston”. And why? This was because it was based on a conversation he had with actress Farah Fawcett, who herself was set to take a midnight flight from Los Angeles to Houston to visit her family.
• Also, prior to Gladys Knight & the Pips’ version, “Midnight Train to Georgia” was recorded by Cissy Houston (Whitney Houston’s mother) in 1973. It was during the preparation of the song for Houston that the titular “Plane” was changed to “Train” and “Houston” to “Georgia”.
• The Gladys Knight & the Pips version debuted at number 71 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, within the span of eight weeks it climbed to number 1.
• Meanwhile on the UK Singles Chart, the country where the track has been certified gold, the highest position it reached is number 10.
• As of 2019, “Midnight Train to Georgia” ranks at number 439 on Rolling Stone’s list of “500 Greatest Songs of All Time”.
• Interesting to note is that Gladys Knight herself was born in Georgia in 1944.

Did “Midnight Train to Georgia” win a Grammy Award?

Yes. At the 1974 Grammy Awards, this track earned Gladys Knight & the Pips a Grammy for Best R&B Vocal Performance by a Duo, Group or Chorus.

When did “Midnight Train to Georgia” come out?

The song was released by Buddah Records in August 1973.  

Which album does this classic appear on?

It was released as the second single from Gladys Knight & the Pips’ album, “Imagination”. That album dropped in 1973.