Virginia State Song (Instrumental) Carry Me Back to Old Virginny (Virginia)

"Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" is a song written circa 1878 by James A. Bland, an African-American composer. It was Virginia's state song from 1940. In 1997, it was retired as the official state song, largely due to controversy over the lyrics' racial content. In 1997, the Virginia Senate voted to designate "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia" as state song emeritus.