Why Georgia

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"Why Georgia"
File:Whygeorgia.jpg
Single by John Mayer
from the album Room for Squares
B-side
ReleasedJanuary 21, 2003 (2003-01-21)
Length4:28
Label
SongwriterJohn Mayer
ProducerJohn Alagia
John Mayer singles chronology
"Your Body Is a Wonderland"
(2002) 		"Why Georgia"
(2003) 		"Bigger Than My Body"
(2003)

"Why Georgia" is a song by American singer-songwriter John Mayer from his first album, Room for Squares (2001). As a B-side, the Australian CD single features the live version of "Why Georgia" as it appeared on Mayer's first live album, 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

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The song is autobiographic, and touches on Mayer's experience of having a "quarterlife crisis", a phenomenon of 20-somethings. He moved to Atlanta with Clay Cook after dropping out of 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

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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 bemoaned that on songs like "Why Georgia", Mayer sounds just like Dave Matthews.[4]

Track listings

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All songs by John Mayer unless otherwise indicated.

US version

  1. "Why Georgia" – 4:28
  2. "3x5" (Live at the X Lounge) – 5:18
  3. "No Such Thing" (demo version) (John Mayer, Clay Cook) – 3:51

International version

  1. "Why Georgia" – 4:28
  2. "3x5" (live at the X Lounge)(feat. Brad Paisley) – 5:18
  3. "No Such Thing" (demo version) (Mayer, Cook) – 3:51
  4. "Why Georgia" (Any Given Thursday version) – 6:51

Personnel

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  • John Mayer — vocals, guitar
  • David LaBruyere — bass
  • Nir Z — drums, loops
  • Brandon Bush — Hammond organ
  • John Alagia — percussion
  • Clay Cook — backing vocals
  • Doug Derryberry — backing vocals

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[12] Gold 35,000‡
United States (RIAA)[13] Gold 500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

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Region Date Format(s) Label(s) Ref.
United States January 21, 2003
[14]
February 17, 2003 Adult contemporary radio [15]
March 31, 2003 Contemporary hit radio [16]
Australia June 23, 2003 CD [17]

Cover versions

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In 2004, saxophonist Gerald Albright covered the song from the album "Kickin' It Up".[18][19]

References

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  1. ^ Small, Mark (2005). "John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs" Berklee.edu. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.
  2. ^ Decurtis, Anthony (December 6, 2001), "John Mayer". Rolling Stone. (883/884):152
  3. ^ Blanford, Roxanne (September 1, 2003). "Room For Squares" Archived January 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007
  4. ^ Thompson, Jason "Same As the Old Boss" PopMatters.com Retrieved November 19, 2007
  5. ^ "Issue 697" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
  6. ^ "John Mayer – Why Georgia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  7. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  8. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  9. ^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
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