Introduction
A Father-Son Moment Etched in Melody: Lukas Nelson & Willie Nelson – (Forget About) Georgia (Live at Farm Aid 2021)
There are performances that entertain, and then there are those that linger in your soul long after the last note fades. Lukas Nelson & Willie Nelson – (Forget About) Georgia (Live at Farm Aid 2021) is unmistakably the latter—a heartfelt offering that bridges generations through shared sorrow, resilience, and storytelling. Watching Lukas and Willie share a stage is not just witnessing a performance, but entering into an intimate conversation between father and son, artists and audience, past and present.
The song itself, penned by Lukas Nelson, is a deeply personal ballad. At its core, it tells of emotional conflict—of performing the Ray Charles classic “Georgia on My Mind” night after night while grappling with the memory of someone by that very name. That painful irony is laid bare in the lyrics, with raw vulnerability that recalls the best of classic country songwriting—truthful, restrained, and emotionally generous.
Performed live at Farm Aid 2021, the song takes on a new gravity. The setting—a benefit concert rooted in purpose and community—amplifies the song’s emotional weight. Lukas’s voice is rich with feeling, effortlessly conveying both strength and ache. His phrasing is thoughtful, with a tone that echoes the stylings of his father while maintaining his own identity. Willie Nelson, with his unmistakable guitar work and subtle harmonies, adds warmth and wisdom without overshadowing the story his son is telling. Their musical chemistry is undeniable—respectful, unforced, and moving.
The performance of Lukas Nelson & Willie Nelson – (Forget About) Georgia (Live at Farm Aid 2021) is a rare kind of treasure: music that feels both deeply personal and universally resonant. It’s a reflection on memory, music, and the human heart’s struggle to let go. For longtime fans of the Nelson legacy—and those newly discovering Lukas’s artistry—this rendition is a stunning reminder of what happens when authenticity and musicianship meet in the most honest of spaces.
Video
Lyrics
Well, I sure as hell didn’t love her this much when I met her
Much as I was just captured again and again
She could turn her eyes away and still hold me under
A river of beauty and mystery pullin’ me in
And then when she told me her name, I knew I would die slowly
I knew I was destined to live with this pain every night
For each night I stand with my father playin’ our music
We cry out her name and her memory under the lights
And each night I pray, I’ll forget about Georgia
‘Cause she’ll never love me like I know a love’s supposed to be
Each night I pray, I’ll forget about Georgia
But a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me
Oh, a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me
We made love for the first time in a hotel in San Francisco
A night so perfect, I try to forget about it now
And Ray Charles is singin’ her name like rain on my window
And I want to release her but I can’t begin to know how
So I say, “Ray, let me forget about Georgia”
Mm, ’cause she’ll never love me like I know a love’s supposed to be
I say, “Ray, let me forget about Georgia”
But a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me
Oh, a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me
So I say, “Ray, let me forget about Georgia”
‘Cause she’ll never love me like I know a love’s supposed to be
I pray, I’ll forget about Georgia
But a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me
Oh, a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me
Mm, a part of me hopes that she’ll never forget about me