Virginia State Song

In 2015 our great virginia was made the new state song of virginia.

Virginia state song. New jersey has no official state song while virginia s previous state song carry me back to old virginny adopted in 1940 was later rescinded in 1997 due to language deemed racist by the virginia general assembly. The acir intends to make a final selection in the contest and a recommendation to the general assembly and the governor for the 2001 general assembly session. On january 28 1997 the virginia senate voted to designate carry me back to old virginia as state song emeritus and a study committee initiated a contest for writing a. By a vote of 39 0 in the virginia state senate our great virginia was designated the official state traditional song and sweet virginia breeze was designated the official state state popular song of virginia effective july 1 2015.

The definition of emeritus. September 11 2020. Official state song emeritus of virginia carry me back to old virginia by james a. Carry me back to old virginia was the original state song of virginia adopted in 1940 but in 1997 the.

Carry me back to old virginny james bland tom roush. Holloway last modified date. The song is a ballad that evokes shenandoah sweet virginia breeze by robbin thompson and steve bassett as the official popular state song. It is an upbeat pop song by a pair of professional musicians also based in richmond.

A third reworded version was virginia s state song from 1940 until 1997 using the word virginia instead of virginny in 1997 it was retired as the state song largely due to controversy over the lyrics racial content. Walter stosch r henrico backed this as the state song in sb 1362. It s not a surprise that sweet virginia breeze won the popular category as it was a hands down winner on social media. But more than that it s served as the unofficial state song for some time and has been used by state agencies including virginia tourism the virginia department of agriculture and the virginia department of taxation.

On jan 28 1997 the virginia senate voted 24 15 to designate carry me back as state song emeritus and directed a study committee to come up with a new state song. There is no official state song of virginia though the state does have an interim state song and a state song emeritus. From 1940 to 1997 the state song was carry me back to old virginny though it has since been retired and is now the state song emeritus because of controversy over its lyrics.