Sweet Virginia
Performances Song History Discussion

Sweet Virginia

Music/Lyrics: Jagger/Richards

Original Artist: The Rolling Stones

Original Album: Exile on Main St (1972)

Vocals: Mike (9/26/99); Fish (10/31/09, 12/5/09)

Debut: 1999-09-26

Historian: Phil Nazzaro

"Sweet Virginia" was the second song from The Stones classic album Exile on Main St that Phish chose to cover (“Loving Cup” being the first). This song’s first appearance in Phish’s repertoire came as a show opener in New Orleans on 9/26/99. Perhaps the decision to play “Sweet Virginia” owes to the fact that Phish hadn’t been welcome in New Orleans since their appearance at JazzFest in ‘96. As at least one longtime Stones fan interprets it, Mick Jagger wrote the lyrics as an homage all the “rock star activities” his band got away with during their previous tours of the United States. The second appearance of the song did not come for another 10 years. The band whipped it out again as a Jon Fishman interpreted vehicle during the Exile on Main St. Halloween costume on 10/31/09; then again in its namesake state of Virginia on 12/5/09.

Recommended Versions: 1999-09-26, 2009-10-31

Lyrics:

(Jagger/Richards)
© ABKCO Music, Inc. (BMI)

Wadin' through the waste stormy winter,
And there's not a friend to help you through.
Tryin' to stop the waves behind your eyeballs,
Drop your reds, drop your greens and blues.

Thank you for your wine, California,
Thank you for your sweet and bitter fruits.
Yes I got the desert in my toenail
And I hid the speed inside my shoe.

But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia,
Come on, honey child, I beg of you.
Come on, come on down, you got it in ya.
Got to scrape the shit right off you shoes.

I want you to come on, come on down Sweet Virginia,
I want you come on, honey child, I beg of you. .
I want you come on, honey child you got it in you.
Got to scrape that shit right off you shoes.

But come on, come on down Sweet Virginia,
Come on, come on down, I beg of you.
Come on, come on down, you got it in you.
Got to scrape that shit right off you shoes.