"Sweet Virginia" is a song written by Mick Jagger and Keith Richards, the sixth song on the Rolling Stones' 1972 double album Exile on Main St. Here is my cover of it with the Yazoo Ramblers, which I posted to the channel on May 30, 2026.
It is a slow, country-inspired song with a harmonica solo by Jagger and a saxophone solo by Bobby Keys, over a country shuffle from Charlie Watts. The album was mostly recorded at Villa Nellcôte in France, with more work at Olympic Studios in 1970 and vocal overdubs at Sunset Sound in early 1972.
Why I picked it
Pick yourself up and move along, son. No crying. Suck it up.
Credits
- Song: Sweet Virginia
- Original artist: the Rolling Stones
- Written by: Mick Jagger and Keith Richards
- Played by: Cal Carter and friends: Gary Geurts, Stephen Rashbaum, Paul Teal and Bob Young
Session notes
- Posted to YouTube: May 30, 2026
- Length: 4:52
- Recorded in the garage in Milton, GA, at my May 29, 2026 practice session (it is in my "Yazoo Ramblers 5/29/2026 Practice" playlist).
Join the ramble
Song Stories is where I share the story behind each cover on Cal Carter's Yazoo Ramblers Channel. I record the covers in my garage in Milton, GA, and I put the story and the credits here. If this song means something to you, tell me about it in the YouTube comments. I'd like to hear it.
If you are new here, the playlist below has the rest of the Yazoo Ramblers covers, and my music page has them all in one place.
Keep rambling
- Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/eYK5mCqCDo4
- More of my covers: https://www.gulfshoreslife.com/the-yazoo-ramblers-band-covers
- Playlist: Yazoo Rambler Covers - Americana & Blues Classics Covers: The Yazoo Ramblers Sessions (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaYy11pUoiVYXStCbXs7Th_FcOKuj5TMR)
- Previous song story: Wagon Wheel
- Next song story: Route 66
Be a Rambler: subscribe to youtube.com/@yazooramblers