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.



Lyrics submitted by spliphstar

Track duration: 04:27

"Sweet Virginia" as written by Eric Faulkner

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, ABKCO Music Inc., Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.

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Sweet Virginia song meanings
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12 Comments

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  • +1
    General Comment:I just finished reading a book by Keith Richards. He talked about how they used to get heroin and it came in the shape of the sole of a shoe. Apparently it was easier to smuggle it across the border like that. Reds, yellows and blues....definate drug terms. This whole song is an ode to drugs...Sing it to me Mick!!
    Flagged kathyo17on January 08, 2011   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Easily my favorite Stones song
    Flag ProdigalSonon March 02, 2010   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I didn't get the meaning of the title until I went to Monticello and drank Sweet Virginia wine.
    Flag pthalomarieon August 05, 2008   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:I wouldn't say its that much about drugs, actually.. I'd say its about going through a rough time in your life and using drugs as a way to hid from that pain... youve got "not a friend to help you through," so, as the beatles would put it, you get by with a little help from your friends. but now someone or a group of people missed the you who has been gone so long, and they're saying to come on back down and be with us, and toss all the stuff youve let drag you down off your back "got to scrape the shit righ' off your shoes." I think this is a song about coming to terms with yourself and moving on after a very long period of darkness. This is my favorite stones song.
    Flagged myfriendbrennon August 10, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"...sweet and bitter fruits." The drugs are good, but this song is about the drugs you found so good turning into "shit" on "your shoes" once you've taken too many. The desert in the toenail, the speed in the shoe - both not only about drugs, but a lifestyle of secrets, lies and hiding that comes along with them. It's not worth it so he's coming down. But I think that's pretty easy to figure out. And, shite, this is just an incredible song. One of my favourites from Exile on Main St. It makes me think of wine glasses sloshing about in slow-motion.
    Flag just_so_storieson April 16, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:i love the song i also love drugs lol
    Flag ronaldo6on March 13, 2007   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:This one is just amazing--the slurred verses, the loud, pleading refrains, the beautiful sax solo.... the best off of Exile On Main Street, except maybe Rocks Off or Tumbling Dice
    Flag sgtpepper4077on December 01, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:"Trying to stop the waves behind your eyeballs"

    Is one of the all time great line.....without coming right out and saying it, Mick has taken to much of whatever he is taking, and he is just trying to come down a bit.

    The deseert in the toe nail line is referance to more dope in the front portion of his shoes.

    Ugly/beautiful era for the boys.........you decide.
    Flag pton July 06, 2006   Link
  • +1
    General Comment:.
    Flag floydian18on June 02, 2006   Link
  • 0
    General Comment:Great Stones song that is very under-rated. I love it when he say "got to scrape that shit right off my shoes." Classic stones not this Rough Justice shit.
    Flag kfe2on February 02, 2006   Link

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