Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Journey to Old Virginny: Embracing Roots and Longing
Lyrics
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Yearning to return to old Virginia.
There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow,
Describing the agricultural abundance of Virginia with cotton, corn, and potatoes.
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
Highlighting the sweet sounds of birds in the springtime in Virginia.
There's where the old darke'ys heart am long'd to go,
Expressing the deep longing of an old African-American to return to Virginia.
There's where I labored so hard for old massa,
Recalling the hard labor for the plantation owner (massa) in Virginia.
Day after day in the field of yellow corn,
Depicting the daily toil in the yellow cornfields of Virginia.
No place on earth do I love more sincerely
Expressing a sincere love for Virginia as the dearest place on earth.
Than old Virginny, the state where I was born.
Affirming a deep connection to Virginia, the birthplace of the speaker.
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Reiterating the desire to return to old Virginia.
There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow,
Recalling the agricultural richness of Virginia with cotton, corn, and potatoes.
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
Re-emphasizing the sweet melodies of birds in Virginia's spring.
There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go.
Repeating the strong yearning of an old African-American to go back to Virginia.
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Continuing the plea to be taken back to old Virginia.
There let me live 'till I wither and decay,
Desiring to live in Virginia until aging and decline.
Long by the old Dismal Swamp have I wandered,
Referring to the speaker's prolonged wandering near the Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
There's where this old darke'ys life will pass away.
Anticipating the end of the old African-American's life in Virginia.
Massa and missis have long gone before me,
Mentioning that the master (massa) and mistress (missis) have passed away.
Soon we will meet on that bright and golden shore,
Expecting a reunion with the master and mistress in the afterlife.
There we'll be happy and free from all sorrow,
Envisioning a joyful and sorrow-free existence in the afterlife in Virginia.
There's where we'll meet and we'll never part no more.
Emphasizing the everlasting reunion with loved ones in Virginia's afterlife.
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