Vic Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 - December 25, 2009) was a singer-songwrite… Read Full Bio ↴Vic Chesnutt (November 12, 1964 - December 25, 2009) was a singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist who lived in Athens, Georgia, United States.

Around 1985, Chesnutt moved to Athens and joined the band, The La-Di-Da's. After leaving that group he began performing solo on a regular basis at the 40 Watt Club; it was there that he was spotted by Michael Stipe of R.E.M.; Stipe produced Chesnutt's first two albums, Little (1990) and West of Rome (1991).

In 1992 Chesnutt was the subject of a PBS documentary, Speed Racer. He also had a small role in the 1996 Billy Bob Thornton movie Sling Blade which he later described self-mockingly as a poor performance.

In 1996, Chesnutt was exposed to a wider audience with the release of the tribute album Sweet Relief II: Gravity of the Situation, the proceeds from which went to the Sweet Relief Fund. The album consisted of Chesnutt covers by famous musicians including Garbage, The Smashing Pumpkins (with Red Red Meat), Madonna, R.E.M. and Live.

He recorded several times with other groups and artists. Most notably he made two albums with fellow Athens, GA recording artist Widespread Panic, under the name of brute. Chesnutt's album The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was recorded with alt-country group Lambchop as the backing band. The album Merriment was a collaborative effort between Chesnutt and Kelly and Nikki Keneipp, with Vic writing and singing the songs, and the Keneipps playing the music. The 2005 album Ghetto Bells features famed guitarist Bill Frisell, whom Chesnutt met in 2004 at the renowned Century of Song concert series at the German festival RuhrTriennale. Chesnutt's wife, Tina Chesnutt, frequently plays bass on his albums. His niece, and fellow songwriter, Liz Durrett also appeared on the Ghetto Bells album.

Chesnutt's first four albums were released on the independent Texas Hotel label. He then recorded About to Choke (1996) for Capitol, which was his first and only major record label recording. The Salesman and Bernadette (1998) was on PolyGram; Merriment (2000) was on the Backburner Records label; spinART was the label for the self performed and recorded Left to His Own Devices (2001). Vic then found a new home at the New West Records label, who have released two albums for him so far. In 2004 New West also re-released the early Texas Hotel recordings, including expanded liner notes and extra tracks.

In the winter of 2006, he recorded his newest album, North Star Deserter at the Hotel2Tango in Montreal. It was released on September 11, 2007 by Constellation Records. The record includes contributions from Constellation artists Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band, members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor, as well as Fugazi’s Guy Picciotto. The album was produced by documentary filmmaker Jem Cohen. He also appeared as a guest musician on Cowboy Junkies' 2007 album Trinity Revisited, a 20th anniversary edition of their classic album The Trinity Session.

On Dec 25th 2009, Vic Chesnutt died after falling into a coma following a suicide attempt.

Official Website: Vic Chesnutt

Virginia
Vic Chesnutt Lyrics

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Virginia, Virginia, she's a beautiful queen
She rules with hands that are graceful and mean
She's free with her body, voluptuous, too
But cross her and she'll crush the life out of you
Yes, Virginia, I love you, I love you
Yes ,Virginia, enough to die
Yes, Virginia, I love you, I love you
Too much to survive

Virginia, Virginia, my lover my mom
I sprung from her bosom with a saber not a gun
All of my life's toil and blood sacrifice
Has been to make myself more attractive in her eyes
Yes, Virginia, I love you, I love you
Yes ,Virginia, enough to die

Yes, Virginia, I love you, I love you
Too much to survive

Overall Meaning

The song Virginia by Vic Chesnutt is an ode to Virginia, the state, but also provides a complex commentary on the idea of love and sacrifice. The opening lines paint a picture of Virginia as an alluring and powerful figure, one who demands respect and obedience. However, the following lines reveal that she is not to be crossed, that her power can also be vicious and overwhelming. This paradoxical depiction of Virginia sets the tone for the rest of the song.

The focus then shifts to the singer's personal connection to Virginia, revealing that she is both his lover and his mother. This creates a sense of deep intimacy, but also a hint of taboo. The singer then explains that he has spent his life trying to win her favor, to become more attractive in her eyes, which suggests that his love for her is unattainable and perhaps even self-destructive. The repetition of the lines "Yes, Virginia, I love you, I love you" emphasizes the intensity and desperation of his love.

Overall, Virginia is a complex and layered song that explores themes of power, love, and sacrifice. It turns the idea of a love song on its head, creating an eerie and unsettling atmosphere that lingers long after the song has ended.

Line by Line Meaning

Virginia, Virginia, she's a beautiful queen
The state of Virginia is personified as a beautiful and powerful queen.

She rules with hands that are graceful and mean
Virginia is a strict ruler who can be both merciful and ruthless when necessary.

She's free with her body, voluptuous, too
Virginia is a state that is open-minded and celebrates freedom, including sexual freedom.

But cross her and she'll crush the life out of you
If one disrespects or opposes Virginia, they will face severe consequences.

Yes, Virginia, I love you, I love you
The artist declares their love and devotion to Virginia.

Yes ,Virginia, enough to die
The singer's love for Virginia is so strong that they are willing to die for it.

Virginia, Virginia, my lover my mom
The singer sees Virginia as a nurturing and intimate figure, like a mother or lover.

I sprung from her bosom with a saber not a gun
The artist was born in Virginia and has grown up to be a fighter, but not a violent one.

All of my life's toil and blood sacrifice
The artist has worked hard and made sacrifices to make Virginia proud.

Has been to make myself more attractive in her eyes
The artist's efforts have been directed at impressing and gaining the affection of Virginia.

Too much to survive
The singer's love for Virginia is so intense that they cannot imagine living without it.