A New State Song for Virginia?

After almost two decades without a state song, House Speaker Bill Howell has introduced a bill to make “Our Great Virginia” the official state song. [read_more] The previous state song, “Carry Me Back To Old Virginny” was retired in 1997 when it was deemed to be racist. The Speaker’s bill has cleared the Rules Committee by a vote of 12 to 3. The song was written by Mike Greenly and set to the folk tune,“Oh, Shenandoah.” The song was originally written for the state of Missouri and oddly refers to Virginia as being in the Heartland when it’s obviously a Mid Atlantic state. 

Another song,“Virginia, the Home of My Heart,” by the popular Richmond singer/song writer Susan Greenbaum, was not chosen. As with all things in Richmond the choice quickly became partisan with Republican’s supporting “Our Great Virginia” and Democrats supporting “Virginia, the Home of My Heart”.

Which do you prefer?

I’m siding with the Democrats on this one and choosing “Virginia, the Home of My Heart”.

More here, here and here.