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1999 SESSION

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981538260
HOUSE BILL NO. 981 Offered January 26, 1998 A BILL to amend and reenact § 7.1-37 of the Code of Virginia, relating to the official song of the Commonwealth. ----------
Patrons-- Hall, Barlow, Cantor, Cox, McEachin, Nixon and Reid; Senators: Lambert, Stosch and Watkins
---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

Whereas, the Commonwealth has no effective official song because "Carry Me Back To Old Virginia," declared the State song in 1940, has become so controversial that it is no longer possible or appropriate to use the song; and

Whereas, the official song should reference the rich history and tradition of the Commonwealth and invoke images of the natural and scenic beauty its citizens celebrate; and

Whereas, the Commonwealth requires an official song that can be sung on all occasions with pride and affection; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That "Virginia," lyrics and music by Donna and Jimmy Dean be designated as one of the official songs of the Commonwealth, the words of which are as follows:

Virginia From the Blue Ridge to the great Atlantic Ocean There's a Commonwealth of beauty known to man As the mother of the Fathers of our country, Heaven chose her as the birthplace of our land.

Chorus:

Virginia, dear old Virginia! There's no place on earth I'd rather be. Virginia, sweet old Virginia! My Old Dominion home keeps calling me. When I think about the beauty of Virginia, I remember dogwoods blooming in the spring. When the sun sets on the Shenandoah Valley, Sometimes I think I hear the angels sing. They sing. . . .

Chorus:

Virginia, dear old Virginia! There's no place on earth I'd rather be. Virginia, sweet old Virginia! My Old Dominion home keeps calling me.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1. That § 7.1-37 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 7.1-37. Official song.

A. The song "Carry Me Back to Old Virginia," by James A. Bland, as set out in the House Joint Resolution 10, adopted by the General Assembly of Virginia at the Session of 1940, is declared to be the official song emeritus of the Commonwealth.

B. The song "Virginia," by Donna and Jimmy Dean as set out in the 1998 Acts of Assembly, is declared to be one of the official songs of the Commonwealth.