Virginia does not have an official state song, but had “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” from 1940 to 1997, when it was retired due to controversy over its lyrics. Virginia has not been able to agree on a new state song since. “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” was written by James A. Bland, an African American composer, and depicts a nostalgic picture of life under slavery. The state government announced a contest to select a new state song in 1997, but it was officially suspended in 2000.
There is no official Virginia state song, although the state has 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 due to controversy over its lyrics. Although other state songs have been proposed since the 1970s, including “The Old Dominion,” as of 2012, Virginia remains one of only two states in the U.S. that does not have an official state song, with the other it’s New Jersey.
“Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” is the work of an African American musician and composer, James A. Bland (1854-1911). Bland, a native of New York, wrote the song in 1878. Sung in the voice of a former slave, the song is a nostalgic description of Virginia’s natural beauty. It also paints a nostalgic picture of life under slavery; the slave speaks fondly of “Massa” and hopes to be reunited with his former owners in the afterlife.
Virginia lawmakers officially adopted the song “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” in 1940, formally making it the state song. Despite the controversy and push for another state song as early as the 1970s, the song continued as the state song until 1997. One notable effort was the proposal for “The Old Dominion” to be the new state song, but the legislation has not made it beyond the commission level. In 1997, criticism of the song came to a head. Critics had long objected to the song for several reasons related to its depiction of African Americans, and many felt its rosy depiction of slavery was inappropriate, as was its use of the word “obscure,” a racial slur against African Americans.
In 1997, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” ceased to be the state song of Virginia and became its state song emeritus. The state government has announced a contest to select a new state song. By July 1999, eight finalists had made the cut. The search for a new state song stopped in 1999 and the contest was officially suspended in 2000.
After the contest was suspended, lawmakers continued to recommend new state songs. In 2006, the Virginia State Senate proposed “Shenandoah,” also called “Oh Shenandoah,” as the state song of Virginia. Legislation calling it a state song failed to pass the General Assembly. Critics pointed out that the lyrics were difficult and indeed referred more to areas outside of Virginia than to Virginia itself. In the absence of an official state song, some Virginians still consider “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” the state song of Virginia.
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