Night They Drove Old Dixie Down
The Band
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Virgil Caine is the name, and I served on the Danville train 'Till Stoneman's cavalry came and tore up the tracks again In the winter of '65, we were hungry, just barely alive By May the tenth, Richmond had fell, it's a time I remember, oh so well The night they drove old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing The night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singin' they went La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la Back with my wife in Tennessee, when one day she called to me "Virgil, quick, come see, there goes Robert E Lee" Now I don't mind choppin' wood, and I don't care if the money's no good Ya take what ya need and ya leave the rest, But they should never have taken the very best The night they drove old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing The night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singin' they went La, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, Like my father before me, I will work the land Like my brother above me, who took a rebel stand He was just eighteen, proud and brave, but a Yankee laid him in his grave I swear by the mud below my feet, You can't raise a Caine back up when he's in defeat The night they drove old Dixie down, and the bells were ringing, The night they drove old Dixie down, and all the people were singin', they went Na, la, na, la, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, The night they drove old Dixie down, and all the bells were ringing, The night they drove old Dixie down, and the people were singin', they went Na, la, na, la, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na
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Written by: Robbie Robertson
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
12 facts about this song
Band Origins"The Band" is a Canadian-American rock group. Despite their locale, they frequently touched on aspects of American culture and history in their music, with "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" being a prime example.
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Song ReleaseThe song was released in 1969 on their self-titled album, "The Band."
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Lead VocalistLevon Helm, the band's drummer and one of the vocalists, provided the lead vocals for "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down."
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SongwritingThe song was primarily written by Robbie Robertson, another member of "The Band," with some contributions from Helm.
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Civil War ThemeThe song tells a story from the perspective of a poor, white Southerner during the last days of the American Civil War.
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Accurate Historical ReferencesThe song makes several historical references, including to key places and figures such as Robert E. Lee and Stoneman's cavalry.
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Cover VersionsA number of other artists have covered the song, including Joan Baez whose version achieved commercial success.
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Live PerformanceThe song was a regular part of The Band's live performances and was included in their famous farewell concert film, "The Last Waltz."
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Critical AcclaimOver time, "The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" has come to be regarded as a classic song. It is frequently included in lists of the greatest songs in popular music.
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Controversial InterpretationsDespite its acclaim, the song remains controversial due to its empathetic portrayal of the Confederacy and the South during the Civil War. Some view it as a simple historical narrative, while others criticize it for potentially romanticizing the Confederacy.
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Artistic ComplexityApart from its controversy, the song continues to be praised for its sophisticated melody, powerful lyrics, and strong vocals, which convey the tragedy and hardship that was integral to the civil war.
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Album Success"The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down" contributed significantly to the success of the album, which peaked at No. 9 on the Billboard Pop Albums chart in the US.
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Citation
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