Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Nostalgic Journey: Old Virginny's Melody of Longing
Lyrics
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Requesting to return to the old state of Virginia.
There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow,
Describing the agricultural produce of Virginia: cotton, corn, and potatoes.
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
Highlighting the sweet songs of birds during springtime in Virginia.
There's where the old darke'ys heart am long'd to go,
Expressing the deep longing of African American individuals ("darke'ys") to return to Virginia.
There's where I labored so hard for old massa,
Recalling hard labor for the plantation owner ("massa") in Virginia.
Day after day in the field of yellow corn,
Specifically mentioning the toil in the fields, particularly the yellow corn fields.
No place on earth do I love more sincerely
Declaring a genuine and deep love for Virginia above all other places.
Than old Virginny, the state where I was born.
Expressing affection for Virginia as the birthplace.
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,
Restating the mention of the crops grown in Virginia.
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
Reemphasizing the beautiful songs of birds during spring in Virginia.
There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go.
Reiterating the longing of an African American person ("darkey") to return to Virginia.
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Continuing the plea to return to old Virginia.
There let me live 'till I wither and decay,
Expressing a desire to live in Virginia until aging and deterioration.
Long by the old Dismal Swamp have I wandered,
Referring to spending a long time wandering near the Dismal Swamp in Virginia.
There's where this old darke'ys life will pass away.
Indicating that the life of an African American ("darkey") will come to an end in Virginia.
Massa and missis have long gone before me,
Noting that the plantation owner ("massa") and his wife ("missis") have passed away.
Soon we will meet on that bright and golden shore,
Anticipating a reunion in an afterlife ("bright and golden shore") with the deceased owner.
There we'll be happy and free from all sorrow,
Envisioning a future free from sorrow and filled with happiness in the afterlife in Virginia.
There's where we'll meet and we'll never part no more.
Expecting an eternal reunion without separation in the afterlife in Virginia.
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