Why Georgia

"Why Georgia"
"Why Georgia"
Single by John Mayer
from the album Room for Squares
B-side	"3x5" (live); "No Such Thing" (demo);
Released	January 21, 2003
Length	4:28
Label	Columbia; Aware;
Songwriter(s)	John Mayer
Producer(s)	John Alagia
John Mayer singles chronology

"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

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

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

All songs by John Mayer unless otherwise indicated.

US version

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

International version

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

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australia (ARIA)^[5]	81
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)^[6]	23
US Bubbling Under Hot 100 (Billboard)^[7]	2
US Adult Alternative Songs (Billboard)^[8]	2
US Adult Pop Airplay (Billboard)^[9]	8

Year-end charts

Chart (2003)	Position
US Adult Top 40 (Billboard)^[10]	21
US Triple-A (Billboard)^[11]	4

Certifications


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

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

Cover versions

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

References

^ Small, Mark (2005). "John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs" Berklee.edu. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.
^ Decurtis, Anthony (December 6, 2001), "John Mayer". Rolling Stone. (883/884):152
^ Blanford, Roxanne (September 1, 2003). "Room For Squares" Archived January 9, 2016, at the Wayback Machine Stylus Magazine Retrieved November 19, 2007
^ Thompson, Jason "Same As the Old Boss" PopMatters.com Retrieved November 19, 2007
^ "Issue 697" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
^ "John Mayer – Why Georgia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^ "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.
^ "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.
^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22.
^ "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Triple-A Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 47.
^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.
^ "American single certifications – John Mayer – Why Georgia". Recording Industry Association of America.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1487. January 17, 2003. p. 24.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1491. February 14, 2003. p. 28.
^ "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1497. March 28, 2003. p. 22.
^ "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 23, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2003. Retrieved March 18, 2025.
^ "Kickin' It Up overview". Smooth-jazz.de.
^ "Gerald Albright Biography". VerveMusicGroup.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2010.

External links

[Berklee-1] Small, Mark (2005). "John Mayer '98: Running with the Big Dogs" Berklee.edu. Retrieved on April 23, 2007.

[DeCurtis-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

[sc_Australiapandora_-5] "Issue 697" ARIA Top 100 Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved March 18, 2025.

[sc_New_Zealand_John_Mayer-6] "John Mayer – Why Georgia". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

[sc_Billboardbubbling100_John_Mayer-7] "John Mayer Chart History (Bubbling Under Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

[sc_Billboardadultalternativesongs_John_Mayer-8] "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Alternative Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved January 9, 2018.

[sc_Billboardadultpopsongs_John_Mayer-9] "John Mayer Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 5, 2017.

[10] "The Year in Charts 2003: Most-Played Adult Top 40 Songs". Airplay Monitor. Vol. 11, no. 51. December 19, 2003. p. 22.

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

[AustraliasingleCertRef-12] "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2021 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association.

[United_StatesJohn_MayerWhy_GeorgiasingleCertRef-13] "American single certifications – John Mayer – Why Georgia". Recording Industry Association of America.

[14] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1487. January 17, 2003. p. 24.

[15] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1491. February 14, 2003. p. 28.

[16] "Going for Adds". Radio & Records. No. 1497. March 28, 2003. p. 22.

[17] "The ARIA Report: New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 23rd June 2003" (PDF). ARIA. June 23, 2003. p. 25. Archived from the original (PDF) on July 6, 2003. Retrieved March 18, 2025.

[18] "Kickin' It Up overview". Smooth-jazz.de.

[19] "Gerald Albright Biography". VerveMusicGroup.com. Archived from the original on June 12, 2011. Retrieved June 20, 2010.

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v t e John Mayer
Discography
Studio albums	Room for Squares Heavier Things Continuum Battle Studies Born and Raised Paradise Valley The Search for Everything Sob Rock
Live albums	Any Given Thursday As/Is Try! Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
Extended plays	Inside Wants Out The Village Sessions The Complete 2012 Performances Collection The Search for Everything: Wave One The Search for Everything: Wave Two
Singles	"No Such Thing" "Your Body Is a Wonderland" "Why Georgia" "Bigger Than My Body" "Clarity" "Daughters" "Waiting on the World to Change" "Belief" "Gravity" "Dreaming with a Broken Heart" "Say" "Free Fallin'" "Who Says" "Heartbreak Warfare" "Half of My Heart" "Shadow Days" "Queen of California" "Who You Love" "XO" "Love on the Weekend" "In the Blood" "New Light" "Last Train Home"
Featured singles	"Go!" "Streetcorner Symphony" "Beat It"
Video albums	Any Given Thursday Where the Light Is: John Mayer Live in Los Angeles
Concert tours	John Mayer 2008 Summer Tour Battle Studies World Tour Born and Raised World Tour The Search for Everything World Tour
Related articles	John Mayer Trio Annual John Mayer Holiday Charity Revue Dead & Company PRS Silver Sky

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