Listen: Virginia Now Has 2 State Songs

Capital News Service

RICHMOND – After almost twenty years without a state song, the commonwealth of Virginia now officially has two.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe has signed into law SB 1362 and HB 1472. They designate:

• “Our Great Virginia,” with lyrics by Mike Greenly and as arranged by Jim Papoulis, as the official “traditional” state song.
• “Sweet Virginia Breeze,” by Robbin Thompson and Steve Bassett, as the official “popular” state song.

The former state song, “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny,” was retired in 1997 because it glorified Virginia’s history of slavery with specific references to “massa” and “darkey.”