Virginia to get new state song to replace 'Carry Me Back to Old Virginia.'

Jet, Feb 16, 1998

Virginia may soon have a new state song that praises the state and is not offensive.

State lawmakers are touting the song "Virginia" to replace the "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," which was retired to state song emeritus after critics said its references to "darkey" laboring for "old massa" were racist and glorified slavery.

"Virginia" is among five contenders before lawmakers this year for the new state gong.

The song was written by country-crooner and sausage-baron Jimmy Dean and his wife Donna.

She said she began to write the song one night while she could not sleep because of a migraine headache.

Mrs. Dean added that her husband Jimmy originally composed the melody for the high school in Varina, a small town on Richmond, VA's, outskirts. Later they changed the lyrics with creating a new state song in mind.

The Deans have recorded the song and pressed 1,000 compact discs. They sent CDs to about three dozen radio stations and lobbied for air time in an attempt to build support for the song.