Summer tree at Briery Creek Wildlife Management Area in Prince Edward County, Virginia; photo by Universal Pops on Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike).
Official State Song Emeritus of Virginia
"Carry Me Back to Old Virginia" by James A. Bland (original title; "Carry Me Back To Old Virginny") was designated the official state song of Virginia in 1940, then re-designated as the state "song emeritus" in 1997. The definition of emeritus: retired or honorably discharged from active professional duty, but retaining the title of one's office or position.
Virginia also recognizes a state traditional song and an official state popular song. All State Songs
Lyrics to Carry Me Back to Old Virginia
Carry me back to old Virginia,
There's where the cotton and the corn and taters grow,
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
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 Virginia, the state where I was born.
CHORUS:
Carry me back to old Virginia,
There's where the cotton and the corn and taters grow,
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go.
Carry me back to old Virginia,
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 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.
CHORUS
Source