# Why Georgia

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"**Why Georgia**" is a song by American singer-songwriter [John Mayer](/source/John_Mayer) from his first album, *[Room for Squares](/source/Room_for_Squares)* (2001). As a [B-side](/source/B-side), the Australian [CD single](/source/CD_single) features the live version of "Why Georgia" as it appeared on Mayer's first live album, *[Any Given Thursday](/source/Any_Given_Thursday)*, as the single followed the live album's release. "Why Georgia" was released as the third single from *Room for Squares* in January 2003.

## Lyrics

The song is autobiographic, and touches on Mayer's experience of having a "[quarterlife crisis](/source/Quarterlife_crisis)", a phenomenon of 20-somethings. He moved to Atlanta with [Clay Cook](/source/Clay_Cook) after dropping out of [Berklee College of Music](/source/Berklee_College_of_Music), and, though pursuing his dreams, had doubts if he would be successful or not. In one interview he said

I remember getting into some pretty dismal places money-wise and opportunity-wise. I kind of looked at my guitar and said, 'It's just you and me. I'll go where you take me.'[1]

## Response

Rolling Stone magazine said that the song "lifts into a melodic chorus you won't soon forget".[2] Stylus magazine praised "Why Georgia," saying of the single, "pure pop guitar lines resonate."[3] [PopMatters](/source/PopMatters) bemoaned that on songs like "Why Georgia", Mayer sounds just like [Dave Matthews](/source/Dave_Matthews).[4]

## Track listings

All songs by John Mayer unless otherwise indicated.

**US version**

1. "Why Georgia" – 4:28
1. "3x5" (Live at the X Lounge) – 5:18
1. "[No Such Thing](/source/No_Such_Thing_(John_Mayer_song))" (demo version) (John Mayer, [Clay Cook](/source/Clay_Cook)) – 3:51

**International version**

1. "Why Georgia" – 4:28
1. "3x5" (live at the X Lounge)(feat. [Brad Paisley](/source/Brad_Paisley)) – 5:18
1. "No Such Thing" (demo version) (Mayer, Cook) – 3:51
1. "Why Georgia" (*[Any Given Thursday](/source/Any_Given_Thursday)* version) – 6:51

## Personnel

- [John Mayer](/source/John_Mayer) — vocals, guitar
- David LaBruyere — bass
- Nir Z — drums, loops
- Brandon Bush — Hammond organ
- John Alagia — percussion
- [Clay Cook](/source/Clay_Cook) — backing vocals
- Doug Derryberry — backing vocals

## Charts

### Weekly charts

Chart (2003) Peak position

### Year-end charts

Chart (2003) Position US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[5] 21 US Triple-A (Billboard)[6] 4

## Release history

Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref. United States January 21, 2003 Hot adult contemporary · triple A radio Columbia · Aware [7] February 17, 2003 Adult contemporary radio [8] March 31, 2003 Contemporary hit radio [9] Australia June 23, 2003 CD [10]

## Cover versions

In 2004, saxophonist [Gerald Albright](/source/Gerald_Albright) covered the song from the album "Kickin' It Up".[11][12]

## References

1. Small, Mark (2005). ["John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs"](http://www.berklee.edu/bt/172/coverstory.html) Berklee.edu. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.

1. Decurtis, Anthony (December 6, 2001), ["John Mayer"](https://www.rollingstone.com/music/albumreviews/room-for-squares-20011113). *Rolling Stone*. (883/884):152

1. Blanford, Roxanne (September 1, 2003). ["Room For Squares"](http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/john-mayer/room-for-squares.htm) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160109084806/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/john-mayer/room-for-squares.htm) January 9, 2016 at the Wayback Machine Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007

1. Thompson, Jason ["Same As the Old Boss"](http://www.popmatters.com/music/reviews/m/mayerjohn-room.shtml) PopMatters.com Retrieved November 19, 2007

1. "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". *[Airplay Monitor](/source/Airplay_Monitor)*. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22.

1. "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". *Airplay Monitor*. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 47.

1. "Going for Adds". *[Radio & Records](/source/Radio_%26_Records)*. No. 1487. January 17, 2003. p. 24.

1. "Going for Adds". *Radio & Records*. No. 1491. February 14, 2003. p. 28.

1. "Going for Adds". *Radio & Records*. No. 1497. March 28, 2003. p. 22.

1. ["The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd June 2003"](https://webarchive.nla.gov.au/awa/20030706140000/http://pandora.nla.gov.au/pan/23790/20030707-0000/Issue696.pdf). [ARIA](/source/Australian_Recording_Industry_Association). June 23, 2003. p. 25. Archived from [the original](http://www.aria.com.au/Issue696.pdf) on July 6, 2003. Retrieved March 18, 2025.

1. "Kickin' It Up overview". *Smooth-jazz.de*

1. ["Gerald Albright Biography"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110612070238/http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/geraldalbright/bio/). *[VerveMusicGroup.com](/source/Verve_Music_Group)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/geraldalbright/bio/) on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2010.

## External links

- [John Mayer - Why Georgia (Live)](https://www.youtube.com/uhYn7ryaWNE) on YouTube
- [John Mayer plays "Why Georgia" live in New York for MSN.com.](http://video.msn.com/v/us/v.htm?g=72610DC5-06C9-4AE3-B73F-789193813E2A&f=34/64&fg=copy)[dead link]

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Why Georgia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Georgia) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Why_Georgia?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.