LA proved too much for the man
(Too much for the man, he couldn't make it)
So he's leaving the life he's come to know
(He said he's going)
He said he's going back to find
(Going back to find)
Ooh, What's left of his world
The world he left behind… not so long ago
He's leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train)
Said he's going back
(Going back to find)
To find a simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who's gonna be right by his side)
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
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(World, world, is his and hers alone)
He kept dreaming
(Dreaming)
That some day he'd be a star
(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, uh huh, no, uh huh)
So he pawned all his hopes
(Ooh, ooh, ooh ooh)
And even sold his old car
(Woo, woo, woo)
For a one way ticket back to the life he once knew
Oh yes he did, he said he would
He's leaving
(Leaving)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on a midnight train)
Yeah, said he's going back to find
(Going back to find)
A simpler place and time
(Whenever he takes that ride, guess who's gonna be right by his side)
I'll be with him
(I know you will)
On that midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on that midnight train to Georgia, woo woo)
I'd rather live in his world,
(Live in his world)
Than live without him in mine
(World, world, it's his and hers alone)
He's leaving
(Leaving)
On the midnight train to Georgia
(Leaving on the midnight train to)
Said he's going back to find
(Going back to find)
A simpler place and 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
(World, world it's his, his and hers alone)
My love, gonna board the midnight train to Georgia (x3)
My world, his world, our world, mine and his alone (x2)
I've got to go (x5)
My world, his world, my man, his girl
" Midnight Train to Georgia" – Gladys Knight and The Pips
By far one of my favorite songs of all time – not just because it has my home state in the name. Growing up, I merely knew it as just another song by Gladys Knight and The Pips, with an occasional cross-reference to one Mia Herndon that I went to Elementary School with and claimed to be a cousin of Gladys.
My relationship with this song changed in May of 1996, when I completed my 2nd year at North Carolina A&T – I don't dare call it my sophomore year since it took me damn near ten years to graduate from that place. After that year, I decided that out-of-state tuition, a car note, and rent among other things were all just too much for me to deal with. I accepted an internship in Minnesota, and in doing that, I also decided that I needed to attend a school back home in Georgia since it would be cheaper. My time in Greensboro had come to an end, and it ended on a sour note in my opinion. Driving a U-Haul home to take my furniture and various items not going to Minnesota (basically what wouldn't fit in my car) was probably one of the most emotional experiences I had gone through at a young age 18. During that drive, I had only the radio to entertain me – and during that 5-6 hour drive, "Midnight Train to Georgia" was played on the radio on at least 4 separate occasions. It's not like I had a cell phone to call in and request it either – I heard it in Greensboro as I left town, again in Charlotte, Columbia, SC (stopped to see my uncle), and just outside of Augusta, GA.
Remember Keenen Ivory Wayans popping up yelling "MESSAGE!" at certain points in the movie "I'm Gonna Git You Sucka"? That's basically what I kept on thinking – and for whatever reason I simply couldn't change the radio station. I'm man enough to even admit that I pretty much got all watery in the eyes each time that song played – still do even to this day.
So from that point on, while "Midnight Train" is by far one of my favorite songs of all time, it is bittersweet. I have to reference the song with my failure. Greensboro, North Carolina was too much for me – what the hell would happen if I actually went to LA?
I find myself at another crossroads – one which will take me away from my comfort zone that is Georgia, and the drums and horns that start this song play in my head at some point every day. What if I make a wrong move? I'm not 18 anymore, and bouncing back from a wrong decision will certainly not be as easy. Fortunately I do not have anyone depending on me to eat or for clothes or anything like that, but I'm sure it's down the road. I won't be able to simply sell my car and buy a ticket back home anymore. This decision feels just as important if not more important than my choice of college(s) was years ago.
While I know that I have a support system there waiting for me, there is still that ounce of doubt in the back of my head that makes me want to retreat back to my comfort zone. On the other side, I know that complacency can only take you so far. My plans to venture out on my own business this year came to an abrupt end before it even had a chance to take off. So here I am now moving to Minneapolis again – taking a chance on a small growing company with loads of potential for the future, but leaving a stable, but growing opportunity that I have enjoyed for the past three years.
Let me not forget that I am moving also to be closer to someone that I rediscovered on one of my recent visits. She has been a voice of reason throughout some of the craziness that I have been going through over the past few months, and if there is anything I am looking forward to its spending more time with her.
So my friends, I am posting my last blog as a physical resident of my fair hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. My next post will be from the Twin Cities of Minnesota – one of my homes away from home. I look forward to the adventure that awaits me!
*Note* The volume on this video starts up a bit loud – you might want to turn down the volume in the beginning.
