A Raw and Unreleased Version of The Rolling Stones’ ‘Sweet Virginia’ (1970)

By Marcelo Sonaglioni on February 7, 2025

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Rolling Stones unreleased: Sweet Virginia (early take)

Written by: Jagger/Richard
Recorded: Olympic Sound Studios, London, England, June 16-30 and July 14-27 1970

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Sweet Virginia is often viewed as a song about addiction, or more specifically, the struggles of trying to break free from a substance dependency. The song’s narrator describes a young woman who embarks on a journey—both literal and metaphorical—navigating through a harsh, stormy winter alone, burdened by her troubles. She seems to only manage to survive the ordeal with the help of the speed in her shoes and California wine, a bittersweet remedy. The recurring refrain offers a sort of advice or call to action: “Come on down, Sweet Virginia” and “Got to scrape the shit right off your shoes”, urging a clean break from the past.

While it draws inspiration from Mamie Smith’s 1926 Sweet Virginia Blues, the song is heavily influenced by country music, but not the polished, commercial Nashville style. Instead, it channels the raw, authentic sounds of country legends like Jimmie Rodgers and Hank Williams, and the more contemporary Bakersfield sound. With its earthy, stripped-down feel, Sweet Virginia is a far cry from mainstream country.

The song was chosen as the B-side for Rocks Off, a single that was released exclusively in Japan in September 1972. Though it wasn’t made available in other countries, it quickly became a favorite on radio stations, particularly in the United States. The Rolling Stones even included it in their setlist for their 1972 tour, solidifying its place as a standout track among fans, despite its limited release. The song’s roots in country and blues helped shape its distinctive sound, already present in this early version of the song, making it an enduring part of the Stones’ catalog and one of the band’s classic country ballads, if not the most classic one.

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