Virginia State Song

"Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny" Official State Song Emeritus Lyrics: James Allen Bland Music: James Allen Bland Adoption: 1997 HISTORY "Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny" was written and composed by James Allen Bland in 1878. Bland was an African-American composer and entertainer from New York who wrote hundreds of popular songs, including "Oh, Dem Golden Slippers!". Starting in the 1970s, the song was decried for its positive depiction of slavery. In 1997 its official status was changed to the "state song emeritus," and in 1998, a committee was formed to conduct a competition for the selection of a new state song. The contest was suspended in 2000, and a replacement has yet to be designated.  -World Trade Press LYRICS "Carry Me Back to Ol' Virginny"  Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where the cotton and corn and taters grow. There's where the birds warble sweet in the spring-time. There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go. There's where I labored so hard for old Massa, Day after day in the field of yellow corn; No place on earth do I love more sincerely Than old Virginny, the state where I was born. Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where the cotton and the corn and taters grow; There's where the birds warble sweet in the spring-time. There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go. Carry me back to old Virginny, There let me live till I wither and decay. Long by the old Dismal Swamp have I wandered, There's where this old darkey's life will pass away. Massa and Missis have long since gone before me, Soon we will meet on that bright and golden shore. There we'll be happy and free from all sorrow, There's where we'll meet and we'll never part no more. Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where the cotton and the corn and taters grow; There's where the birds warble sweet in the spring-time. There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go.