Virginia remains the only state without an offical song
Source: Washington Times (3-2-06)

A House panel yesterday rejected a measure that would have designated an
adapted version of "Shenandoah" as the interim state song, the latest
refrain in a long ballad over which tune best represents the commonwealth.
"The state song ought to be from a Virginian by a Virginian," said
Delegate Terry Kilgore, one of the lawmakers who voted down the
"Shenandoah" proposal.


The song, most argued, is about folks leaving Virginia, crossing the "wide
Missouri" to escape difficult economic times.

Sen. Charles J. Colgan Sr. brought in a choir from the Shenandoah Valley
to make his case for the tune, which was changed to be more
Virginia-centric. Mr. Colgan's proposal re-tooled the lyrics to
"Shenandoah," deleting some of the lines about fleeing the state.

"Oh Shenandoah, we long to hear you. Away, we're bound away, cross our
fair Virginia," sang the group, known as the Shenandoah Singers.

State songs have long stirred emotions, especially in the South.

While some Southerners proudly hum more modern state songs -- think the
Peach State's Ray Charles-blessed "Georgia on My Mind " -- legislatures in
Florida and Maryland have been wrangling over potentially politically
incorrect lyrics for years.

In Florida, lawmakers fought over "Way Down Upon the Swanee River," which
refers to "darkies" and plantations.

In 2002, Maryland lawmakers fought over their state song, which refers to
Union troops as "scum" and calls President Abraham Lincoln a "despot,"
calling it too "divisive." The tune*, "Maryland! My Maryland!" was written
during the Civil War by a man who was angry that his roommate was killed
by Union troops. {* i.e. "lyrics" - the tune is same as O Tannenbaum. -
jk}

Both tunes remain in place.

Coming up with a new song has a sordid history in Virginia. The panel that
was tasked with choosing a song that could be sung at football games and
gubernatorial inaugurations hasn't met for eight years. It did narrow the
field of singable submissions from 340 to eight, including a ditty by
sausage magnate Jimmy Dean, but no one could agree on their favorite.

Only two delegates voted in favor of the song, which would have been the
first official state tune since lawmakers retired "Carry Me Back to Old
Virginny" in 1997 because they felt it was racist.

"Carry Me Back to Old Virginny" was written by James A. Bland, a free
black who later became a minstrel. The song, written during the 1800s,
includes lyrics about a "darkie" who "labored so hard for old massa."


Posted on Thursday, March 2, 2006



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