An American Trilogy

Mickey Newbury, The Nash Philharmonic

About An American Trilogy

"An American Trilogy" is a 1972 song medley arranged by country composer Mickey Newbury and popularized by Elvis Presley, who included it as a showstopper in his concert routines. The medley uses three 19th-century songs: "Dixie" — a blackface minstrel song that became an anthem of the Confederacy; "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" — a marching hymn of the Union Army during the American Civil War; and "All My Trials" — a Bahamian lullaby related to African American spirituals and widely used by folk music revivalists


Year:
2011
4:54
198 
#2

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Oh I wish I was in the land of cotton
Old things they are not forgotten
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland
Oh I wish I was in Dixie, away, away
In Dixieland I take my stand to live and die in Dixie
'Cause Dixieland, that's where I was born
Early Lord one frosty morning
Look away, look away, look away Dixieland

Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory hallelujah
Glory, glory hallelujah
His truth is marching on

So hush little baby
Don't you cry
You know your daddy's bound to die
But all my trials, Lord will soon be over

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Mickey Newbury

Mickey Newbury (May 19, 1940 - September 29, 2002) was an American songwriter, a critically acclaimed recording artist, and a member of the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame. more »

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Written by: MICKEY NEWBURY

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


7 facts about this song

Composition and History
"An American Trilogy" is a medley of three 19th-century songs. These songs include "Dixie," a Blackface minstrel song that came to be the unofficial anthem of the Confederacy during the American Civil War, "Battle Hymn of the Republic," a marching hymn associated with the Union Army, and the post-Civil War song "All My Trials."
Mickey Newbury Arrangement
Interestingly, the song was arranged and first recorded in 1971 by American singer-songwriter Mickey Newbury. He conceived the idea of combining these three songs to provide a musical perspective on the history of American culture and conflict.
Elvis Presley Adaptation
Elvis Presley, the "King of Rock 'n' Roll," is well-known for performing the song "An American Trilogy." His version became massively popular and brought greater recognition to the song medley. Its significance increased during his performances in Las Vegas and on tour from 1972 to his last concert in 1977, often eliciting strong sentimental reactions from audiences.
Presley's Accolades
Presley's version reached No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972 and was ranked No. 66 in the list of the top 100 songs of the 1970s by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Impact across Cultures
"An American Trilogy" has been covered by numerous artists from around the world. The song resonates profoundly across cultures owing to it being seen as symbolic of American history and traditions.
Criticisms and Controversy
On a critical note, the song has faced controversy and criticism for including "Dixie," given its origins and association with white southern pride and slavery. Some see the juxtaposition of "Dixie" alongside the "Battle Hymn of the Republic" as an effort to reconcile the opposing sides of the Civil War and highlight the shared struggles in American history.
Emotional Resonance
Presley's performances of the song could often become notably emotional, with the singer becoming visibly moved during performances. This emotionality has often been speculated to be due to Presley's fondness for gospel music and the powerful combination of the three songs.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1972

    Billboard #26


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