Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
Journey to Old Virginny's Heartfelt Past
Lyrics
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Expresses a desire to return to the old Virginia.
There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow,
Highlights the agricultural richness of Virginia with cotton, corn, and potatoes.
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
Emphasizes the beauty of nature in Virginia, with birds singing sweetly in spring.
There's where the old darke'ys heart am long'd to go,
Conveys the deep longing of an old African-American individual to return to Virginia.
There's where I labored so hard for old massa,
Recalls the hard labor done for the old master in Virginia.
Day after day in the field of yellow corn,
Describes the daily toil in the yellow cornfields of Virginia.
No place on earth do I love more sincerely
Expresses a profound love for Virginia, considering it the dearest place on earth.
Than old Virginny, the state where I was born.
Affirms Virginia as the birthplace, indicating a strong sentimental attachment.
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Reiterates the desire to be carried back to old Virginia.
There's where the cotton and the corn and tatoes grow,
Repeats the agricultural abundance of cotton, corn, and potatoes in Virginia.
There's where the birds warble sweet in the springtime,
Reiterates the sweet melodies of birds in Virginia's springtime.
There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go.
Restates the heartfelt yearning of an old African-American to return to Virginia.
Carry me back to old Virginny,
Emphasizes the desire to return to Virginia once more.
There let me live 'till I wither and decay,
Expresses a wish to live in Virginia until old age and decline.
Long by the old Dismal Swamp have I wandered,
Mentions wandering by the old Dismal Swamp, suggesting a long and challenging journey.
There's where this old darke'ys life will pass away.
States that the old individual's life will eventually end in Virginia.
Massa and missis have long gone before me,
Acknowledges the departure of the master and mistress before the narrator.
Soon we will meet on that bright and golden shore,
Anticipates a reunion with the master and mistress in a bright and golden afterlife.
There we'll be happy and free from all sorrow,
Envisions a happy and sorrow-free existence in the afterlife in Virginia.
There's where we'll meet and we'll never part no more.
Affirms the eternal reunion in Virginia, emphasizing the absence of parting.
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