

Civil War Historian
Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr.
"Dr. Bud"
Author, Lecturer, Professor Emeritus


"Our Great Virginia"
"Our Great Virginia"

"Virginia is the Mother State. It should be the leader in all facets of the Republic. This makes the absence of a state song glaring. The physical beauty and incomparable history of Virginia need to be transformed as well into the emotions of music. "Our Great Virginia" fulfills that need."
Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr.









OUR GREAT VIRGINIA
You’ll always be
our great Virginia.
You’re the birthplace of the nation.
Where history
was changed forever.
Today, your glory stays,
as we build tomorrow
I fill with pride
at all you give us –
rolling hills, majestic mountains,
from the Shenandoah
to the Atlantic
rivers wide and forests tall,
all in one Virginia
For each of us
here in Virginia …
from farm to city dweller …
all of us, we stand together.
We’re yours, we all are yours –
across our great Virginia
You’ll always be our great Virginia ...
"Our Great Virginia" is based on
“Oh Shenandoah," an American folk song dating back to at least the early 1800’s.
Arrangement: Jim Papoulis
Lyrics: Mike Greenly
Vocal: Sophia Miller
Choir: Fairfax Choral Society Concert Choir Director: Patrick F. Vaughn

On September 10, 2014, the Speaker of the House for the Commonwealth of Virginia, the Honorable William J. Howell, hosted the National Speakers Conference which brings together legislative leaders from all across the country. This event marked the first public performance of a musical tribute to the state ... Dr. James I. Robertson, Jr. personally inspired this project.
