ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, January 29, 1997 TAG: 9701290043
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: DWAYNE YANCEY STAFF WRITER
THOUGH SOME LAWMAKERS said ``Carry Me Back'' should be repealed, former Gov. Douglas Wilder embraced the song's "emeritus" status.
``Carry Me Back to Old Virginia" is on its last stanza.
For three decades, Virginia has been roiled over an official anthem whose lyrics glorify slavery. And for three decades, the General Assembly has clung to the song, with almost annual efforts to repeal it or rewrite it becoming mired down in debate over how best to honor Virginia's heritage without offending some of its residents.
This week, all that changed - driven partly by a conservative Republican who says his goal is to preserve "Carry Me Back" for history, but also to recognize the reality that the song is rarely played in public anymore.
"Virginia doesn't have a state song, as far as I'm concerned," said Steve Newman of Lynchburg. "It simply doesn't exist for the purpose of official functions."
On Tuesday, the state Senate - which long had been the song's defender - voted 24-15 to "retire" the state song, by declaring it the "state song emeritus." The bill now heads to the House of Delegates, which in years past has overwhelmingly voted to get rid of the song.
Gov. George Allen has said he would sign the bill if it is approved by the General Assembly.
The legislature could declare a new state song this session - a legislator has introduced a bill to declare "Virginia," a song by country music singers Jimmy and Donna Dean, as the new anthem. Instead, the General Assembly is expected to set up a commission on picking a new song.
``Carry Me Back to Old Virginny'' was written in 1875 by James Bland, a black minstrel from Flushing, N.Y., and was adopted as the official state song in 1940. The assembly changed ``Virginny'' to ``Virginia'' but left the lyrics intact.
The song inspired raucous debate in years past, but the end came quietly Tuesday, with no debate in the Senate.
The telling vote came Monday, when the Senate voted not to rewrite the offending lyrics as traditionalists - led by Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta County - wanted.
Twelve senators - all Democrats - voted against "retirement," saying they wanted to make a stronger statement against racism by repealing the song altogether.
``It shouldn't be emeritus," said Sen. Henry Marsh, D-Richmond. "It's an offense, it's an insult to a large segment of Virginians, not just African Americans but also those who feel uncomfortable with a state song that offends a large number of people.''
Sen. Madison Marye, D-Shawsville, abstained. Three years ago, he led a failed attempt to rewrite the song. "People can't find an agreement,'' he said. ``I don't want anything to do with it anymore."
Former Gov. Douglas Wilder - who first called attention to the song in 1970 and went on to become the nation's first black elected governor - embraced the idea of "emeritus" status.
``The important thing is that this song not be recognized as the official state song of Virginia," Wilder said. "It would then take on the position of being a relic, and there are any number of relics around."
Staff writer Laura LaFay, The Associated Press and The Washington Post contributed to this report.
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
The bill to "retire" the state song, "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia" now goes to the House of Delegates, which must act before adjournment on Feb. 22.
A separate bill, to declare a new song by country music singers Jimmy and Donna Dean as the official anthem, is pending in the House of Delegates, which must act on that proposal by Feb. 4.
``Carry Me Back To Old Virginia''
The state Senate voted Tuesday to retire the official state song:
Verse One:
Carry me back to old Virginny.
There's where the cotton and the corn and 'tatoes 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 Virginny, the state where I was born.
Verse Two:
Carry me back to old Virginny.
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 from all sorrow.
There's where we'll meet and never part no more.
LENGTH: Medium: 97 lines ILLUSTRATION: GRAPHIC: Chart: How they voted. KEYWORDS: MGR GENERAL ASSEMBLY 1997by CNB