Why Georgia

"Why Georgia" is the third single released by John Mayer from his first album, Room for Squares. As a B-side, the international version single featured 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. The international single was released only four and a half months prior to Mayer's second album, Heavier Things.

"Why Georgia"
Single by John Mayer
from the album Room for Squares
ReleasedApril 29, 2003
Recorded2001
Genre
Length4:28
Label
Songwriter(s)John Mayer
Producer(s)John Alagia
John Mayer singles chronology
"Your Body Is a Wonderland"
(2002)		 "Why Georgia"
(2003)		 "Bigger Than My Body"
(2003)

Lyrics

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]

He expresses this feeling in the song's refrain:

'Cause I wonder sometimes
About the outcome
Of a still verdictless life
Am I living it right?

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

Track listing

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
  • 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

Cover versions

In 2004, saxophonist Gerald Albright covered the song from the album "Kickin' It Up".[5][6]

Charts
Chart (2003) Peak
position
Australia (ARIA)[7] 81
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 23
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles (Billboard)[9] 2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)[10] 2
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)[11] 8

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

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  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 (2003-09-01). "Room For Squares" Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007
  4. Thompson, Jason "Same As the Old Boss" PopMatters.com Retrieved November 19, 2007
  5. "Kickin' It Up overview". Smooth-jazz.de.
  6. "Gerald Albright Biography". VerveMusicGroup.com. Archived from the original on 2011-06-12. Retrieved 2010-06-20.
  7. "The ARIA Report: Issue 697 (Week Commencing 30 June 2003)" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2003-07-06. Retrieved November 7, 2012.
  8. "John Mayer – Why Georgia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  9. "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  10. "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
  11. "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
  12. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
  13. "American single certifications – John Mayer – Why Georgia". Recording Industry Association of America.
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