Sun Records. Ray Charles released a version of the song on his album The Genius Hits the Road; it also served as the B-side of his famed 1960 recording of "Georgia on My Mind." The Marching Virginians, Virginia Tech's marching band, regularly plays an instrumental rendition of the song, during its field shows and concerts. Other languages The melody is a popular tune in Iceland, the lyrics by Páll Ólafsson are an ode to the plover as a sign of the arrival of spring. In Sweden, the melody is set to Christian lyrics with the title "Striden på jorden evig ej skall vara". Bo Andersson and Per-Göran Ekeroos, duet, with ensemble recorded it on 1966. Lyrics (Bland's 1878 version) Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where the cotton and corn and taters grow. There's where the birds warble sweet in the spring-time. There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go. There's where I labored so hard for old Massa, Day after day in the field of yellow corn; No place on earth do I love more sincerely Than old Virginny, the state where I was born. [CHORUS] Carry me back to old Virginny. There's where the cotton and the corn and taters grow; There's where the birds warble sweet in the spring-time. There's where this old darkey's heart am long'd to go. Carry me back to old Virginny, There let me live till I wither and decay. Long by the old Dismal Swamp have I wandered, There's where this old darkey's life will pass away. Massa and Missis have long gone before me, Soon we will meet on that bright and golden shore. There we'll be happy and free from all sorrow, There's where we'll meet and we'll never part no more. [CHORUS] Lyrics (Edward Christy's original) On de floating scow ob ole Virginny, I've worked from day to day, Raking among de oyster beds, To me it was but play; But now I'm old and feeble, An' my bones are getting sore, Den carry me back to ole Virginny To ole Virginny shore. [CHORUS] Den carry me back to ole Virginny To ole Virginny shore, Oh, carry me back to ole Virginny, To ole Virginny shore. Oh, I wish dat I was young again, Den I'd lead a different life, I'd save my money and buy a farm, And take Dinah for my wife; But now